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Show Page 14 THE SIGNPOST Wednesday, October 18, 2000 3 PI S 6 PI continued from stand all of the procedures and rules and then they are out of office, leaving it to the next person to do the same thing. The transient nature of student leaders from one year to the next often leaves students at a disadvantage in positions like the Hoard of Trustees, which student body presidents sit on as student representatives."It's a rotating position it changes every year to someone new, so they have no clout," said WSU student Rafe Nielsen. Hut Hansen is making himself !an exception to that rule. "Last year I was more reactionary than proactive," Hansen said. "It makes a big difference and this year I am proactive and out there." "The major advantage other groups have is continuity and this year there is continuity with the students," said business professor Kyle Mattson. 'The second year there's no learning curve, he's effective day one. That makes a huge, huge difference in advancement." jThe learning curve Hansen considered his first term his training ground and now "the learning curve is over." While Hansen served as the LDS Institute president previous Uo his first term, he had no prior xperience With' student government. So he knew he had a lot to-learn when he began last year. "I figured 'I'll just run and learn as I go'," Hansen said, t. It was as early as October of his Hirst term that he considered run-ffiing again, since trie WSfjsA'eVin-' institution allowed for two terms. Having served a two-year LDS mission, he related to having so much to learn early on and not being truly effective until that second year - he saw a lot of learning similari-etu itv.lhe.office of presidents P-l'Udidai't feel like I'd accom-'plished all the goals," Hansen said. The method to his madness While a second term to such an intense position might seem a pal-h wish to some, Hansen just t5 it, -ajj 3 "growing opportunity. f fcjiist hit the ground running ' 'this year," said Edie Mitko, adviser to the Utah Council of Studentbody Presidents. "It really is to his ad- Powder Motmtam .Student Season Pass Sale 2000-2001 Season Day and Night Purchase by October 31, 2000 through the WSU Mountaineering Club. Call 391-wsmc for sale dates or look for sales locations on campus. Spouse may purchase a season pass w hen a student purchases season pass. front r ,,...,,,.,, ., , ...., , i .": 'i Dee Hansen sits next to Paul Thompson at a Board of Trustees meeting. vantage to serve this second year." "You already know what you're expected to do," Hansen said. In an attempt to learn everything he possibly could last year about the process, the people and what was expected of him, Hansen took on everything. He went to every meeting he was invited to and participated in everything possible. The grueling schedule and rigorous demands wore on him, but he learned. This year, he is taking a different approach. Since he has the background and knows what different meetings and organizations are about, Hansen is able to make -more informed and practical decisions about where to spend his time, as well as giving opportunities to others. "He gets others involved, more than just student government leaders," Mitko said. Delegation has become one of his specialties. 'The big push is to get more people more involved," Hansen said. "Delegation basically allows more people to have the experience." The art of delegation Hansen isn't only insistent that people get these experiences, but that they get the credit for them also. Despite efforts to make Hansen pinpoint what he's gotten done, he al Value of $765 Save $415 t ways points to those around him. "I have Chad Witcher and he's just amazing," Hansen said about the assistant to the president for diversity. "I feel like I have a great council. I don't feel like I have any stress." Hansen declares that what he is doing could be done by anyone. "Because my ideas aren't any better than anyone else's," he said. "I just oversee it, but this year I'm not spreading myself out so much." This passing of jobs isn't Hansen passing the buck, though. "I just let students at school run things at the school level and I can do my job at the state level." At the state level Things at the state level aren't any easier than back on campus. "It's incredible the officers have the contacts and responsibilities they have here in Utah," Mattson said. 'They have voice and vote iwith the Board of Regents and the -Board of Trustees." Tuition increases, diversity requirements and technology advancements are just a few of the issues that have been taken up by the UCSP. "I think he's really conscious of the students he's representing," Mitko said. "He keeps Weber State's student body in mind." Over the summer, Hansen played a dominant role over other universi less than 4 p 500 PRESTIGErp North Ogden South 2566 N4O0E 158 W 737-4596 393 - ties and presidents in attending the Board of Regents' Tuition Task Force meetings, in an effort to stay informed and let regents know students' concerns and positions. The challenge he's taking very seriously is tuition," Thompson said. "During the summer he got groups of eight, 10 students to go to these meetings when there wasn't anyone from other schools." Hansen travels to Salt Lake City about twice a week to attend meetings and other obligations of the office in addition to attending monthly UCSP meetings held throughout the state. Hansen also serves on several ad hoc and organizational committees for higher education. "I don't know how he can handle it all," Mitko said. "But I was just absolutely thrilled to find out he was coming back." A delicate balance Of course, despite all of these state and campus obligations, Hansen is also a more than full-time student. Taking 27 credit hours this semester, Hansen hopes to graduate at the end of the school year. Double-majoring in Business Administration and Technical Sales, Hansen hopes to go into investment after attending graduate school. However, the job of president often takes away from his duties as a student. "It's academic suicide," Hansen said. "He literally started one of his classes) before the semester started to get a head start," Mattson said. But some professors, like Mattson, are more lenient than others. Mattson, a former WSU student body president, admits he cuts him more slack on things like attendance, but he insists Hansen still does the work. "I've had him come over to the house," Mattson said. "He gets done with a meeting at nine at night and we sit down and do finance." But Hansen is up for the task; "Some classes are better than others." Making it all worth it Despite all of his work and missing school, Hansen is compensated on many levels, but the greatest reward is through "meeting people and learning leadership skills." Evening and Weekend Minutes Anytime Minutes And Up PER MONTH wireless mad simple.. Ogden Harrisville 36th ST snuuw 6790 " 786-0100 But in addition to the warm fuzzies. Hansen also receives tuition, fees and a monthly stipend of $600 good for 1 1 months of the year. He also receives the $2,500 scholarship from former WSU student body president Jeffery Flamm. Also, since being on the Board of Trustees is part of the job, Hansen receives $60 for each monthly meeting. "Monetary isn't much as a student it's great, but I could be making a lot more out working for the time spent." Hansen said. "I do get to wear the trustee's robe at graduation); that was one of the reasons I ran." Dee aka Taz "I don't know if I like being referred to as the Tazmanian Devil," Hansen said. Since he lived in New Zealand for two years, Hansen is familiar with the animals and their destructive nature. "He just runs around and stirs things up," he said about the animal. "It's like a tornado; that would be like people know I'm there but it's not necessarily good." Rather, Hansen hoped people have a more professional view of him. And most do. "I think he's doing a really great job," Thompson said. "I think for a young man that obviously comes from a very advantaged family," Mitko said, "I've never seen him not be sensitive to others' needs." More than being sensitive, Hansen makes a good leader. "You wouldn't want to change a thing about him, because he's Dee," Harper said. "He has that ability to make everyone feel like they're one of his closest friends." S3 avis County's Largest most challenging Maze. M-F 5 p m - Md Sat 12 noon - Mid. 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