Will Quick had to make a decision.

He didn’t have time to consult many people, so he did what he felt was right for the student body. He continued to question himself before he fell asleep, but the next day, he felt like he made the best judgment call.

Quick, a senior in biomedical engineering, ran for student body president two years ago and lost to Whil “The Pirate Captain” Piavis, but ran again the following year and won.

He said both times he ran, he felt Student Government had many programs and initiatives it left unaccomplished.

Quick served as a senator his freshman year, the Student Senate president his sophomore year, the vice president for academic and student affairs for Association of Student Governments and organizer for Compassion in Action his junior year, and student body president his senior year.

According to Quick, he ran for the position because he felt like he was a well-known person on campus who had a positive reputation.

“I was running because I really felt like I could make a bigger difference in office than I felt like I could with any other position on campus,” he said.

Quick said he feels like he accomplished more than he expected, and said he brought a change in the way people view Student Government and it’s top official spot.

He said a lot of the organization’s accomplishments this year happened behind the scenes.

David Foxx, student body treasurer, said Quick’s term had its strengths and weaknesses.

“It’s like a platypus,” he said. “You don’t know what to make of it.”

Foxx said Quick did an excellent job with the tailgating task force, but said he felt like Quick undermined the Senate in terms of publicly opposing the administration.

“He viewed himself as an administrator and we’ve viewed ourselves as student leaders,” Foxx said.

Zach Adams, this year’s Student Senate president, said he and Quick were friends, but did not run together. He said he felt Quick did a good job.

“While there were a few senators that criticized Will, I know that he was an extraordinary president and motivated his commission chairs,” he said.

Bobby Mills, student body president-elect, worked on Quick’s campaign last year to help him get elected. Mills said he worked on the campaign because Quick was the first candidate who contacted him, and said he also respected many of the people on Quick’s campaign.

Mills said Quick’s strength was his work with the administration.

“Will has a great relationship with administrators as far as working with them to solve a goal,” he said.

Quick said his relationships with people were integral and said he felt like he was very accessible to students.

According to Mills, a lot of times students don’t see his work behind the scenes and one of Quick’s weaknesses was not meeting with the average student, which Mills said was just a part of Quick’s personality.

“It takes a lot for someone to get feedback from the average student,” Mills said.

Quick’s platform was 13 pages long and though he said it was too much for one student to accomplish in one year, he felt this past year was productive.

“What I’m most proud of is I kept doing what I said I was going to do,” Quick said.

According to Quick, one of the accomplishments he felt was important was the work Student Government did with Hillsborough Street this year, including the guide, the Progressive dinner and lobbying at City Council meetings.

Quick said he is also proud of the organization’s accomplishments for the hour extension on tailgating, making tuition and fees separate for distance education courses, lobbying for tax-free textbooks weekend and increasing library safety to name a few.

“Whether I accomplished them or not … bringing issues to the forefront and letting administrators know students care about them is important,” Quick said. “Every time the administration says something can’t happen they give the same reason until they know students care about it.”

According to Quick, SG also accomplished issues that were not on his platform, such as a prayer room in the library for Muslim students.

According to Quick, he didn’t have a lot of controversy within the branches of Student Government.

“One of the most heated issues I’ve had to deal with was changing the way students enter football games,” he said.

Quick said a lot of times, he questioned if what he was doing was best or if what the majority opinion thought was best, but said even the majority opinion isn’t everybody, and sometimes, he had to make tough decisions.

Another controversial issue the organization had to deal with this year, Quick said, was the Policies, Rules and Regulations policy, which restricted who was allowed to be a student leader.

“It’s tough to look at something like that and give the opinion that it’s important to focus on schoolwork,” he said.

Quick said one thing he will miss when leaving the position is “the good feeling you get when you’re able to help somebody, whether it’s one student or 3,000.”

“I’m going to miss being so active, and going to [events], meeting people,” he said.

Quick was accepted into the University’s MBA program for next year and one of the possibilities he has considered is becoming the Student Government adviser.

He said he wishes he had some more time in office or started some things sooner such as the Constitution Revision Task Force.

“I could’ve pushed some of the committees and departments under the executive branch a little harder,” Quick said. “It’s tough to put your fingers in 12 and 13 pots at one time.”

According to Quick, he doesn’t blame any one committee for not doing its job, rather he said he feels like he should’ve used more guidance, but said he had big things on his plate.

He said he feels he didn’t push enough senators to lobby and get involved in the legislature like he should have.

“Because of my relationships with folks … I spent more time lobbying myself with a small group of people than training people for the future,” he said.

Quick said he does not claim to be the best president and anyone who does, “needs a lesson in humility.”

He did say, however, that he felt like he was the right person for the job and doesn’t doubt his leadership ability.