Jasper Noble, a junior who is double majoring in political science and history, is the new SGA president. Kayla Payne has been elected executive vice president, Sabrina Collins is academic vice president and Lydia Burns is the new services vice president.

Noble spoke with UofLNews about his plans for the future of SGA, and the role SGA plays in advocating for students as the university develops a new strategic plan.

UofLNews: How long have you been involved in SGA and what has that role entailed?

Noble: I got involved in SGA as soon as I possibly could. I was involved with Task Force Freshman as a freshman. I was the mentee of the chief of staff at that point. My sophomore year I ran for senate and served on the Arts and Sciences Appropriations Committee. That was a really interesting process just to see how the legislative process works here. During my sophomore and into my junior year I ran for academic vice president and did not win. Then I was appointed the deputy chief of staff where I am currently working under President [Jonathan] Fuller.

UofLNews: What made you pursue this leadership role in the organization? 

Noble: Well, I’ve been a part of it for so long – over three years – and I have come up with things that I want to do. I have a vision for what SGA could be, a vision that I think a lot of people share. I think that it’s something I have kind of always wanted to have in SGA as a leadership role but I wasn’t sure what that would be back then. This year, I felt I was ready for this – to do a good job and be a good leader for students on campus.

UofLNews: What are your biggest goals as SGA president?

Noble: I want to open up more channels of communication. I know that a lot of people feel like SGA isn’t listening to them and even more people don’t even know what SGA does. So why would you reach out to them if you don’t know what they’re doing? So, awareness is important to what we’re doing. With that, comes transparency. I will sit on the Board of Trustees. I think that it’s important as students that we understand what this highest governing body is. I want to be that voice saying “Here’s what’s going on at the very highest level.” I want to look at things like affordability, safety and mental health awareness. I want to do everything I can to make sure that we address student needs.

UofLNews: What do you think will be your biggest challenges serving in this role?

���Dz�����:��I just know that it’s difficult. I worked with Jonathan and I was [former SGA President] Vishnu’s roommate before that, so I’ve been close to this role for some time. I know that it’s tough to balance things that students want and what is beneficial for the university as a whole. I’m absolutely committed to making sure that when students have needs, and when things aren’t being paid attention to, we start paying attention. On the other side of that coin, there is an entire university to maintain. We’re coming out of this transitional period where things haven’t been so good on a national stage and now they’re getting better. So I also want to make sure we are focusing on where our priorities are and continuing that until we reach a point where we can address all of these individual issues.

UofLNews: You will be serving during the university’s strategic planning initiative, do you have any thoughts or goals for what you will seek to accomplish?

���Dz�����:��I’ve been lucky enough to serve on the teaching and enrollment strategic planning committee. I think we’re coming up with some really good plans on how to bring more people to UofL to add to the size of this community. With more people comes more success. There’s more breadth of experience for students to draw from. We’re looking at new markets to engage with and new ways to bring students in the local area who aren’t necessarily looking at UofL. We can show them all of the incredible opportunities that UofL has to offer.

UofLNews: How would you describe your leadership style?

���Dz�����:��I like to describe it as an open-door style. I’m confident in my ability to make decisions, but I’m only confident in my ability to make decisions if the people around me are there to offer criticism. I don’t think there’s any use in surrounding yourself with those who only agree with you. So I think the more people that critique the decision that I want to make and the more people that provide me with anecdotes and their experiences to contradict my understanding of something, that’s what going to shape better policy and better decision making.

UofLNews: When your time as president comes to an end, what do you hope your legacy will be?

���Dz�����:��I hope that there is a much larger increase of students who are aware of what SGA can do for them. I think that, at its core, student government is a tool and the fact that not enough students are utilizing that tool makes it that much more important that we make ourselves present and make ourselves known.

UofLNews: Why did you choose to attend the University of Louisville?

���Dz�����:��In high school I was always thinking, “I’ll never go to a state school because I want to see places outside of Kentucky.” But then I applied to UofL for the crazy good scholarship bonuses we have. I was lucky enough to become a McConnell Scholar, so the level of opportunity that I was able to get here was something that I didn’t see anywhere else in the country. I also would get to be close to home to see my family every single month. It just worked out that the opportunities aligned perfectly with what I wanted to do.

UofLNews: What’s your favorite thing about UofL?

