Standing at the back of the Garden Room at the Hotel at Gateway Center, waiting for the program to begin, the future of the Government of Student Body was asked if she was ready.

“It’s time,” said Sophia Magill, newly inaugurated GSB president, “whether I’m ready or not.”

Mike Banasiak, the outgoing president, who a few hours earlier had been cleaning his desk in the GSB office, gave his thanks to everyone who has helped him along the way, citing outgoing vice president Ben Albright and members of his cabinet. Then, he called Magill to the stage, handed her the keys to the office, and walked off stage.

Magill raised her hand and took the pledge that had already been given to the new GSB senate and new vice president William Rock, who had just taken the vice president’s gavel from Ben Albright. The crowd applauded.

The GSB’s new president had arrived.

She spoke to the crowd, which included the Ames City Council and Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver, and launched into an oration describing the hopes and dreams of the individual senators as feathers, which, when put together, could achieve flight.

The night was a turning point for many GSB members. Tony Luken, a three-year veteran of the group whom Rock cited as an authority on student government matters, said goodbye to his post as speaker of the senate. But he said he felt no remorse for his departure.

“I’ve got a beer in my hand, I’m amongst friends, what can I say?” he joked. “It’s been a blast.”

David Boike, finance director, after he and his committee had guided the senate through a $400,000 budget shortfall this year, said only one duty remained in his office — the training of a new director.

“It’s been an interesting four years, but it’s time to move on,” Boike said.

Drew Miller and Jenn Riggs, who ran opposite Magill and Rock in last month’s election, turned up to show their support for their former opponents.

Banasiak left the event feeling mixed emotions about handing over the job he’d held for a year.

“It’s good and bad,” he said. “I really don’t know what to say. It’s good to move on to experience something new. Maybe catch up on some sleep.”

For Magill, she said the coming months would likely present their own challenges, which she feels she’s very much up to facing.

“I know there’s challenges ahead, but I welcome those,” she said. “It excites me to truly be able to involve all students in GSB. One thing I learned in seventh grade at a leadership conference: ‘Walk the talk.’ Now’s the time to put the talk into action.”