Chrystina Meador is certainly a visible figure on campus, as the senior resident assistant in the North Avenue Apartments and Suites, a student assistant in Resident Life and a research assistant for political science professor Tim Casey. However, one of Meador’s other important positions is the director of external affairs for Colorado Mesa University’s Associated Student Government.
As a political science major, Meador explained she has always been interested in and aware of ASG, even though this is the junior’s first year as an official member of the organization. Meador became involved with ASG because many of her friends were, including current president and vice president, Ben Linzey and Gabby Gile.
During Linzey and Gile’s campaign last spring, Meador discussed their campaign because she wanted to know the difference between their plan for ASG and their opponent’s. After these conversations, Meador decided she liked the direction Linzey and Gile wanted to take ASG. She volunteered for their campaign and sometimes helped them come up with slogans.
Later, Linzey and Gile approached her regarding the position of director of external affairs. The position was not one Meador sought, but one that she seems passionate and knowledgeable about nonetheless.
“Basically, on the surface, it just looks like a bunch of event planning,” Meador said of her position. “This year, it’s definitely focused on student engagement, and how can we get clubs and organizations working smarter, I guess, and working together and using each other as resources.”
Some of the upcoming activities that Meador helps coordinate between ASG and campus clubs are the homecoming tailgate, carnival and parade. ASG will also host a safety day event on Tuesday of homecoming week, where students can meet Grand Junction police officers and firefighters.
For Meador, activities like these are important because they can help people become aware of clubs, especially some of the smaller ones.
Increasing club engagement and awareness on campus is also one of Meador’s goals for her position this upcoming year, evidenced by the fact that she stated this as one of the main descriptions of her job for ASG.
Another of her goals for ASG, in particular, involves increasing voter turnout in the spring elections.
“I really just want ASG to be a little bit more competitive,” Meador said. “I love that our senators are in the positions they are, and you know, they had an easier route, but I want it to be a little tougher for them. I want more people engaged.”
‘Engagement’ was certainly the keyword for Meador regarding her position.
“Really all the hats I wear [on campus] is focused on student engagement and how can we help students,” Meador said.
