Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Andrew Rickel was always sure what he wanted to do — whether it was wanting to become a pilot for United Airlines or running for the Kansas Senate. As sure as he was about what he wanted to do, he had no idea when he would do it and had no idea he would be ni the race for Kansas Senate before his 21st birthday. Having grown up m Garnett. Kan., population 3,280, the senate seat might have appeared out cit reach, but Rickel, sophomore in music education, began to submerge himself in a political environment at a young age. In junior high school, Rickel became a page for state Rep. Bill Feuerborn, D-Distnct 5. His duties included bringing files anci messages to all representatives and officers, greeting the representatives as they entered into meetings and assisting them in any way he could. Alter his six-month stint as a page, Rickel participated in G)ctagon — the student branch of the Optimist Club on the Optimist Youth Model Legislature — and became a ranking parliamentarian his senior year. To be eligible, he had to write his own bills that conformed to Kansas laws. During the week of May 20, Anthony Hensley, senate minority leader, called to inform Rickel of an open position in the Senate. Mcitivated by the lack ot consistency in the Kansas education system, he decided to toss his hat into the ring ot politics as a democratic candidate. I ' m going to serve tor the greater good ot Kansas, Rickel said. If they call my name in November, I ' m serving that way. Myself comes second. When he began this new chapter m his lite, he encciuntered pressures he had to deal with. I ' m worried about how to relate to older people, he said, about being ) ' oung and helping bridge the gap between the generations. In addition tci this, Rickel tound a struggle in the cost ot campaigning. As I ' ve found out, one of the dirty secrets of the modern election process is how much money it takes to run tor office. he said, and when you ' re getting started, vou don ' t have much ot it. However, the issue of money was not the only problem he tbund during the run for Senate. He said he had to face numerous candidate surwys and persistent e-mails trom vague-sounding groups. I ' m concerned about the impact of special interest groups and lobbyists on our democracy, Rickel said. As a state senator, I would have to learn to deal with them and my campaign has been an education. You ' re there to represent the people who elected you. not the special interest groups. Throughout iiis lite, and cspecial] - during his race tor Senate, Rickel said what he learned most about was risks. No matter what tiie odds, vou iiave to take a risk. he said, it none, you can ' t ful or succeecH — you end up settling tor mediocrity. You have to put yourselt out there. Andrew Rickel 29

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■28 Student Life

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fmHy By Mo Murphy and Melissa M. Taylor More than just a weekend filled with events. Family Weekend was a time for students to reunite with family members. For some, family was 30 minutes away; for others, it was two hours, eight or even 13. But whatever the distance. Family Weekend gave parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family the chance to take a walk in their students ' shoes. Students took their families through their daily schedules, showed them their living areas, toured the stacks of Hale Library and went to their favorite spots in Aggicville. Some families found themselves in Wal-Mart, stocking up on groceries and much-needed items, all charged to the nearest family member ' s credit card. My favorite part of Fainily Weekend was hanging out with my dad and making sure he ' s okay, instead of hiin always making sure I ' m okay, Rebekah Mulvaney, sophomore in EngHsh, said. It was just great to finally see that he is coping with me being gone. Between the flow of adjusting to college life, the studying (or lack thereof), the grocery shopping, the late night dates with the washing machine, the parties and other responsibilities, students were able to use Family Weekend as a break away from their daily routines. For Mulvaney, Family Weekend was a way for her to reconnect with her dad and show him her new life. Continued on page 32