Portrait #3  (5-2003)                                    
Name: Joe Rieland
Age: 21
School: University of West Florida
Major: History
Phone: (850) 474-2391
Email: jrr3@students.uwf.edu
Favorite book: The Great One--The story of Roberto Clemente, by Bruce Markusen
Hobbies: Intramural sports, hanging out with my fraternity brothers, watching baseball and football, rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Previous roles in SGA:
• Senator (2000-2001)
• Student Relations (2001-2002)
• Student Body Vice President (Fall 2002)
• Student Body President (Spring 2003)
• UWF Board of Trustees (Spring 2003)

Major campaign accomplishments:
1) Midnight Madness.
     “Midnight Madness is an event that we sponsored to kick-off the UWF men's basketball season. The team was allowed to practice at midnight on the 14th, so we had events from 10 p.m. until midnight for students. We held a dunk contest and a 3-pt. contest, played goofy games, raffled off prizes, provided food, and gave out t-shirts. The team scrimmaged at midnight for about an hour to end the night. We had roughly 500 students come out to the event.”

2) Big Argos/ Little Argos Program.
     “The Argostock is planned for the week before dead week. It is basically an all-night battle of the bands here on our Library Greens. We are providing food, t-shirts, and other giveaways. The music stops at 2 a.m. and then everyone is allowed to camp-out on the Greens.”

3) We made constant lobbying efforts relating to the Bright Futures Program.

Why did you become involved in SGA?
     “I wanted to learn more about the university and grow as a campus leader and as a person. I enjoy working with people and working to ensure that student rights are not infringed upon.”

Who is your role model?
     “My dad, Rick Rieland. He is a man of integrity and character. He is a man that I try to mold myself after.”

What is your administration’s biggest challenge?
     “I believe that the change over from former president Jason Crawford to myself was the most difficult challenge for the administration. Everything has worked out great and no serious problems have occurred.”

What legacy will your administration leave?
     “I think throughout the year we left the idea that SGA members are normal, everyday students. We did everything we could to get our names and faces out to the students. We tried our best to reach out to the students body, more so than other administrations.”

How does student body view SGA?
     "I believe we are getting a more responsive view from the student body. Students are learning who we are and come have come to us more often as the year progresses with different issues and concerns."

Describe your relationship with the administration.
     “Awesome. We have a great relationship with our administrators. A mutual respect exists. We have been able to forge friendships as well, especially with our Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Doug Pearson.”

Describe your relationship with the media.
     “We have a growing relationship with the school paper. They have run many stories relating to SGA and student issues as a whole. They do not get their desired budget, but they do a great job with the funds they have. Our campus e-mail news, Nautilus News, also does a great job assisting us with broadcasting student issues and SGA stories.”

What advice would you give?
     “Have fun, enjoy the relationships you make, and remember your true friends will stick by you at all times.”

What are your plans after graduation?
     “Begin graduate school at UWF in the Public History Department. After that I plan on becoming a teacher.”

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved