“The Bucknellian” spoke with Michael Meskos ’27 to discuss this upcoming semester and what students should be on the lookout for.
Why did you decide to run for BSG President?
Meskos: I’ve been involved with BSG since my first semester at Bucknell, and ever since I joined I have loved the culture of the organization and the willingness of its members to take an active role in their experience here at Bucknell. I have a great relationship with the previous executive board members, as well as the BSG President from two terms ago, and they all were very encouraging when I approached them with the idea of running for Executive President. […] My love for BSG and all the positive things it has done for me on campus made me proud to represent the organization as President.
Is there anything specific that you are hoping to do through your position and its impact?
Meskos: I believe Bucknell is in a unique position because of the size and structure of our student body, and I see BSG as the perfect vehicle for creating a positive impact. Internally, a goal of mine is to increase the productivity of BSG’s internal committees and class senates so that our impact on campus can stretch even further. I want myself and the rest of the executive board to be seen as open resources for students, making sure they know that BSG is a place where concerns and feedback are welcome. Above all, I hope that I can give Bucknell students the empowerment to tailor their college experience in a way that benefits not just them, but the people they care about most.
Are there any current happenings you can tell us about/update us on?
Meskos: Right now, we are finishing up our spring elections so that we can hold our first Congress on Sunday. Once that happens, our internal committees and class senates will be filled and we can get to work. On my end, the executive board is in the early stages of a few key initiatives, like the ones I previously mentioned. I also have meetings set up with the Undergraduate Executive Intern Program (UEIP), Public Safety and continuations of my first meeting with Dining to discuss how BSG can address concerns in all of these areas. A lot is still in the beginning phases, but I’m really excited about the progress we’re starting to make and the changes that are on the horizon.
What is your vision for the relationship between the student body and the administration?
Meskos: I want this relationship to be very transparent. Bucknell’s administration has done a fairly good job, at least in my opinion, of being student-centered on a lot of topics. In the conversations I’ve had so far with administrators, they have been very receptive to our goals for the student body, and I’ve felt nothing but support. I’ve spent a lot of time with the new Dean of Students, Moe McGuinness and the new Associate Dean of Students/BSG Advisor, Erin Paschal, and both of them have been incredibly supportive of BSG and are genuinely so excited to step into their roles and help students succeed. In my interactions with the administration, student interests are always my primary concern.
For this coming semester, Meskos is focused on laying foundations for a few different initiatives that are being suggested to improve student life on campus. “I’m currently working with the University to improve and make suggestions to the campus laundry system, making it easier for students to pay and ensuring the machines are more efficient. I’m also collaborating with Dining Services to improve the quality and accessibility of food on campus.” Meskos describes his ultimate goal for this semester as encouraging student involvement on campus and motivating them to take initiative to better their college experience.
Any questions, concerns, or feedback for Meskos can be directed to him via email OR by visiting his office hours in the BSG Office (ELC 058), on Mondays from 10:00-11:00 a.m and Fridays 10:00-12:00.