September 6, 2016
By Marty Carlino
Following the completion of the 2015-2016 school year, Dominican’s Student Government Association (SGA) elected a new President. The man tasked with the newly appointed role is former SGA Freshman Sen., Jonathan Sass.
Sass, 28, is entering his second full semester at Dominican but has been a part of the University prior to becoming a student.
In early 2015, after serving seven years of active duty in the Military, Sass started a job with Allied Barton security services in downtown Chicago. Sass originally began working for the company as a field inspector but was then put back in field services, beginning his security position at Dominican.
It was then that Sass really developed a liking for Dominican, as well as the desire to get involved in any way possible.
“Being here at Dominican, the small university that it is, the environment, the location, it was all very appealing to me,” Sass said.
“The repertoire of each one of the students I had met while I was working security, it was really refreshing. I knew that I wasn’t coming into something that would hold me back. It inspired me to think outside of the box more than I had ever done.”
After working with Allied Barton for over nine months, Sass enrolled as a student at Dominican in the spring semester of 2016.
Sass immediately got involved in Dominican’s SGA and was appointed the position of Freshman Senator. While serving as a member of the organization, Sass was pleased with what he encountered.
“Making our voices heard with Gov. Rauner and the whole budget impasse was a big positive,” Sass said. “I feel that Dominican Students had a big impact in the groundbreaking maneuvers that have happened since then. Our vocalization was good.”
Now in the role of SGA president, one thing Sass hopes to improve is the presentation of SGA.
“I think that the only con I saw last year was the presentation of SGA,” Sass said. “I don’t think SGA really made itself known as I feel it should be. I think every student in the University should be involved in some way in the politics of their university. They should have a say and know what’s going on.”
As far as any big issues facing SGA this semester, Sass anticipates that, once again, state funding may be a problem.
“Big issues are going to be the things that we can’t control,” Sass said. “The things that we are unfortunately to the mercy of state legislation, even government legislation.”
Regardless of state legislation, Sass is eager to take on the challenges of being SGA president as well as connecting with the university’s student body.
“I think that the biggest challenge is going to be getting people interested in being a part of SGA and other organizations,” Sass said. “Just trying to get more students aware of what’s going on.”
SGA’s first meeting of the semester will be on Sept. 12 at 5p.m. in the Springer Suite. The meeting is open to everyone and all are welcome to join.
carlmart@my.dom.edu