Walker looks back on his tenure, accomplishments as president

Files and boxes line the dark, wooden desk, and the plaques that once lined the walls sit in an unorganized pile waiting to be taken out. R.B. Walker leaves his position as SGA president carrying the awards from his wall but leaving behind the holes where they hung.

The same can be said about his tenure as SGA president; he exits the position with his accomplishments in tow, but they will leave a mark on the office from what he has done.

Walker's theme for his time spent in his third floor office in the Ferguson Center was "empowering students." Through the establishment of the first Student Bill of Rights, fighting for students' rights in the Strip, lobbying for no sales tax on textbooks and lobbying for more funding for higher education, Walker said he feels he has fully accomplished the goals he set out just a year ago.

"I'm satisfied and proud of what we accomplished in our year. We did everything in what we said we would do and I think we exceeded that," he said.

The notion of the SGA being above everyone else is a myth his administration has strived to bring down, Walker said.

"I think we made student government matter to more people, and I think we did that by putting student government on the same level as the students. And I think that's where it needs to be. It doesn't need to be on an ivory tower," Walker said.

"It's difficult to say what the biggest accomplishment was, but, from a personal standpoint, I think I'm proud of the way student government has redefined itself. We were able to advocate for students with the monopoly of student voice," he said.

That "monopoly of student voice" has allowed his administration to pass initiatives such as the first Student Bill of Rights, he said.

"I think the Student Bill of Rights passed with overwhelming support from the Senate, so I don't think there was any controversy," Walker said. "I'm glad we do have a bill of rights now, while it is the responsibility of student government to provide funding and put on Homecoming, the Student Bill of Rights provides a governing philosophy for student government. We can really go to bat for students and it will hold student government to a high level of responsibility."

Another aspect of the past year Walker said he is proud of is the focus on the addition of new technologies at the University.

"Obviously, wireless Internet is the real nuts-and-bolts way to increase technology on campus. We've gotten a commitment out of the University to make wireless a priority - every dorm from now on that is built will have wireless Internet," he said.

Walker said he feels the SGA has an obligation not only to the students of the University, but those around the state.

"I think that, since the University of Alabama is the flagship for the state, we do have a commitment for the state. We went to Montgomery with the intent to lobby for the textbook legislation, but I could tell that the legislators in the halls were excited to see college students down there," he said.

The same obligation took the forefront in the Strip debate last year.

"Because of the debate with the Strip and the bar hours, we made it very clear that students have 25,000 voices in the city and we refuse to be ignored. We were able to play a significant role in making sure students are not ignored by their city," Walker said.

Walker said he sees the University going nowhere but up in the future.

"I think that the University of Alabama will be the Harvard of the South. It will be the school of choice for the best and brightest in America," he said.

"I think we've had a very productive year and we've produced a lot of great initiatives that I encourage other administrations to follow up with. One year isn't a long time, and that's one of the biggest things I've learned this year," Walker said. "I can honestly say that I have seen this University grow an unbelievable amount, and how fortunate I am to be in the position I am now in the time and place the University is in."