In early January, The Famuan received a copy of now former SGA Vice President Natalie Antenor’s resignation letter before it was released to the public. Senate Pro-Tempore Corrie Watts’ resignation letter was attached.
SGA leaders faced criticism throughout the previous semester, and the resignation letters prompted more speculation.
Antenor, a third-year accounting student, served as a freshman and sophomore senator.
Although reserved and observant, Antenor was dedicated to making a difference in SGA and she was an advocate for the student body.
But her passion for the organization had to be put on the back burner when she realized she wasn’t focusing as much on her demanding major.
“Being a perfectionist prohibited me from really focusing on my studies because I wanted to make sure that we got things done — I just wanted to make sure that we were making what the students wanted come into fruition, “ Antenor said.
Antenor said she didn’t care to be in front of cameras or on stages, but rather talking to students and working late nights in her office for the sake of the student body.
The Rochard Morricette-Antenor administration faced the most criticism after this year’s Homecoming in early October. Some students said that the events were underwhelming and unorganized. Even the popular Homecoming concert allowed students in for free after it couldn’t sell enough tickets.
Antenor said that Homecoming is a group effort shared among SGA and the university, and SGA should not receive all the blame.
Her biggest regret was allowing student volunteers with no SGA experience to be so hands-on with running Homecoming.
Antenor says she had a vision to improve SGA internally with what she repeatedly called “tunnel vision.”
But her efforts came to a halt when they began to interfere with her ability to master being vice president and a scholar.
“Some of my professors were literally waiting for me to resign because they knew that I’m such a perfectionist in nature,” Antenor said.
Antenor said she’s proud of what she was able to accomplish as vice president.
“I made the promise that we’re gonna give you guys 100 passports. And we’re gonna try to create a way to keep the initiative going. This is something that can be established for years to come,” Antenor said.
In the resignation letter, Antenor wished her successor, Alexys Lynn, all the best and believes that she will do well in the position.
Antenor said that she will now be focused solely on accounting, as she has numerous goals she’d like to accomplish during the course of her career.
Much like Antenor, former Senate Pro-Tempore Watts’ resignation came to be after choosing to focus on his plans for graduate school.
“My resignation was due to the hardships endured during the fall 2019 semester. I was working part time, a student full time, and held a senate pro tempore position. My work ethic, time management, and personal responsibilities were challenged,” Watts said. “I failed to maintain what was necessary to remain in good standing – which lead to my resignation.”
Despite the student body’s perception of SGA’s “troubled” condition. Watts views the current phase in a brighter light.
“The current condition of SGA is in a remodeling phase. Throughout my past three years in student government, this academic term I’ve witnessed all three branches come together and work under one accord. I’ve witnessed branches actually utilizing each other for their certain duties. I believe a central idea is that when working together the job becomes easier,” Watts said.
Although the resignations of Antenor and Watts, due to academic reasons, may seem alarming to current and potential Rattlers, it is a very public lesson of balance and self-care.
In many cases, students who work on campus as leaders may put their position before their academics. Watts warns otherwise.
“These positions aren’t your only job as a student on this campus. If there is one thing I could tell the next pro temp it would be to put school first, work second and everything after that,” Watts said.