Henderson Oracle

"It's the best staff as a whole since I've been here."

This was the only thing that Chad Fielding, assistant dean of students, could say about the new changes in the student activities staff.

There are two new faces at the information desk: Cindy Thacker and John Sammons. Thacker is the new section manager of the Garrison Center, replacing Jay Goodwin.

Goodwin has moved into a new position as the director of university intramurals. Sammons is the new assistant dean of students. This was the job that Vance J. Lewis filled until his resignation last semester.

Thacker has been at Henderson for the last four years, working in the education center as secretary to the assistant dean. She is married to Danny Thacker and has two sons who both graduated from HSU and are currently preparing to go to Iraq. She also has a grandbaby on the way.

She began preparation for the new job at the close of the last semester but didn't officially start until Jan. 5. There have been many changes from her old position at Henderson.

"There wasn't as much student traffic," Thacker said. "That's been the biggest difference."

Thacker originally went to HSU for an undergraduate degree for two years then fell in love. She didn't finish and moved to Monroe, La. She hinted that she might one day finish up her degree.

"I can't decide," Thacker said. "I turn 50 on July 6, but I'm still thinking about it."

As for the new assistant dean of students, you may have seen him during the hypnotist last Wednesday night. Sammons was hypnotized on stage and put on a show.

"I couldn't believe he actually got up on stage," Fielding said, "but when he was up there I knew we had made the right decision."

Sammons graduated high school from Halls, Tenn., where his dad was the principal. After graduation, he pursued a degree in marketing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. He then went to graduate school at the University of Memphis and focused on leadership and policy studies.

While there, he took on a graduate assistantship at Rhodes College, working for student activities and Greek life. He graduated in December 2002 and was hired to start at Henderson on Jan 5. He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was rush chairman when he was an undergraduate. He also served on the Order of Omega, SAB and freshman orientation staff.

Incidentally, he has basset hound named Barkley and is an actual member of the "Die Hard Cubs Fan Club."

He has many goals set for the Greek system. One of his primary concerns is to make the organizations more inclusive.

"I want to see the Greek system as one," Sammons said. "I want to eventually see a lot more done together by the different groups."

Another big goal he wants is to have every Greek in some type of housing.

Along with Greek organizations, he is also in charge of the cheerleaders, Miss HSU and other organizations on campus.

One of his first duties here, besides organizing a Greek handbook is to plan spring rush.

The biggest change to the student activity staff is the creation of a new position for intramurals.

In the past, there have been two graduate assistants running the program, but Fielding decided to hire one full-time director to take on the responsibility. Goodwin jumped at the chance. There have been many changes to the intramural program this semester.

With all of these modifications in his staff, Fielding is completely confident in their abilities.

"John knows what he is doing," he said. "Cindy is great at what she does and Jay is so excited it's annoying."

Fielding's goal for the office is to become so well run in all aspects that everyone sees good things happening. He wants the information desk to be a positive area for the campus.

"With this team," he said, "we can do this. When each person in the office looks forward to coming to work each day, it makes everything that much better."

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