Angel Rodriguez Elected as Student Trustee

Angel Rodriguez is the new Student Trustee, being elected by an overwhelming majority. Rodriguez is currently a sophomore, majoring in criminal justice and was the Judicial Affairs Chair this year.

    As a Student Trustee, Rodriguez said that he is, "the voice of the students" and said his campaign was based on promising to open up communication between students and administrators. He said he believes it is his duty to make sure everyone is informed about the administration.

    "I want this position because everyone should know where their money goes. Students need to know who the Board of Trustees are and know who the Student Trustee is," Rodriguez said.

    Rodriguez wants to provide at least three office hours a week, the establishment of a committee to publicize office hours and set up meetings between students, groups and clubs. He also said he wants to have a forum where students can voice their concerns.

    "I want to rid the students of their apathy," he said. "If I get someone to run against me next year, that means I did my job well."

    Rodriguez said that he enjoyed his previous position thoroughly and said that his experience with SGA has been interesting. He said this year see a lot of "political drama."
   

"The interesting thing is we are all friends," he quipped, "and then we run against each other, and an animosity does come up, but once the election is over we are all still friends."
  

  Rodriguez does have political goals for his future as well. He said his father served as a city councilor for Salem. He said, "My father is completely against it, but if it's in the cards, it's in the cards"
   

He does see himself becoming a police officer in the future. He also said he would like to get his law degree, which the price of law school makes him hesitant, but he is eagerly awaiting to see what becomes of a publicly funded law school. He also said he wishes to get his PhD in criminology and eventually become a professor of criminal justice.
   

Rodriguez credits his family with his success and said he is very fortunate to have his parents be as supportive as they are and he can't thank them enough. He said one of the most influential moments of his life was visiting the Dominican Republic, where he is from, and noticing the extreme poverty of the country.

"While in the Dominican Republic last year," he said, "I saw a little kid asking me for money. I took out my wallet and gave him fifty bucks."
   

He said he couldn't picture himself in that position.
   

"If I can't picture myself in that position," he said, "how can I expect someone else to be in that position? I just like helping people."