Having attended two ASUO Senate meetings after learning of his appointment, sophomore Chris Bocchicchio said he feels ready and eager to join the body if Senate confirms him at tonight’s meeting.
Appointed by the executive to Senate Seat 13 representing business majors, Bocchicchio was “really impressed by how smooth the conversation went and how smoothly the meetings go,” he said. “I’m really excited to be a part of that.” Bocchicchio will fill the seat left empty by former Sen. Ryan Lassi, who resigned earlier this term when he realized the time commitment was too great.
Bocchicchio said he wanted the job because he likes to help the community and sees the Senate appointment as an opportunity to do so. In Senate, he has an opportunity to better the campus and give a voice to business students.
Bocchicchio is a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, a morale captain for the 12-hour, for-charity Dance Marathon, and a member of the Junior Interfraternity Council, a subdivision of the self-governing body of all fraternities at the University that shadows the IFC.
Mary O’Neil, Co-Director of Recruitment and Morale of Dance Marathon, hired Bocchicchio to his position as a morale captain and attested to his caring nature.
“He understood the cause and he knew it was more than just a fun event,” O’Neil said. “He’s a really passionate person. I could just tell that he was going to be good for (the job).”
O’Neil said she thinks Bocchicchio will be a good senator because of the qualities she has noticed through her limited interactions.
“He’s open to anything and puts 100 percent into what he does,” she said. “His energy is contagious — you want to get to know him. He’s a great person.”
Rachel Johnson, a faculty advisor for Delta Tau Delta, agreed.
“Chris is warm, engaging and inclusive,” Johnson said. “People feel comfortable around him and are drawn to him because of his caring and outgoing personality.”
Those who know Bocchicchio also know his work ethic is just as enthusiastic as his personality. Johnson said Bocchicchio has “proven to be a hard worker and a team player,” as is evident in his impeccable organizational skills and his “ability to get other people involved and interested.”
In speaking with others about this next endeavor in his college career, Bocchicchio said he was excited to explain to his friends and classmates in the Lundquist College of Business that they are represented and have a voice.
“They would ask me, ‘What do you do?’ And I tell them some of the things I get to talk about and discuss and vote on — showing them where their money is getting spent. Some people had no idea,” he said.
Bocchicchio said he found the discussion on Lane Transit District and athletic department contracts at the last Senate meeting on Nov. 18 particularly interesting. True to the idea of student representation, Bocchicchio discussed the matter with other business students and appreciated their input.
“It’s been really cool to hear the responses and really get the students involved,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to finding out what the business school students need, if they need something from the ASUO, and make sure their voices are heard,” Bocchicchio said.
Although he has not assumed the seat yet, Bocchicchio is happy to have made it this far.
“It’s a great honor just to be appointed to the position, it’s really humbling for me,” Bocchicchio said. “I’ve been really thankful to get the chance to represent the students.”
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