Lame ducks mingled with rising stars in a ceremony marking the end of the Student Association’s 47th legislative session and beginning of the 48th legislation session Tuesday night in the Schine Student Center.

Past and present SA members, along with Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw, were in attendance as SA inaugurated its new comptroller, president and 13 Assembly members. The ceremony also included inaugural and closing speeches from several of its members.

Incoming comptroller Maggie Misztal, a sophomore public relations, marketing and finance major, and Drew Lederman, the new SA president and sophomore international relations major, both took oaths to protect the integrity of the Student Association. They were elected to their positions the first week of November. Misztal and Lederman later outlined their goals for their upcoming terms.

‘I’m taking my position with excitement, anticipation and nervousness,’ Misztal said in her inaugural speech. She said she hopes to institute a strong liaison process and make the finance board more active year-round.

Lederman also expressed excitement in taking his position. He hoped to continue building on the strong foundation laid in the past two semesters by outgoing president Andrew Thomson. Among his plans is a project to bring free daily national newspapers to campus in order to expose university students to what goes on outside of campus, Lederman said. He also hoped to establish a good rapport with the future chancellor.

Several members brought up in their speeches how SA has improved over recent years. In the past, SA has suffered from soaring deficits, corrupt officials and self-serving agendas, said outgoing comptroller Erin Maghran, a senior political science, policy studies and public relations major.

‘We’ve done a complete 180 in the past three years,’ she said.

Maghran was also pleased with the positive image SA has worked to build around the student activity fee, which SA uses to fund programming and student groups.

‘The student activity fee is an essential part of student life,’ she said.

Dean Joe Oravecz praised the work Thomson and SA have done in recent years, including the Armory Square shuttle and the approval of a new course scheduling paradigm. He added his hope that future successes will involve collaborations with other recognized student organizations on campus.

Throughout the event, Thomson’s work as SA president was praised. In a speech honoring him, Maghran brought up several bills he sponsored in the past, including the creation of open seating in the Carrier Dome, implementation of an assistant parliamentarian position and the patching of the relationship between SA and University Union.

Thomson left the assembly with parting advice and encouragement for the next session’s Assembly members.

‘I hope SA continues to embrace criticism, especially from constituents,’ he said.

Thomson also encouraged SA to become more involved with orientation and outreach programs on campus.

‘Tradition will always be a strong part of the student experience at Syracuse University,’ he said.

Published on December 2, 2003 at 12:00 pm