September 2003

Briefly speaking: Meet four student leaders

	Sara Henry, right, and Kalen Gallagher are president and vice president, respectively, of the undergraduate student government.

Among the thousands of undergraduates on the UC Davis campus, there are four students in particular with whom students may want to familiarize themselves.

Sara Henry is president of the Associated Students UC Davis, the undergraduate student government. The Los Angeles native is a senior majoring in both international studies and history. Kalen Gallagher is a third-year student from San Jose. He balances his role as vice president while majoring in both political science and economics.

The pair took office last spring. In addition to overseeing numerous campus units and a budget of $9.6 million, they have set several goals for their year in office. This includes forming a campus safety unit, establishing a formal student Bill of Rights and creating a parking shuttle to run from outlying parking areas to the center of campus.

They also represent the student body to the city.

"I feel the relationship between the city and the university needs to improve, and I think students are feeling that," Henry said, adding that she is looking at ways to work on that relationship.

	Mike Lagrama and Donielle Robinson serve as liaisons between students and the campus administration.

Those students who wish to communicate the student perspective to administrators or to learn more about how the administration works should feel free to contact Donielle Robinson and Michael Lagrama. With desks in the Student Affairs Office in Mrak Hall, they act as links between students and the administration, faculty and staff.

Both are fourth-year students, but each brings a different perspective to the position. Robinson, originally from Richmond, is majoring in community and regional development with a minor in African and African American studies. She has experience working with students at the campus's Cross Cultural Center. Lagrama is a sociology major from Sacramento who has worked extensively in student government.

Both say serving as assistants to the chancellor provides new insight.

"It's a challenge because you have to be able to have an administrative perspective as well as a student perspective, and you have to find balance there," Lagrama says.

"I think we get to see another side of the administration that most students don't see," Robinson adds. "We get to see (administrators) as people."

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