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BSG Vice President dreams of success By Laura Luettger Every night at 11 p.m., Randall Franklin heads over to Wal-mart with $2 in his pocket. A few minutes later he walks out with one of the things that make him happiest in the world — a package of fruit smilies. “They’re $1.96,” said Randall. “It’s the best thing you can get for that little of money.” Randall, a 2004 graduate of Patchogue-Medford High School in Medford, N.Y., claims these fruit smilies are one of many loves of his life. Besides actively fulfilling these cravings, Randall participates in a number of political and community service organizations around campus. This year, Randall has served as the Brockport Student Government vice president, a role he has thoroughly enjoyed. As vice president of BSG, Randall chairs the Board of Directors, which he said is one of the biggest parts of his job. The board has met almost every Friday this academic year to discuss the operations of BSG and to fulfill the wishes of the students its members represent. “I’ve learned a lot about myself and others as vice president,” Randall said. “I’ve learned about professionalism, networking and serving students in ways that I didn’t think could be done.” Randall also helps operate the budget BSG controls, and develops programs to bring to the school. Other duties include sitting on the BASC board of directors and serving as a student representative on the Budget and Resource Committee, which meets every week and discusses budgets for the different departments around campus. Randall’s involvement doesn’t stop there. He’s the president of the Brockport chapter of Democracy Matters, a national organization which hosts political rallies and lectures as a means of informing students about political matters. It is also connected with the American Democracy Project, which works to create civic engagement among students. As president, Randall helps organize events, prepares agendas each week and manages the club’s budget. Randall is also a member of the fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu. “I love the idea of civic engagement and duties,” he said, citing one reason for his involvement in the fraternity. “I also love the brotherhood of it. It’s the ability to come from different backgrounds, and the fact that we’ve all come together under one common bond of brotherhood. We’re the most diverse fraternity on campus.” Randall also said his fraternity has become more actively involved in community service, which he feels is an important part of his life. Randall was just elected recorder of his fraternity for next year. “Randall is one of the most determined, hard-working individuals I’ve ever met,” said friend Steve Jezioro. “He has the drive to do things, and he gets things done which suit everyone’s needs. I’m glad I got to be friends with such a great person.” Randall is also involved in Students for Peace and Justice, which co-sponsors many events with Democracy Matters, and Campus Ambassadors, which he just joined this January. Randall also participated in EuroSim earlier this year, which studies the politics of the European Union and the countries’ governments. “It was one of the best experiences ever,” Randall said. “I would highly recommend it.” As a part of EuroSim, students are assigned a country to study and then represent at different conferences. Randall was assigned the role of Gordon Brown, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Randall then had to research the policies of the United Kingdom and develop documents reflecting potential political situations from the United Kingdom’s viewpoint within the European Union. “We worked on a document dealing with Kosovo declaring independence,” Randall said. “Then, one and a half months later, Kosovo declared its independence. It was so cool to see that we worked on something that ended up really happening.” Randall’s involvement in all these organizations came from his interests in high school, when he was involved in peer mediation, Presidential Classroom, which introduces students to political involvement and education in Washington D.C., weightlifting club, Junior ROTC and varsity wrestling. He also had an internship with his rotary club, and worked throughout his high school career. Of these activities, Randall said that wrestling has had the most impact on his life, giving him the “dedication, perseverance and determination” to achieve all his goals. Randall began his wrestling career in high school, and continued to wrestle through his sophomore year of college before a knee injury forced him to stop. He wrestled at Brockport his freshman year before Oneonta State recruited him to wrestle there for a year. After his sophomore year, Randall returned to Brockport. “Winning matches and seeing where I go and how I develop is one of the best things to happen to me,” Randall said. “When you see your name on a plaque, it makes you realize, every mile I ran, every push up I did, every lift I did — it was all worth it. “All that sacrifice — not being able to do what a lot of other seniors were doing — gave me the tools and resources to win those matches and become who I am. Coach taught me these things.” Among the wrestling matches and early-morning practices, Randall found another activity with which he is in love — power lifting. Randall began lifting his senior year of high school, getting up at 5 a.m. to work out at the gym. After realizing how strong he became, Randall focused on lifting more and more in order to defeat his opponents on the mat. This focus continued through his wrestling career in college. “The bodybuilding bug bit me after Oneonta,” Randall said. When Randall was in rehab for his knee injury, he said he learned a lot about the anatomy of his body and how sculpting can make people’s bodies look a certain way. He first realized this when he focused on developing his traps, muscles located on the shoulders and back. After this, Randall said power lifting and bodybuilding became his passion. Randall will compete in the Olympus NGA National Invitational for Bodybuilding later this year. He hopes to get his first pro card if he wins the competition. “I think Randall has a drive that keeps him going through whatever he’s dealing with,” said Michael Thayer, a friend and former co-worker of Randall’s. “He has a lot on his plate — mostly what the student body doesn’t see, but he keeps going. His passion for success, and for his work is unparalleled, and I don’t think enough people recognize that. Aside from work, he has a great respect for the value of friendship. He’s one that would run out in a rainstorm to help you pull your car from a ditch, or loan you a place to crash if you couldn’t make it home.” Randall’s other plans for the future include managing an Abercrombie & Fitch store. Randall currently models for the company in-store and as a shirtless greeter. He said the company has been scouting him to be a manager and to open his own store in California, Florida or Hawaii, areas that are all big markets for the company right now. At the same time, Randall hopes to pursue a career in politics. Randall would like to be a senator, and someday, president. “I know I’m going to be president one day,” Randall said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. Everything I learned here, I’m taking it with me to the White House. I know I’m going there.” Randall is also considering a career in pro wrestling, continuing a career in modeling and opening his own gym. “I just see a million opportunities and I want to do everything I can,” Randall said. “No goal is more important than the others.” Randall credits much of his success to his parents. “I’m an independent student,” Randall said. “Support taught me I could do that. I wouldn’t be here without my parents. My mom had no clue about wrestling, but she was the one picking me up off the floor when I couldn’t move. And my dad, he gave me a lot of tough love. I’m in college working my tail off thanks to my parents.” Randall also commented on how his mother would buy him Matchbox cars when he was younger, but only if he got good grades. Randall says a lot of his inspiration comes from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who began his career modeling and is now the governor of California. He also says he looks up to the pro-wrestler Triple H. For now, Randall has to focus on his newest commitment for the upcoming year, as he was elected as a representative to the SUNY state assembly. He was nominated by a representative from SUNY Cortland, and was then elected to represent four different SUNY schools. He does not know which schools they will be yet. As a member of the assembly, Randall will have to attend a monthly board meeting, which will last for three days each time. He will also advise the chancellor of SUNY and Governor Paterson on matters dealing with the SUNY system. He is the first representative from the College at Brockport in the last five years. “It’s a great opportunity because I get to help other schools when they might be going through political turmoil,” Randall said. “I’m just excited to have this opportunity and to serve the students once again, on a different level.” |
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