Kellie Conrad, the Ball State University student member of the board of trustees, stood in a Bracken Library meeting room Sunday afternoon surrounded by a group of her possible replacements.
The twelve students attended the informational meeting to learn about the application process and details regarding the only state-mandated student position on campus.
With the three week application process starting today, Conrad's PowerPoint presentation had one general message: "You better be better than me."
"They need to be prepared and they need to hit the ground running," Conrad said. "I want them to understand the background of Ball State before they come in. I want them to understand the position before they come in and not have to spend a year figuring it out before they do anything."
The application process is based on two different interviews, Conrad said. The first interview will be out of the original pool of candidates and will be narrowed down to three choices. The three applicants are chosen by an application committee lead by Student Government Association Secretary Ebony Strong.
At that point, Strong said she would send the finalists to the governor's office for a final interview. The students then wait for a call from Gov. Mitch Daniels confirming they got the two-year position. Students must be Indiana citizens to apply.
"After I send [the finalists] in, Ball State has no control from that point," Strong said. "Any recommendations we write may or may not mean anything. It's politics from there."
Conrad said the position is made to look after state money and student tuition dollars. The student board member works with the nine-member board of trustees, acting as a student voice at board meetings and additional events surrounding the university. The position doesn't pay and requires about three to five hours per week of personal time, Conrad said.
"[The board members] will treat you like an equal unless you screw up," Conrad said. "...you are not an activist, you are an ambassador."
Sophomore accounting major Kristopher Shroyer, who attended the meeting, said his history running for political office can bring additional experience to the student trustee position. Shroyer said he ran for mayor of Muncie in 2007, turning in the necessary paperwork shortly after his eighteenth birthday. After receiving less than 200 votes, Shroyer said he was appointed to run as the Republican nominee for City Clerk in the general election and received about 32 percent of the vote.
"Although my major isn't political science, I have obviously thought about pursuing politics," Shroyer said. "I feel like if I enter the political arena with additional knowledge beyond politics that will give me a good start."
Junior international business major Corey Reason said his experience working with the First Merchants bank board of directors could be what is needed to hit the ground running.
"I think that without the university we aren't too many steps away from becoming a Detroit, Mich.," Reason said. "Anybody who has been there the last couple years knows that there isn't much to see. This position can somewhat work on keeping that relationship."
Looking back on her term, Conrad said the people she has worked with are "the best people you will ever meet".
"I loved every moment as a student trustee," Conrad said.
Any interested students who did not attend the meeting can still apply and can pick up their applications in Student Center Room 213.
CalendarJan. 26: Pick up application
Feb. 13: Application due
March 4-5: Interviews
Week of March 16: Top 3 candidates turned in to governor's office
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