Before swearing in the Tietz administration at inauguration Wednesday, Student Government Association's executive branch attributed its start to Jayson Manship's six-month stay on a friend's couch.
Manship said if he hadn't crashed in treasurer Eric Mitchell's apartment, Mitchell would have never asked him to form a slate.
Manship said President Ben Tietz and his administration have a lot of work ahead of them.
Tietz said he and his team are ready to begin filling senate and judicial court seats. Tietz's plans for executing his platform include a used furniture sale during finals week, streamlining the executive branch's bylaws and uniting students with the Muncie community.
Tietz said he's already attended a Riverside-Normal Neighborhood Association meeting to create a bond between student government and Muncie residents.
"With 14,000 students living off-campus, it's an issue that deserves a lot of attention," Tietz said.
Dean of Students Randy Hyman said Tietz is an excellent spokesperson for students and genuinely cares about their issues. Hyman said they've met to discuss challenges the university faces with off-campus activity.
"We were talking about some of the challenges we face collectively with the neighborhood issue and students living off-campus," Hyman said. "(Tietz) is aware and has concern for the challenges we're facing on the neighborhood front."
Students will be receptive to the effort, Tietz said, because it will improve their living conditions.
"Partying is part of it," Tietz said. "Having courtesy for (residents) that live here year-round and the condition of homes students live in, students living off-campus will know how to make their living conditions better."
Senators said they anticipated a continued tradition of hard work and a different style of leadership from Tietz.
"I have faith in Ben and what he can do," organizational senator Elizabeth Douglass said. "I think he will carry on the SGA tradition and make it bigger. He'll make more students are aware of what SGA is."
Tietz said his administration will network within their other organizations to bring more people into SGA.
"We have a good start on that," Tietz said.
On-campus senator Amanda Clewis said she hopes to see some changes, such as more legislation and more cooperation from the administration.
"Hopefully, some things will be different," Clewis said. "I had some trouble with the administration -- getting budget information."
Vice President Olufunmbi Elemo, who received the outstanding senator and best committee chair awards, said the executive branch will accomplish their platform goals and work well with the administration.
"I think we're going to accomplish everything," Elemo said.
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