With two months as student trustee under his belt, Daniel Soso’s colleagues on the Board of Trustees feel his transition is going smoothly.

“He obviously has a very good knowledge of the students’ interests and priorities on the Champaign-Urbana campus,” Trustee Edward McMillan said. “He both is engaged in discussions we’ve had as trustees while at the same time listening and learning.”

McMillan added that Soso also brings a strong effort to convey the interests of students to the board as he represents the largest body of students.

Soso said he is enjoying his time on the board and said the budget has been his main priority thus far.

“The only problem with this University now is the state and the financial situation of the state,” he said.

Soso emphasized the need for students, faculty and administrators to work together to overcome financial troubles.

“There’s much more that we can accomplish if we all work together,” Soso said. “We need to all be working together to lobby Springfield and Washington D.C.”

Although Soso is one of three students on the board of 12 members, he said he has not experienced any difference in treatment toward him or the other student trustees.

“They’re very welcoming,” Soso said. “I’m very happy with the way everything is going. I’m excited to see the amount of care that’s actually there at the top levels; the amount of sincerity there.”

Board of Trustees Chairman Chris Kennedy said Soso and the other student trustees contribute to the generational diversity of the board.

“He’s very student-centric and pulls the board dialogue towards a student-centric model,” Kennedy said.

Soso said his priorities have shifted since taking office. He said his involvement with his fraternity, Alpha Tao Omega, has decreased significantly with his new role as student trustee.

“That’s probably the one area of my life that changed the most,” Soso said. “In general this has just become top priority whereas everything else has had to kind of take a back burner role. It’s not really a job with a time clock on it.”

Matt Dixon, Soso’s friend and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brother, said he has noticed a change in Soso’s lifestyle since he took office.

“I see he’s a lot busier,” Dixon said. “A lot more in-and-out the door.”

Dixon added that although Soso no longer has an official position in their fraternity as a previous head house manager, he has taken on an informal role as leader for younger members passing on information about opportunities such as involvement on various student senate committees.

Gov. Pat Quinn will choose one of the student trustees from the three campuses as a voting member of the board. Each student submitted letters and resumes to the governor and he will handpick from the three.

McMillan said that regardless of which student trustee Quinn selects to have voting privileges, each of the three will have a voice on the board.

“While obviously one individual has the voting responsibility, I think they certainly consider the thoughts and opinions of the other two,” McMillan said.

Trustee Carlos Tortolero said it is critical that the student voice be represented on the board and added that the current student trustees have been very active members in their first months.

“I think they do bring a certain expertise to certain issues,” Tortolero said. “All the student trustees, their comments are taken very seriously.”

Soso said if there is anything that he would like to change with regards to the administration it would be to better utilize students and students’ ideas to accomplish things for the University.

“One thing that’s lacking there is a little bit of faith in what students can accomplish,” Soso said. “The only students that care aren’t just the three sitting on the board.”