SGA president divulges crazy schedule

A typical day in the life of SGA president Taylor Brorby '10: Wake up at 8 a.m. or earlier, exercise, attend morning classes, to to chapel, come into the Student Government Association (SGA) office, eat lunch, go to afternoon classes and return to the SGA office for office hours. Depending on the week there will be meetings with faculty or think-tank meetings thrown in, along with bothering professors at their office hours. His evening often includes dinner, homework, more meetings, more homework, playing some Super Smash Brothers with his pod and going to bed.

His honest bed time? "Usually after three," Brorby said. "Honestly, I don't need much sleep. If I get more than three hours of sleep, it's a good night. I literally run on a twenty-one hour day."

When I asked if he was fueled by caffeine, SGA Vice President Kim Spitzfaden ‘11 said, "He goes through Diet Cokes by the 12-pack."

However, Brorby said that he simply likes the way Diet Coke, Diet Mountain Dew and coffee taste. Regardless, Brorby was kind enough to take an hour out of his busy, busy day to chat about what it's like to be the SGA president.

Interactions among folks in the SGA office seem cordial. However, Brorby said he tries to strike a balance. "The first few months of the school year were a learning time," he said. "I had to learn how to balance friendship and authority. I had to let the SGA leaders know that when I give them a critique, that's me talking to them as the president. They know it's not personal. And when I leave this office, I can leave that behind and I honestly think of myself as just Taylor."

Brorby said his experience as president has been humbling. He said that while most people view it as a position of power, he notes that the position stretches him, more so than most people might think.

First off, his schedule might provoke most students, even the busiest of Oles, to tears at its frenetic pace. He also represents the entire student body. It is difficult to collect and articulate the opinions and desires of 3,000 students. "That's why I exercise," Brorby said. "It gives you all those good endorphins!"

While he did express the stressful elements of his position, more than anything, he talked about how honored he was to have this influence.

"It's really a great honor to be on an equal playing field with faculty and to know that your opinion really does count and people really do look to you for help in decision making," he said.

Several people walking in and out of Brorby's busy office during the interview offered their descriptions of Brorby. The near-unanimous assessment was "crazy," which they assured they meant in the best possible sense. As a lighthearted example,  another SGA official sat down on the couch across from Taylor and proceeded to throw cheese cubes at the SGA president until Taylor caught one in his mouth.

Another popular description was that he loves being a ginger (redhead), an affinity he confirmed. "I think being a ginger does set me apart," Brorby said. "It gives people a way to identify me."

According to Gabriel Rholl '10, Brorby is "fun and intellectual at the same time. He's very smiley. A social butterfly."

Brorby admitted to being high-strung at times and vice president Spitzfaden said  she's the one to calm him down when he's stressed. However, Taylor also said he purposely surrounds himself with mellow people.

He also admitted to being a practical joker. He has thrown water on his podmates, shot people with nerf guns and thrown candy around the office. Spitzfaden claimed she could still feel where the box of Nerds had hit her head.

Such antics likely help to set the often-amicable atmosphere in the SGA office. Brorby and Spitzfaden sat at their desks, signed Senate proposals and joked around with the various people that came in and out of their office. The president/vice president office itself sports a comfy couch and silly drawings that decorate the walls and door.

Brorby's door in the SGA office is almost never closed when he's in for business. It seems apparent that the pressures associated with any kind of presidency don't seem to get to this motivated St. Olaf figure.

peris@stolaf.edu