Brandon Carroll, Virginia Tech '08, was named Student Government Association President on campus in mid-April. In his position, he will represent the student body on campus in its interactions with the university administration.

We recently caught up with Carroll and did the following e-mail interview.

Delta Sig: When were you elected? When does your term begin/end?

Carroll: I was elected on April 1, 2009, however results were not announced until April 3rd. I was officially sworn into office on April 13, 2009 at 5:30 pm. My term has officially already begun. My term will end around mid April next year.
 
Delta Sig: Tell us about your main responsibilities of your position.

Carroll: My main responsibility is to represent the undergraduate student body at Virginia Tech. I am their voice to the administration. Also, I oversee an executive team of around 40+ people, not including committee members. SGA is the largest student organization at VT. We have programs like the Big Event, which this year had over 5500 participants. Also, we have Relay for Life, which raised over $500,000, becoming the number #1 Relay in the country. Also, we have Hokie Effect, which has sold as many as 96,000 shirts. I have the vision and direction, but the executive members are the ones who will deserve all of the credit. 
 
Delta Sig: What are your goals for the position?

Carroll: Our goals for this position are simple – to represent every voice at Virginia Tech. Often, a select few talk so much that the minority are unable to be heard. We want to change that.  We want to find ways to amplify the voices of the minority, so that every perspective can be heard on campus. Also, we want to ensure that the students’ voices are respected at Virginia Tech. Our platform was based around the students. We actually let the students choose our number one platform between Transportation, Diversity, Traditions, and First-Year Experience. The students chose Transportation, which means that will be our number one focus. Also, we ran on Sustainability, Voice, and Lifestyle. We hope to make Virginia Tech more sustainable by instituting new programs and working with various environmental groups to make VT greener. As I said earlier, the voice is the single most important aspect about our vision within Student Government. Lastly, we ran on a lifestyle platform. For this, our goal is to make an impact on the students’ daily lives. Something as simple as having less time to wait in line for food will affect one’s lifestyle.

All in all, we hope to empower the student body, so that we can work together to make VT the best that it can possibly be. We hope to unite the campus for progressive, positive change.

My personal goal is to reinvent the role of President. I want this role to be less about status and recognition and more about focusing on making the school better, regardless of who receives the credit. 
 
Delta Sig: Why did you decide to run?

Carroll: I decided to run because SGA is my passion. Service is important to me. Serving the student body is the most important thing to me. I want SGA to be considered the most open, actively listening organization on campus. I want students to feel comfortable talking to us about the issues on campus. Building a strong team dynamic was critical to me, since I knew it would allow us to best serve the needs of the students!

We have an opportunity to accomplish some groundbreaking initiatives next year for the student body. We have very successful programs already, but we have an opportunity to ensure that the students’ voices are respected on this campus. We have the opportunity to unite for progressive positive change. Knowing this – is what keeps me up late at night and helps me wake up early every morning. It is the driving force that motivates me. 
 
Delta Sig: Has your experience in the Fraternity helped you prepare for this position?

Carroll: I actually rushed Delta Sig because of a former SGA President, Adeel Khan. After April 16th (Editor's Note: the 2007 shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech), I saw his courage and calm and collective demeanor – it inspired me. My story is actually very interesting. I almost transferred from Virginia Tech after my first semester. I wasn’t myself. I am from a very small town of just 5,500 people, and I have known all of my best friends since 1st grade. So, to come to a school with roughly 23,000 students was intimidating to say the least. I tried so hard to fit in that I became uncomfortable with whom I was becoming.

After April 16th, I saw the resilience of Adeel and the Hokie community, and I was extremely moved. I ended up applying for SGA because it was something I was passionate about. Then, Adeel mentioned Delta Sig to me and I came to some rush events, and every guy was genuine and showed not told what true brotherhood is all about.  The brotherhood gave me the confidence that I could run for such a prestigious position, and I am forever grateful for their help. 
 
Delta Sig: What else are you involved in on campus and what positions have you held in the Kappa Delta Chapter?

Carroll: I am a Mentor for the McNair Scholars Mentor Program, where I help low-income high school students as they begin thinking about college. Currently, I act as the Directory of Publicity for the Class of 2010. Last year, I helped market ring sales and Ring Dance, one of our campuses most cherished traditions. My main job was to oversee and execute all of the marketing from selling rings up to the actual event.

I am currently one of the co-founders of a soon to be non-profit organization Actively Caring 4 People, an organization that inspires people to incorporate random acts of kindness into their daily lives. We’ve given out 1,600 bands that people can give to others when they see someone do an intentional act of kindness The whole point is to pay it forward. I firmly believe the true testament of a man’s character is how he treats someone who does him no good.

I’ve always been an active member of Delta Sig and supported our strong values grounded in our Brotherhood, however I have never held any leadership positions. We have so many talented brothers in the Kappa Delta Chapter – I have learned so much from each and every one of them.

This past year, I was the Assistant Director of Hokies on Fire for the Student Government Association. We made Blackout shirts and really enhanced the atmosphere for our basketball games. In the past, I was a Resident Adviser in the largest all male dorm on the east coast, Pritchard Hall. I mentored 35 freshman and helped transition them from high school to college.

I have been Co-Director of Marketing with the Student Government Association, where I oversaw all of our marketing operations, including selling 96,000 Hokie Effect t-shirts. I used to be active with the Environmental Coalition – I brought a speaker to talk about the Chesapeake Bay, which is close to my hometown in Maryland. I used to be active in VTU by helping plan concerts. 
  
Delta Sig: What is your major and year?

Carroll: I am a rising Senior, studying to be a Certified Financial Planner, while minoring in Leadership. 
 
Delta Sig: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Carroll: I have learned so much through this process. I have learned that you can’t please everyone. Delta Sig has really been a second family to me. The guys are always there for you, no matter what. I have never been prouder to be a Delta Sig.