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Rachel rocks
Senior closes college career with long
list of social and philanthropic activities
By Jessica Grabowski
Collegian Reporter
Every Tuesday and Thursday
morning, senior Rachel Rock comes rushing into her class on
marriage and family with a bright smile, rosy cheeks and a slightly
out-of-breath laugh.
Rushing around seems to be something Rock
does frequently, which isn't surprising. She is involved in
many on- and off-campus activities, such as the Kappa Kappa
Gamma sorority, Habitat for Humanity, Best Buddies and, previously,
she was involved in peer tutoring.
Another area Rock actively participates in
is Student Activities Board.
She began volunteering for the board as a
freshman and is now the director.
Though the board plans many of the student
entertainment events on campus, it is frequently criticized
by some students. But Rock takes this all in stride.
"The criticism is completely expected,
since we have such a diversity of personalities on campus,"
she said. "For every event we do I get one compliment and
two criticisms."
Recently, the board improved entertainment
activities by placing pingpong tables, pool tables, two arcade
games, a pinball machine and a video card machine in various
locations around campus.
"The pingpong table was a donation from
Mr. Donald Hayden Jr., and we had been planning since the beginning
of the semester to buy a pool table," Rock said.
The board works closely with Rich Péwé,
vice president of administration, and he must approve all details.
"The administration is very interested
in accommodating requests like this as long as it is representative
of the student body," Péwé said. "When
it comes to improvements to student life, all students have
to do is ask."
Péwé thinks Rock's contribution
to students' activities on campus has been worthwhile.
"I think she does a great job. She seems
to know what students want," he said.
He thinks that students will gain a lot from
these new additions.
"The games will bring the students back
into the snack bar that have avoided the space," he said.
"They will give students another outlet. Like food, the
games can change moods and help burn off nervous energy."
Péwé also thought highly of
Rock putting the games close to the snack bar.
"She was smart about this. It was very
important to have the games close to the food if you want them
to be used," he said.
Rock works closely with the other members
of the board as well: Yvonne Boatman, Emily Mahrle and Bentley
Graves.
"Rock has brought new life to the activities
board," Graves, junior, said. "Her creative leadership
has provided us with everything from pool tables to paintball."
Graves has worked closely with Rock in his
time on the board and said he appreciates her handling of her
position.
"She has taken her job very seriously,
and every student at this school has benefited," he said.
"She has set the bar extremely high and will be greatly
missed."
Mahrle, as well, said she is impressed with
Rock's work as director.
"Rock has completely reinvented the student
activities board," she said. "The best thing she has
done is spend the budget on fun events and projects that students
actually enjoy."
Rock has worked hard in her time as director
of the board and is happy when students are pleased with the
work they have done.
"The most rewarding thing about being
on the board is hearing the things the students have said and
how they appreciate the new ideas we have," Rock said.
Although working on the board used to be a
voluntary process, those interested must now go through an interviewing
process with college chaplain Duane Beauchamp, the director
of the activities board, and the Student Federation president.
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