Students advocate for student advocate
Student Body President Emeritus, Joseph Shepard, addresses SGA during a session.
Joined by members of the Multicultural Greek Council, Student Body President Emeritus Joseph Shepard addressed the Student Government Association Wednesday with concerns that the association’s student advocate, Rheanna Pierce, was being treated unfairly by SGA’s executive branch.
Shepard said Pierce has been left out of the decision-making process.
He said that he has received complaints throughout the year about Pierce’s exclusion.
“We believe that Rheanna Pierce has not been included in important conversations, meetings, and gatherings this year with SGA.” Shepard said.
Shepard said an SGA press release from Student Body President Paige Hungate “acknowledging every other cabinet member except for Student Advocate Rheanna Pierce,” inspired him to speak up.
Student Advocate, Rheanna Pierce, sits in the back of the SGA meeting at a separate table.
“We believe that this is very disheartening and we believe that this oversight is, again, a cherry on top of everything that [Pierce] has been excluded from this entire year,” Shepard said.
Shepard said he believes Pierce’s exclusion from a meeting with President John Bardo and his executive team was intentional.
“She deserves to be kept in the loop. She deserves to be part of this team,” Shepard said. “She should not have to constantly ask for permission to be a part of the important conversations.”
Student Body Vice President Breck Towner said he will make an effort moving forward to include Pierce.
“For me personally, I could do a better job with word of mouth,” Towner said. “Stop her in the office and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got something going on. I’d like you to be there. I want you to be there. You’re important to this.’ That’s something I can do better moving forward.”
LAS Sen. Kenon Brinkley asked Student Body President Paige Hungate if Pierce can join the other officers in giving a weekly report.
“We can definitely talk about that with Student Advocate Pierce,” Hungate said.
Returning Adult Sen. Kathy Bond said she didn’t know who Pierce was.
“This is a case in point,” Shepard said. “Rheanna is your student advocate. This is the young lady that works day in, day out.”
“It is the responsibility of the cabinet and everybody in this room to make sure you know who your student advocate is.”
Selena Favela is a former photo editor for The Sunflower. She majored in graphic design. She is from Wichita, Kansas.
Things that make you go hhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm • Oct 13, 2017 at 8:53 pm
Even before reading this article this photograph conveys so much.
Two people standing up advocating and giving voice for students who are disregarded while two others could care less for the dialogue on the issues. I feel badly for the campus community of WSU seeing the disengaged and possibly hostile SGA leadership they have been provided. Those in positions of power should be aware their roles are to be open to listening, learning, and building bridges to insure all students are valued. My perception is this SGA Administration may not appreciate being a leader means leading for all. I perceive they may be guilty of emulating leadership they see from “others” on campus on a daily basis…
Steve • Oct 13, 2017 at 10:39 am
The look on Paige’s face says it all. She can’t believe that a black man is being allowed to speak in her presence.
Steve 2.0 • Oct 13, 2017 at 12:57 pm
It seems like she was trying to digest the exaggeration that was being hurled.
?? • Oct 13, 2017 at 3:12 pm
Hey, did Paige leave the room during the discussion?
$33,000 • Oct 13, 2017 at 7:07 am
I doubt we will see a $33,000 investigation of Paige and how she has treated people. Probably need a $40,000 investigation of the members of the Multicultural Greek Council. Imagine the cost at $40,000 per person! Get ready for another David Moses quote about fairness in investigations.
? • Oct 13, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Do you think we will ever see how Shepard gave himself a raise and squandered funds from SGA to support his ego?
Nope • Oct 13, 2017 at 3:11 pm
No. We won’t see what didn’t happen. If it did, the private attorney would have noted it and rung him up on it. Do you think WSU didn’t have the private attorney looking for anything and everything possible to get Joseph on? Please. You don’t work months on something and come back again and again just to ring up the bill. You are hunting for anything possible.
Richard Reed, SGA Dir. Emeritus • Oct 12, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Of course she is at another table. She is not a Senator being she represents students in appeals and used to also challenge SGA Senate actions on behave of students to the University Suprene Court. She is not part of the Senate. It would be like the Supreme Court not having a seat in Congress. This is SGA 101.
Tex • Oct 13, 2017 at 11:40 am
Rich, you really need to move on with your life and not get involved in Student Government. You were there, did your time, now move on. You can talk about the silly drama and reminisce with friends, but seriously find another hobby instead of attending meetings–I don’t think they want or need your advice.
FakeBardo • Oct 12, 2017 at 2:19 pm
Paige: “Why are there so many black people near me”
Fake Joseph Shepard • Oct 12, 2017 at 1:53 pm
What is this? A fellow student who needs saving? Fake Joseph Shepard to the rescue!
I have always enjoyed taking things like this and blowing them out of proportion in the public sphere. Instead of discussing this with the Student Government Executives first, which was probably a more considerate approach that would have resolved the issue, I wanted to make a spectacle out of it.
Why? How else would I get the attention that I so desperately crave! Especially now that I am a fairly insignificant person with no power or authority within Student Government. Besides, discretion and respect is only important when it is me who would be embarrassed.
#SaviorComplex #INeedAttention #StandWithFakeShepard
Regards,
Fake Joseph Shepard, Fake Student Body President, Emeritus, Wichita State University
Teresa Nguyen • Oct 12, 2017 at 6:38 pm
It seems you might be a little jealous of Joseph. Instead of taking time to bash him and his willingness to stand up for those who are put in situations where they can’t stand up for themselves, why don’t you look at the situation in its fullest context. You might be a bit intimidated by Joseph, but don’t allow your insecurities to cover up the fact that he’s simply the advocate that so many people need. It seems you #needattention when you make post under a fake name. You admire/idolize him so much you enjoy pretending to be him.
-- • Oct 12, 2017 at 12:52 pm
Could you perhaps be empathetic and use a photo that shows this person not under obvious stress?
That being said, I don’t know Ms. Pierce personally but I was involved with the Occupy SGA protests and observed her leadership from the fringes. She had the incredibly difficult job of having to communicate to both parties and advocate for students’ wellbeing amidst long hours and tension from both sides. She maintained composure and professionalism throughout.
I have very little respect for Hungate, SGA, and this university’s administration. Rheanna though, we see the work that you do. Keep going.