Taking Care of Business with SGA President-Elect Robert Webb

Managing Editor

   Newly-elected President of the Student Government Association Robert Webb came into the computer lab where we met for our interview in dress pants and a tie.

Courtesy of Robert Webb

Looking Ahead - SGA President-elect Robert Webb, dressed in green and white, looks out the window headed to a UAM activity

   "I don't normally dress up like this," he said a bit sheepishly, explaining that he had to be at a school function in Conway later. 

   Pictures belie the words, however, where he can often be seen in nice jackets and leather shoes, giving the air of a man who means to take care of business.

   As Webb pulled up a chair and settled into conversation, however, it became clear that despite the business-oriented verbiage of a young politician-in-training, he was quite comfortable being open and genuine. Personal even.

   Planning an August wedding in Birmingham, he smiled widely when speaking of his wife-to-be, "the lovely Tyerronnica Leshore," a Bessemer, Ala. native. And when asked about who he is, he first mentioned his faith.

   "First of all, I'm a baptised believer," he said, smiling a lot. "I'm just a happy-go-lucky guy--I love to make people laugh," he said. "I love to make people feel good about life."

   Webb, a sophomore vocal music major from Texarkana who plans to teach school after graduation, grew up immersed in both faith and music. His mother taught music in the Texarkana Arkansas School District for 25 years and served as the minister of music in their family church. Webb himself began singing in the church choir at age 7 and remained involved ever since, picking up several instruments along the way, such as the trumpet, the French Horn, the tuba and the piano. 

   Webb has been heavily involved with music at UAM as well, participating in the band, the choir and musical theater.

   "His performance of the difficult role of Jud in the musical 'Oklahoma' was outstanding," Kent Skinner, professor of music, said. "He has been a delight to have in the vocal program here at UAM."

   "Music is my life," Webb said. "I just love to perform."

Mouthpiece of the Student Body

   But a man who's taking care of business will eventually get down to it.

   "It's really not about me," he said. "I'm here to be the mouthpiece of the student body."

   Having been involved with many campus activities, including baseball last year and Alpha Phi Alpha, he says he has a feel for what UAM students want. 

   Besides common complaints about parking, he said students want more places to gather and congregate. Citing a lack of benches outdoors and places to sit, he said students would connect more if there were more places to meet up and hang out.

   "Students want a place they can go to call their own," he said. "The more UAM feels like home to the students, the more students will want to stay on campus."

   He also mentioned the need for students to do more together as a student body. When asked what he would do to continue the legacy of current-SGA President Zack Tucker's Stay Connected Act, he mentioned the additional need for community involvement. 

Courtesy of Robert Webb

   "I want to do a campus-wide community service project, meaning all of the Greeks, all of the organizations, we go into the community as UAM," he said. "If we have 100 percent participation ... that would make the campus look good and make the organizations look good."

   Webb stressed, however, that leadership cannot affect change without student support.

   "I would ask that the students take more pride and more responsibility in the campus, because I feel like you don't have a right to complain if you're not involved in trying to do anything."

   Webb spoke about his professors with reverence, including one mentor in particular, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands Gary Meggs.

   He told the story of how Meggs would make the band do push-ups when they didn't do something right, and saved all accumulated push-ups for the end of practice.

   "But the thing that made me respect him was ... as we were getting down to do push-ups, he came off the tower, came down and did all the push-ups with us," Webb said. "In a sense that showed me that you're never too important or too high to come down and be amongst the people you are leading."

   His professors speak highly of Webb as well. 

   "His leadership skills are superior," Meggs said. "Being a member of many organizations at UAM he is very in tune to everything involving student life. We are very fortunate to have Robert in this position."

   Webb seemed ready and eager to get started in his capacity as SGA president. He praised his running-mate, senior education major Kim Washington, for her perseverence.

   "She's a very, very strong woman," he said, adding that she has a husband and three children, is involved with the church, suffered a stroke a few years ago and manages to maintain above a 3.0 grade point average. 

   "I love her to death," he said. "We don't always agree on things but at the end of the day we come together and get whatever needs to be done, done."

   And that's what it comes down to for a man who means to take care of business: getting things done. Despite his drive and confidence, however, Webb seemed humbled by being elected.

   "I just appreciate the opportunity to represent and lead the student body, because this is an honor, and I'm just grateful."

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was changed to reflect a correction from "Kappa Phi Alpha" to Alpha Phi Alpha.

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