The secret to successful leadership

Student body president uses communication to bridge disconnect among peers

AUSTIN- When he became the Student Government president in April, Keshav Rajagopalan knew exactly what he was signing up to do, and since then he has spent 60 hours a week connecting with students, faculty and staff to improve campus life.

“This year, we are trying to launch a communications campaign that will re-brand the organization because Student Government has a disconnect with students,” he says. “We are working with the vice president of public affairs to create a secondary logo that shows we are a service and resource to students.”

As a student body leader, Rajagopalan has combined his unique college experience with his knowledge of political communications, public relations and some aspects of advertising.

“I owe a lot of what I know to the College of Communications. The College really gives you a lot of practical knowledge that is applicable in all areas of life,” he says.

“For my campaign as president, I had to create logos, slogans…and had to come up with publicity techniques to get the student body to vote,” Rajagopalan says. “Members of my ticket, which is usually about 40 people, had to learn a bit of everything but for me, things were easy breezy.”

In 2006, Andrew Solomon, Rajagopalan’s predecessor, ran unopposed for student body president. Rajagopalan, who was Solomon’s campaign manager at the time, wanted to get students interested in voting and sought the help of Associate Professor Sharon Jarvis, a faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies, for his 2007 campaign.

Jarvis explains that Rajagopalan was curious to know if it was possible to have a credible campaign process in a one-party government.

“During my office hours, Rajagopalan came to me in the most respectful way because he wanted to know how to run a successful campaign in a one-party government” Jarvis says. “One day, we turned our classroom into a workshop and played with the nuance of running a one-party campaign with integrity.”

“We discussed a couple of concepts about integrity in one-to-two party governments from the political communication literature and students wrote what they think his campaign should do to reach out to them,” she says.

Jarvis believes that students like Rajagopalan not only want to connect with students but also strive to do the right thing.

“His question was very practical because it helped students understand how they are responsible for a one-party Student Government,” she says. “Students need to get involved and to do that their voices need to be heard.”

Rajagopalan, who has mastered the art of listening and asking questions, owes much of his success to his knowledge of political communications. His field has helped him understand Texas Legislation when dealing with university issues like graduate recruitment and tuition costs.

“When I am working at the Capitol, I am able to understand the meanings behind what people say,” he says. “Political communications has taught me how to study speech and navigate through complex university issues.”

The political communications senior wants to ensure that students know where to go to address campus or academic-related concerns. His platform of ideas, which come from student concerns, have set the foundation for the year ahead.

His organization is currently working on reconstructing the ticket booth located outside the Beauford H. Jester auditorium, before the arrival of new students.

“We want to make the ticket booth a help desk where members of student government will staff regularly during the week,” he says. “We are putting a face on Student Government and in the process putting a face on student life.”

As president, Rajagopalan works hard and plays hard. He spends 60 to 70 hours a week shuffling between meetings on campus and at the Capitol and at night he catches up on schoolwork. Despite his hectic schedule, he still finds time to watch and play sports.

“What motivates me is falling in love with UT,” he says. “You realize what is out there when you see the amazing students and faculty that come everyday to make sure you are getting an education and an experience that is unparalleled.”

Rajagopalan began his Student Government career his freshman year when he began working with members of the organization through a program called the Longhorn Legislative Aide. He served as a Two-Year At-Large Representative for the organization, which made him a voting member of the Assembly.

“Student Government is the official voice of students to the university administration, the Board of Regents and the Texas Legislature,” he says. “Whenever student input is needed, we are the ones looked at and it is for the entire student body- undergraduate and graduate.”

The organization’s mission is to protect and preserve the traditions of the university and support student organizations in their academic and community endeavors.

“In Student Government there are no boundaries. If you have an initiative, it’s a great place to get the resources and backing of Student Government,” Rajagopalan says.

Student Government is affiliated with the Division of Student Affairs and members of the executive board work with Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly.

“The cool thing about UT is this is an amazing institution in the collaborative effort between students, faculty and staff,” Rajagopalan says. “When we talk to other Student Government presidents, we are the motto that everybody strives to be because of that collaboration.”

Rajagopalan understands that to be a successful leader at UT, one has to be a good listener, be passionate about what you do, ask for help when needed and collaborate with others for the overall success of the organization.

— Wunmi Bakare, public relations senior