While most Georgetown students have already settled in this semester, a new period of acclimation has just begun for two students in particular.
Georgetown University Student Association President-elect Joe Luther (COL ’16) and Vice President-elect Connor Rohan (COL ’16) are moving from a life propagating humor to an environment that has often lacked such a quality.
While the new leadership duo learns the ropes of GUSA, Luther and Rohan must remember to remain relatively serious.
The student body — and this editorial board — enjoyed their satirical campaign and honestly believed them to be best for the job. Satire should continue to be a tool that connects students to GUSA, but it is important to maintain a balance.
The good news is that the new executives are off to a good start.
It is encouraging to see that GUSA veteran Abbey McNaughton (COL ’16) has been named chief of staff to provide the pair with the GUSA experience that they lack.
Because they were the only portion of their platform that were not satirical, it is critical for the executives to follow through on their mental and sexual health proposals.
They also have a responsibility to delineate other policies such as those regarding the campus plan and neighborhood relations that the student body can rally behind; they should articulate clear stances on a wide range of issues that the campaign overlooked.
Although part of Luther and Rohan’s initial charm was their limited interaction with GUSA before running for executive, they should continue to look in the direction of GUSA experience to fill their cabinet.
McNaughton is a good start, and a Luther-Rohan administration with a substantial number of students familiar with GUSA’s inner workings would be well poised for success. Nevertheless, Luther and Rohan would do well not to shy too far away from their roots. Their humor, was, after all, what won them the presidency.
Seriously addressing the same opaqueness they criticized during their campaign is sure to move GUSA beyond its obscurity, but it will be important for the two to strike a balance.
