Elizabeth Roach said she wants to explore life and seek new opportunities every day, which is why she wanted to be a part of the Student Government Association. President Zmarak Khan told the Senate Feb. 14 that he had full confidence in Roach when he appointed her the fifth justice to serve on the judicial branch. The Senate confirmed the appointment at that meeting.
“I was personally very impressed with her,” Khan told the senators. “She’ll make a good member of the team that we already have.”
Because Roach said she previously had never served in a government position, the senators questioned whether she could handle being in the judicial branch.
“The position and opportunity (are) what drove me to the SGA. It was really interesting to me when I heard about the position,” Roach told the Senate. “I’m really excited to take part in the SGA at VCU and I feel this position really fits me.”
Five justices serve on the judicial branch, but last fall only four justices served.
“The Senate (last fall) had rejected my fifth appointee to the judicial branch,” Khan said. “As such, we had (a) vacancy on the board.”
When interviewing Roach for the position, some senators questioned her limited experience in government, while others said they had complete faith in her.
“Why do you have the sudden urge to join the SGA and a new leadership role after not having a lot of experience?” Sen. Arman Amiri asked.
Roach responded by telling the senators that she wanted “to explore every opportunity in the SGA and is more than willing to play catch-up.”
Justice Lindsey Bryant described Roach as an asset to the SGA who would make a great justice.
Since Roach, and other justices remain in office until they graduate from VCU, Khan and others said they wanted to be sure that the person they selected would have good intentions.
“I understand that the Senate takes its job of confirmation very seriously,” Khan said. “Once approved, judges serve as long as they are students. Therefore, they may not be removed and their term never ends. We have to make sure that whomever we pick is the right person for the job.
“I hope that Elizabeth and other justices will help mature into these new positions. It is up to Elizabeth and the rest of the four justices to make sure that we establish (a) strong foundation for those who will be replacing them.”
Following the meeting, Roach said she understood that the Senate had to ask her tough and personal questions but some questions surprised her.
“I’m glad for the opportunity that SGA has given me,” Roach said. “Some of the questions they were saying . . . took me off-guard. Some weren’t about the SGA, but I understand it’s part of the process.”
A Richmond native who transferred from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to VCU last fall, Roach said she returned home to her roots because she was unhappy at Tech.
“I felt almost like I was at summer camp there,” Roach said. “It didn’t feel like part of the real world to me, and I liked what VCU had to offer.”
As a criminal-justice major, Roach said she plans to attend law school.
“I’m really excited to take part in the SGA,” Roach said. “Not being here my freshman year I feel like I missed some opportunities. But I believe students can expect from me fair and thoughtful decisions, and that’s what I aim to do.”
Twenty-eight senators approved the appointment while three objected, and one abstained.