���Dz�����:��The people that I’ve met here. A lot of them have similar upbringings as me and then so many more of them are so different. I didn’t know there was this microcosm community at UofL. I grew up in Cincinnati, and it’s just totally a different urban and suburban culture. I just love the people I’ve met here, not only on campus but in the city, too. I think it’s a fun, vibrant place to be and I’ve really enjoyed it.

Joining Noble on the Executive Cabinet are:

Kayla Payne – executive vice president: A sophomore political science major, Payne will focus on forming a student diversity coalition and continuing the effort to create an atmosphere of inclusivity for minority groups on campus.

Sabrina Collins – academic vice president: Collins is a sophomore political science major with a double minor in mathematics and women and gender studies. Collins’ period in office will include a focus on improving academic equity among all student groups and ensuring that every student will have the opportunity to succeed.

Lydia Burns – services vice president: A junior political science and mathematics double major, Burns will work to create a greener campus that is affordable and accessible to all students.

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Durbin joined the association this academic year as a way to gain networking opportunities. When she learned there was a vacancy for the region encompassing Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, she interviewed for the position and was appointed on the spot.

“I’m in charge of reaching out to the organizations at the schools (in the region) with job opportunities and networking events,” she says. “We also have a conference in March in New Mexico and a moot court competition.”

Durbin, who has family in Puerto Rico, says she was motivated to get involved with the Hispanic National Bar Association after Hurricane Maria struck the island in September 2017.

“I wanted to be connected with people who understand what I’m going through with the aftermath of that,” she says.

Durbin’s family is in the northwestern coastal town of Camuy, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Maria. Her family was without power for 10 weeks, an aunt’s house was flooded and her grandfather lost part of his roof.

“In comparison, we were lucky, but it was still really hard,” she said. 

Durbin, who was in her first semester of law school during that time, says she was deeply impacted by the natural disaster.

“My world was turned upside down. I didn’t know if my family was alive for two weeks,” she said, adding that she saw images on social media of Camuy’s destruction but wasn’t able to reach family members because cell service was down.

Durbin went to Puerto Rico two months after the hurricane. Electricity was back on, but not reliably. FEMA came to her family while she was there and she says she was struck by the small resources provided: 10 boxes of food and one case of water for five people for two weeks.

“That has really shaped my path in law school,” she said. “I was really kind of unsure about where I wanted to go practice law. Since then, I’ve done a lot of research for my classes and I’m writing a journal article about the power crisis in Puerto Rico following the hurricane.”

Durbin plans to take the Puerto Rico bar exam and wants to practice human and civil rights there.

The UofL Student Awards, now in its 17th year, recognize students based on leadership, service and involvement. A committee selects recipients from student, faculty and staff nominations.

Dean of Students Michael Mardis, who assisted in presenting the awards, said it’s important for the university to take a moment and recognize the hard work of students for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. 

“It’s impressive how much the students at the University of Louisville accomplish. I continue to be impressed by their work ethic, dedication, and commitment to serving the University, our local community, and even the greater global community,” said Mardis. When you listen to the accomplishments of those receiving awards, it’s pleasing to know that these students will be the future leaders of our society.”

Emcees were 2017 Mr. and Ms. Cardinal, Jason Jewell and Jessica Morgan, and 2016 Homecoming King and Queen, Jordan Potts and Keturah Smith.

Winners are listed below:

