Monday, October 12, 9:15 a.m.

A phone call to GSB Speaker of the Senate Tony Luken elicits a groggy and nearly incoherent response from his end of the line. Half-awake and grumpy, Luken says he just realized he forgot to attend his 9 a.m. political science class.

A lifelong Cubs fan, Luken’s team won Game 4 of the National League Champion series last night — a “rough night,” he says.

He promises to be in the GSB office sometime between 10 and 10:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

Luken is awakened from his slumber again — this time to a knock on his Wallace Hall room by his fiance‚, GSB Business Senator Carlyn Goebel, junior in political science.

He rolls out of bed and puts on a pair of pants and a black shirt with a picture of a pickle printed on it. A black souvenir visor emblazoned with the famous caricature of late Chicago Cubs icon Harry Caray completes Luken’s ensemble.

Bleary-eyed, Luken heads to the GSB office.

10:22 a.m.

Luken walks into the office with Goebel. Luken apologizes for his tardiness and says he’s running on five hours of sleep. “I was too tired,” he says, settling into his desk chair.

GSB Finance Director David Boike, Luken’s office mate, turns to face Luken. “Tony, you’re a lazy hippie,” Boike jokes.

“I resent the hippie part, but I am lazy,” Luken replies, scratching his red goatee.

Luken checks his e-mail and the updates posted on the Cubs’ Web site. After a few minutes, Luken gets bored and teases Goebel to pass time.

He places his index finger centimeters away from Goebel’s eye. She tells him to stop.

“I’m not touching you,” Luken says.

Goebel grabs his finger and gives him an elbow to the ribs.

“Do you see what I have to put up with?” Boike asks, rolling his eyes.

12:52 p.m.

Luken lounges in the GSB office — he has yet to move from his computer since arriving earlier, though he had class at noon. Goebel returns to the office, back from class.

Boike tells Goebel that Luken skipped class — again.

“Anthony!” she admonishes, using Luken’s full name.

Irritated, Goebel slaps him on the arm. Boike smiles.

1:47 p.m.

“Shit!”

The small office reverberates with Luken’s shout. He’s late for a 1:30 meeting with a university judicial affairs official.

Luken picks up his desk phone, calls the judicial affairs office and apologizes. He reschedules the meeting for 2:15.

The meeting is to discuss a legal matter involving a student organization, he explains.

“Judicial Affairs has questions for members of the [student body] government, and I’m the one they get to talk to,” Luken says.

4:07 p.m.

Luken walks back to the office after the Judicial Affairs meeting.

“It went good,” he says. “I have meetings with university people two to three times a week. But not often do I have to deal with legal matters.”

It’s time to relax, Luken decides. He makes his way to the basement of the Memorial Union for a game of pool and a round of pinball, accompanied by Goebel.

Flashing lights and sound effects from arcade games fill the room. Luken grabs a pool cue, racks up the balls and lines up his shot. With a loud crack, the balls scatter across the table.

Vice Speaker of the Senate William Rock walks in and wants to play. Luken and Goebel quickly finish up their game and start a new one with Rock.

At the end of the game, Goebel holds up her arms in victory.

“I haven’t played in a long time,” Rock says.

Luken just shakes his head and heads over to play his favorite game — Monopoly pinball.

He pulls back the plunger, sending the metal ball bouncing from bumper to bumper.

Goebel walks over — it’s time to go back to the GSB office for a Rules Committee meeting. Luken glances at the clock, looks back to his game and tells Goebel he’s still got a couple of minutes.

5:06 p.m.

Luken gets back to the office and scans the only bill submitted to the committee.

“We’re seating a [University Student Apartments Council] senator!” he exclaims. “You know, the position that hasn’t been seated for the past three years.”

Eager to get the meeting over with, he stomps out into the hallway. “Where’s my committee?” he whines.

“Nobody wants to be on your committee,” Goebel laughs.

Luken rounds up the members of the committee and the meeting starts at 5:10.

“Old business? Seeing none, we have this bill to seat a USAC senator. Any problems? None? OK, it goes onto the agenda. Any other business? None? OK meeting adjourned,” he says nearly in one breath.

The meeting is done at 5:11 p.m., and Luken’s off to dinner.

6:33 p.m.

Luken attends Towers Residence Association executive meeting. As an administrative assistant, Luken advises TRA President Kyle Perkins.

Perkins voices his frustration about an IRHA decision to create a student voter committee to work alongside its GSB counterpart. IRHA members are fighting over who should be on the committee and who should lead it.

“What you do is write another order saying this one is repealed,” Luken says, waving the order in the air.

“Start beating some heads!” he adds excitedly. “I would have the newly written order in my pocket — don’t even put it on the agenda — and ask for a report from the voting committee.

“When people start looking around, confused, because no one really knows who’s on the committee, pull this out. Say, ‘Here, let’s add this to the agenda and say these are people who are going to sit on the committee!”

Luken bangs his fist on the table. “Start kicking ass and take names. If you don’t take names, fine, just start kicking some ass!” he shouts.

Perkins laughs.

7:46 p.m.

Luken heads back to his room for a night of Monday Night Football. It’s been a long day — maybe he’ll make it to class tomorrow.