When Jon Hayes first set foot on the U campus five years ago for a high school science day, he wasn’t sure what the gigantic, unfamiliar place would have in store for him. Patrick Reimherr said that when he first arrived at the U as a freshman, he too did not feel like he had a place to belong–a spot in the U to call home.
“ASUU has completely changed all of that,” Reimherr said.
Reimherr and Hayes were sworn into office as president and vice president, respectively, of The Associated Students of the University of Utah on April 24, at Rice-Eccles Tower. Reimherr and Hayes thanked former President Spencer Pearson and Vice President Basim Motiwala, as well as their administration, for all their hard work and dedication, noting that they would be “a tough act to follow.”
Madison Warren was sworn in as the new senior class president and Yevgeniya Kopeleva as chief of staff. The ASUU Senate, General Assembly and executive cabinet were also inaugurated.
ASUU Chief Justice Adam Reiser administered the oaths of office. Each candidate swore to uphold the ASUU constitution and fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them.
Some of those responsibilities include continuing the initiatives of last year’s administration. Motiwala mentioned that the Graduation Guarantee advising program, the elimination of sales tax on textbooks and allocating $50,000 toward new recycling and sustainability programs are a few of many batons he and Pearson are passing on.
In his closing remarks, Pearson said that although the job of leading ASUU is an anonymous one, since the average student does not know his or Motiwala’s names, at the end of their term Reimherr and Hayes’ reward will be the knowledge that they made a difference on campus for students.
In a meeting prior to the inauguration, Motiwala said he also wanted the new leaders to know that a year from now they will feel terrible because they know they have to leave ASUU behind.
Reimherr and Hayes said they are looking forward to the challenges in the year ahead.
“Success is the culmination of failures,” Reimherr said. “We will make mistakes, but we will always do what’s best for the students.”
Tyler CobbJon Hayes, Patrick Reimherr and Madison Warren take the ASUU oath of office durng a ceremony at Rice-Eccles Stadium.