• Disability Resource Center Student of the Year Award: Zachary Cole Schuhmann
• Intramural and Recreational Sports Solid Performance Awards: Chelsea Case, Zack Carr, Kirby Gooding, Katlyn Hogan, Kaylee Keohane, Aaron Mattingly, Jessica Minnick, Brian Pfeiffer, Brad Proffitt, Shannon Sloss
• ACC Top Six for Service Awards: Taylor Bradley, Gabriella Biedenharn, Kaela Dickerman, Victoria Gabor, Daniel Fecteau, Lauren Kelly
• Adult Learner Awards: Ashley Webb Runyon, Kathryn Anne Green, Dr. Lee W. Bewley, Saundra Kimberlain
• Outstanding Metropolitan College Student Award: Rachel Roarx
• Profiles in Leadership: Katie Mulligan, Alexsis Carter, Gisselle Sierra, Jesse Bailey, Amanda Nitzken, Elshadai Smith-Mensah, Avery Pryor, Lauren Brooks, Jamie Smith, Jayna Winchester, Kendra Malone, Lauryn Handley, Gina Passanisi, Shelby Hatfield, Caleb Bridgwater, Jonathan Fuller, Minoru Chou, Erin Burke, Brian Czerwonka, Peggy Schnell, Gabrielle Oropilla, Ameenah Ikram, Natalia Bilchuk, De’Anna Benson, Blake Manion, Ben Taussig, Phillip Bradley, Destinee Germany, Brittany Lowe
• A&S Peer Advisor of the Year: Blake Gerstner
• A&S Peer Advisor Rookie of the Year: Peggy Schnell
• Most Outstanding Gen 101 Teaching Assistants: Elizabeth Chaddic, Monica Sokolik
• Most Outstanding Orientation Peer Advisor:Jazlyn Eddings
• Michael Cuyjet AAMI Man of the Year: Joshua Cloudy
• AAMI “Uncle” Joe Goodman Spirit Award: Trae McFarland
• AAMI Errol Wint Outstanding Freshman Award: Elliott Kelly
• Cultural Center Advocacy Award: Karen Udoh, Jonas Bastien
• Cultural Center Celebration Award: Eileen Sanchez, X’Zashea Lawson-Mayes
• Cultural Center Engagement Award: Destinee Germany, Alex Nava
• Cultural Center Scholarship Award: Mark Harvey, Josh Cloudy, Des Lane, Elizabeth Pena
• Outstanding Multicultural Student Organization Award: Empowering Ladies Together
• The Cultural Center Outstanding Ally Award: Luke Buckman
• Woodford R. Porter Scholar Service Award: Aliyah Bailey, Kassidy Barnett, Evonie Daugherty, Kendra Ford, Onajia Stubblefield, Esther Tabugo, Jasmine Thomas, Erika Tucker, Anoa Zakee
• PEACC Keeper Award: Dillon Sego
• Katy Garrison LGBT Student Leadership Award: Aisha Bibbs, Caison Black, Sarah Buckley, Brigid Connelly, Chris Knaster, Madison Orman, Tomika Smith, Ciyadh Wells
• Amber Carrier Student Ally Award for LGBT Service: Mellad Khoshnood, The Student Activities Board
• Housing and Residence Life Desk Staff Member of the Year: Colleen Reising
• Housing and Residence Life Facilities Student Staff Member of the Year: Joshua Jean-Marie
• Housing and Residence Life Resident Assistant Leader of the Year: Brittany Chamblee
• CCU Outstanding Freshmen Student Award: Praneeth Goli
• CCU Outstanding Sophomore Student Award: Faizan Ahmed, Matthew Elmlinger, Nicole Fielder
• CCU Outstanding Junior Student Award: Kenzie King, Gabrielle Oropilla, Sam Stevens
• CCU Outstanding Senior Student Award: Elizabeth Ehlman, Piyani Gandhi, Bridgette Hildreth, Ryan Long, Charles Shofner, Ben Taussig
• CCU Outstanding Student Awards for Graduate and Professional Students: T. Abraham de Witt, Lindsey Okoroafo, Rina (REE-na) Perlin, Nicki Stricklin
• CCU Outstanding Student Awards for Graduate and Professional Students: Alli Lake, Tomika Smith, Keith O. Auspland
• Spirit of Community (Individual): Maya White
• Spirit of Service (Individual): Natalie Spiller, Joey Wilkerson
• Social Justice and Inclusion Award (Individual): Kelsey Voit
• Social Justice and Inclusion Award (Student Group or Organization): National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Outstanding New Program: “Cardinal Family Fun Day!” by the Student Activities Board
• Outstanding Program of the Year: ”Diverse Faculty, Staff, and New Graduate Student Meet & Greet” by the Minority Association of Graduate Students
• Collaboration Award: Student Organization for Alumni Relations, Student Activities Board
• Outstanding Student Employee Award: Brittany Chouhan – Alumni Relations, Elizabeth Ehlman – REACH, Kelsey Headden – Ekstrom Library, Nicole Robertson – School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS),
• Advisor of the Year: Natalie Oliner – Adviser of Speed Spectrum
• Harold Adams Award: Kathy Pendleton
• Outstanding New Organization of the Year Under 50 Members: Speed Spectrum
• Outstanding New Organization of the Year 50+ Members: National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association
• Student Organization of the Year Under 50 Members: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Xi Chapter
• Student Organization of the Year 50+ Members: Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
• The Cardinal Award of Excellence – Scholar/Leader: Ryan Long