Gateway

Issue date: 1/20/09 Section: News

From left to right: Neil Bonacci, student regent and president of Student Government; John Christensen, chancellor; and Kevin Huddleston, vice president of Student Government. (Anna Mahoney/The Gateway) [Click to enlarge]

UNO students have two new representatives in Student Government: president and student regent Neal Bonacci and vice president Kevin Huddleston.

Bonacci and Huddleston were sworn in at an installation ceremony in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom on Jan. 13. About 50 people attended the ceremony.

In his installation speech, Bonacci said he wanted to make UNO into the "University of Endless Opportunity," instead of the university's more infamous nickname, the University of No Opportunity.

Chancellor John Christensen congratulated both candidates.

"I believe that Neal and Kevin are well prepared to accept the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that will be available to them over the next year," Christensen said.

A relationship between his office and the student regent's could only be good for the university, Christensen said.

"Personally, I look forward to having campus-wide discussions regarding ideas on how to make UNO more efficient and more effective and an even greater place to learn and to teach and to work," Christensen said.

Christensen also promised an increase in student involvement in university decisions.

"We want to make sure that student voices are heard on this campus," Christensen said.

The student regent represents UNO students as a non-voting member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. He is also the leader of the executive branch of Student Government, including having veto power over Student Senate resolutions.

The vice president is charged with making several critical appointments, including filling vacant Student Senate and Student Court seats, appointing students-at-large to the Student Activities Budget Commission and nominating three Student Publications Committee members. He also replaces the student regent should he be unable to fulfill his duties.

Bonacci is a senior with plans to graduate in December with a bachelor's in criminal justice. He is president of the Student Orientation Leaders Organization and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Huddleston plans on graduating this December with a master's degree in architectural engineering. While attending UNO for his undergraduate degree, Huddleston served as a student senator as well as recruitment director, vice-president and president of Pi Kappa Alpha.

In his speech, Huddleston emphasized the exciting expansion of the campus as well as his appreciation for the level education he had received at UNO.

"I know that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the quality and caliber of this university," Huddleston said. "The University of Nebraska at Omaha is truly a gem to this city."

Lee Denker, president of the UNO Alumni Association, presented both Bonacci and Huddleston with a scholarship sponsored by the Alumni Association.

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