Student Spotlight

By Amber Burg–Morningside College Student Government President, Jack O’Brien, has been involved on campus since day one.

He started out his freshman year as a Freshman Representative on the Senate. The following year he was the Student Advocate. This year he leads student government as the president. However, that is not all he is involved in.

Jack also serves as the Sinfonia Fraternity’s secretary and is a resident assistant in the Plex. Outside of campus he is the Woodbury County Democrats treasurer.

During his time at Morningside College, Jack has made multiple changes on campus. He was heavily involved with starting a Transfer Student Union to help transfer students transition on to campus and feel more at home. This was done in an effort to help lower the transfer student drop out rates. There has also been a boost in groups on campus. The organizations available to join jumped from 27 to 42.

“Doing this job, I think this has been the biggest impact I have had on campus,” said Jack. Being in a position of authority and having this lucky position of getting to talk to students and articulate them to the board, faculty, and staff.”

Jack was also involved with the grand opening of the Krone Advising Center and the Buhler Rohlfs Hall. He was one of the selected people who got to cut the opening ribbon.

“That was very cool to be apart of that aspect of Morningside’s history, opening the first building in how many decades,” said Jack.

Jack’s days are filled with meetings, board meetings, classes, homework, work, and other involvements. Even when he gets the chance for some down time he still tries to make that time as productive as possible.

“Going to board meetings with the board of directors this last semester was really inspiring,” said Jack. It was really cool to represent something I really cared about.“

Despite his busy schedule, he has made the Dean’s List every semester. He also earned the opportunity to travel to D.C. for the summer of 2014 for an internship with the Senator Harkin. There he worked on labor and women’s issues.

“I got to meet nearly all of the senators last summer,” said Jack. “D.C. was really positive and productive.”

Jack has been involved with politics in multiple ways since he was six-years-old. It started out with him stapling signs and has grown into more since then.

“I remember when I was like six my Dad took me to campaign with him for Gore,” said Jack.

After graduation in May of 2016, Jack plans to attend law school. After he receives his law degree, he wants to work with child protection or sexual assault cases.