Of all the students that crowd into the Atrium, junior SarahAtkinson, sitting at a tiny table one morning, will be the onlystudent who will represent them all.
She, along with 13 others, will help whittle down the list ofcandidates applying for Ball State's next president.
Atkinson said she found out she was chosen as the student memberof the presidential search committee just one day before itsmembers were publicly announced.
Atkinson said she received a phone call Nov. 13 from Board ofTrustees President Tom DeWeese informing her of her selection.
"I had no idea I'd be chosen," Atkinson said, wearing a bigsmile.
She said she didn't even know she had been nominated for theslot.
"I was really surprised, but I'm honored to contribute to adecision that will impact Ball State," she said.
The committee will review candidate resumes and conductinterviews to find a replacement for President Blaine Brownellafter he leaves after Jan. 31. The group's first meeting has notbeen scheduled.
Atkinson, though, said she already has a general idea of thetype of president she would like to see.
"I hope we find someone who's willing to see Ball State in thebigger picture and wants to expand it," Atkinson said. "We're in agreat place right now."
Atkinson, a Brownsburg native, said she is making the most ofher time at Ball State. She said her position on the searchcommittee is another addition to her busy schedule, which includestwo majors -- residential property management and English -- andfive minors: classical cultures, classical languages, history,humanities and psychology of human development.
Add to that Atkinson's three positions on campus: a member of acommittee to hold an Honors College reunion for Whitinger Scholars,a peer mentor for University College and a worker in the UniversityPolice's records office.
On top of all that, Atkinson's spare time is filled with hersorority, Kappa Alpha Theta; Cardinal Corps.; the ResidentialProperty Management Association, where she is treasurer; andseveral honoraries.
"I love getting involved," Atkinson said. "We're only here for ashort time, and I want to make the most of it."
Tony Edmonds, professor of history, said he first noticed anambitious spark in Atkinson when he interviewed her for theWhitinger Scholarship.
"She is so savvy and smart," Edmonds said. "She's got a reallyanalytical mind."
Edmonds also worked with Atkinson when she took a course at theVirginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, in which she completedthe Honors program in one semester.
Since Edmonds met her in 2001, he has had her in seven of hisclasses.
"The Board could not have made a better choice," Edmonds said."She's extremely mature for someone who isn't even 21 yet."
Edmonds said he is impressed with Atkinson's ability to talkwith people older than her. During the course at the Virginia BallCenter, he said, Atkinson spoke comfortably with people in their60s and 70s.
Also, Atkinson interacts with many people, he said.
"She will be very effective (on the committee) and will be aperson people will listen to," Edmonds said.
Edmonds said he doesn't think Atkinson will be just the tokenstudent on the committee; she will influence the decision to namethe next president.
Atkinson said she hopes to represent the student body.
She said she knows this might be difficult to do. To getstudents' input, Atkinson said she wants to hold one or two forumswhere students can describe what type of president they want.
She said she also thought of creating an e-mail account to takestudent suggestions.
"I want to be the representative for the students," Atkinsonsaid. "I'm open to suggestions."
That's one of the reasons Douglas McConkey, vice president forStudent Affairs and Enrollment Management, said he recommendedAtkinson to DeWeese.
"She's thoughtful, articulate and she'll represent the studentsvery well and be highly respected," McConkey said.
McConkey said he got to know Atkinson through her studentactivities, especially Cardinal Corps., which chooses students torepresent the university during basketball and football games andmore.
McConkey did not give a specific reason why Student GovernmentAssociation President Jayson Manship was not chosen for the searchcommittee, though the SGA president served on the committee thathelped select Brownell.
McConkey said the decision to choose Atkinson was not meant tohurt or offend anyone.
"Jayson is a good president," McConkey said. "That (Atkinson'sappointment) is no reflection upon anybody else.
"It's a nice opportunity for Sarah. She seems to be a verypulled-together person."
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