The student service vice president is charged with improving thenon-academic lives of students at Northwestern, and according tothis year’s officeholder, it involves almost everything besidesclass.

“The SSVP works to improve students lives, and that includesthings students interact with every day … problems at dorms,transportation, safety in crossing the street,” said Tamara Kagel,outgoing student services vice president.

Under the leadership of the student services vice president, acommittee of senators handles issues ranging from food service tosocial activities to campus safety.

Kagel, a Communication senior, said leading an effectivecommittee of senators is key to getting projects completed. Aneffective officeholder, she said, does not push a personal agendabut serves as an adviser to committee members who tackle projectsof their own.

Stephanie Yang, a Shepard Residential College senator who hasserved on the student services committee for two quarters, saidKagel’s support encouraged her to work hard. Yang, a Weinbergfreshman, said future vice presidents should follow Kagel’s leadand motivate committee members to do their own projects.

A student services vice president spends a lot of time lobbyingadministrators about their committee members’ ideas as well. Kagelsaid she held about four one-hour meetings a week withadministrators this year.

The position also demands more time than any other ASG office,said Mike Fong, outgoing ASG president.

According to Fong, a Weinberg senior officeholders need tomanage their time and make sure to focus on benefitting moststudents.

“(The SSVP) needs to be extremely in touch with the NU communityat large,” said Fong, who was student services vice presidentbefore becoming president. “They need to be able to relate to alldifferent segments of the community to see where their needs arebecause we have such a diverse population here.”