...comes great responsibility.

I attended the Afrofest event this evening in the CAW student centre and watched the American election develop on the big screen.  I was nearly brought to tears the moment when Obama and his family graced the stage in Chicago as the First Family (elect).  

As I soaked in the moment it dawned on me that this was merely the beginning of a long road for Obama.  He would be placed under close scrutiny and expected to do the impossible with the American political system.  I thought about the great responsibility that he now had to carry out the election promises that he had been preaching about for over a year.

This lead me to reconsider my position as President of the University of Windsor Students' Alliance.  I am at the half way mark in my term, how have I represented students thus far?  I took some time out to take a look at those election promises I spoke about during my own campaign back in March and carefully reviewed each point.  Am I carrying out my own campaign goals?  Am I living up to the expectation that students had for me when they voted me into this office 6 months ago?

There have been some great successes this year so far, but I have certainly lost track of a few key ideas I stood for when I was running.  I still have time to refocus my priorities though, and I have no doubt in my mind that I have the tools and experience to accomplish the goals I set out to accomplish when I was first elected. 

I desperately need some sleep before the long day of meetings I have tomorrow, but here is a snippet from a poem I discovered that a friend of mine (Crystal Patterson) wrote during the UWSA election last spring:

Alliance: A close association of groups, formed to advance common interests or causes

Using the power of information 

Gooch is here to restore communication

Bridging the gap between students and administration

 

Embodying Hillary & Obama - two forces in one

She brings, experience, change, & inspiration

 

Our university experience she hopes to advance

By bringing awareness she gives us a chance

 

To be involved in decisions that effect us each day

She’s providing a forum to hear what WE have to say

 

Equipping us with the necessary knowledge to progress

She’s bringing back the alliance to ensure our success

 

Celebrating the unique diversity at this school

Uniting our talents and using them as tools

 

I wanna see a President who is genuine and true

With the knowledge and integrity to know what to do

 

Who is involved on this campus in many different ways

With a variety of achievements – I want to be amazed

 

Because I want to see a president who will get the job done

Who will stop for nothing until we unite as one

 

And I'm tired of seeing presidents who accept the status quo

and do nothing to help our student alliance grow

I want a speaker who will say what needs to be said

There's no room to be silent when you are the head...