The SG Undergraduate Senate approved Alan Chang as the SG Comptroller Sunday with a vote of 19-1.
As comptroller, Chang will oversee the SG budget, the AUTO van program and the Bike Lending program.
Chang, a senior in the Kogod School of Business, is majoring in marketing and management. He works with his father’s company, Soxland Industrial Inc., doing cost control and analysis, an experience he said will help him monitor SG’s flow of cash.
Chang said he would emphasize communication with SG executives and the Undergraduate Senate, as well as with AU administration and campus groups.
“I am hoping to communicate more with different departments and organizations, even before I receive requests for money, to help them understand how they can use their budget wisely,” Chang said.
The office of comptroller has been vacant since early September. Senator-at-large Jared Alves filed impeachment charges against former Comptroller Matt Handverger on Aug. 28. After three days of impeachment proceedings, Alves dropped the charges. Handverger then resigned on Sept. 10.
Class of 2012 Sen. Seth Rosenstein was the only senator to vote against Chang’s confirmation. Chang’s lack of experience with SG and AUTO is “a very big issue,” he said.
“This isn’t a job that you can just come in to,” Rosenstein said. “It’s something you have to learn.”
Some SG members said the SG had lost the “luxury” of training a new comptroller and the position needs to be filled now.
“We’re going to have a lot of people who are willing to help him learn as much about the program as possible,” agreed Sen. Katie Ryan, for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Rosenstein also said he was concerned Chang was soft-spoken and would not be able to assert himself.
“Public speaking is not exactly my strong suit,” Chang said when he took the stand in front of the Senate.
As comptroller, Chang also said he would like to make AUTO a more profitable program and to cut the time between applying for certification and receiving confirmation.
Some senators expressed concerns with Chang’s lack of experience with the AUTO program. But Bittner said the AUTO program would be the responsibility of the AUTO commissioner.
While the comptroller office has been vacant, the SG executives have been running the program, which is also without a leader.
Former AUTO Commissioner Cory Ward resigned over the summer due to personal reasons and time constraints.
Filling the AUTO commissioner post will be one of the first duties of the comptroller. Applications for the position are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The executives have been running the application process, but Chang will now be involved in it, said SG President Andy MacCracken.
“What does ‘involved’ in the process mean?” asked class of 2010 Sen. Steve Dalton. “Doesn’t he independently make this decision?”
“Yeah, semantics,” MacCracken said. “Obviously it will be his decision and appointment, but because there’s not currently a comptroller, we had to move this along as quickly as possible. Obviously once he is confirmed by this body, I hope, it will be his process to run.”
You can reach this staff writer at landerson@theeagleonline.com.
