Wednesday, Oct. 8, 9:02 a.m.

Mike Banasiak starts his day with a 9 a.m. class — Management 471: Human Resource Management.

In a green oxford shirt and cargo shorts, Government of the Student Body President Banasiak makes his way to a classroom in Carver Hall.

During class, students break into groups and start discussions for a class project.

Banasiak instinctively takes the lead of the group’s facilitator. He asks questions, gathers input, seeks group members’ opinions, recommends a plan of action and finally leads the group to a decision with which everyone seems to agree.

10:10 a.m.

Banasiak makes his way to the Government of the Student Body office and finds his girlfriend Kate Rydberg, clerk of the senate and sophomore in psychology, waiting for him to walk her to her next class.

Five minutes later, he arrives at his office and sits at his desk, checking his messages and singing to himself.

GSB secretary Mary McBirnie walks into the office and hands him recently passed resolutions to sign, including a funding bill for the ISU Paintball Club. Banasiak signs his John Hancock, then gives the resolutions back to McBirnie to file.

10:37 a.m.

Banasiak fidgets with his cell phone, pushing buttons until finally the sound of Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin'” plays as his ring tone.

Amused, he runs out of his office into the hallway and holds up his hands in a signal for quiet. He pushes a button on the phone and dances to the electronic strains of “Big Pimpin.'” A few senators join Banasiak in dancing.

McBirnie just shakes her head.

“You have to have a sense of humor in this job, and that’s how I deal with the stresses and frustration of the position,” Banasiak says. “You can’t let things get to you, and you have to have some fun.”

1:07 p.m.

Banasiak sits down with Michael McCoy, president of the Student Union Board, for lunch in the Memorial Union food court to discuss recent developments in the tailgating issue.

As they eat, Banasiak explains to McCoy how the senate has decided to indefinitely postpone a vote on the resolution to take funding away from the ISU athletic department. The resolution was drafted in response to the university making its decision in June to move general public parking and student tailgating away from Jack Trice Stadium, to make room for National Cyclone Club members.

McCoy asks if the senate will untable it and bring it up for a vote.

“It’s on the table indefinitely, so I have no clue,” Banasiak says, sipping his Pepsi.

He mentions a new resolution that will be introduced at that night’s senate meeting, which recommends two student-only lots be created — one for all students and the other for students 21 and older.

“I don’t think it make any sense,” McCoy says. “Why would [Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill] give into that?”

Mike points out the obstacle the resolution will face is logistics, as well as he lack of time left to implement it before the season is over.

Banasiak and McCoy finish up lunch. Banasiak returns to his office to find a stack of new messages.

2:31 p.m.

After lunch, Banasiak sits down in his office with Dean of Students Pete Englin for a meeting about creating a student appreciation day at one of the remaining home football games.

“You hear about what’s going on tonight?” Banasiak asks Englin.

“The two lots? Yeah, I read about it. I think we need to look at the logistics,” Englin says. “We need to get a group of people together including representatives from university departments involved with the tailgating issue and a student group approved by GSB and have it make three recommended solutions to resolving the issue to Student Affairs, Dean of Students and GSB.

“I think it would be a better process than coming up with resolution after resolution and amendments after amendments to them.”

Banasiak nods.

Rydberg walks in with a last-minute resolution to be added to the agenda by Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator Andrew Tugen.

Banasiak leaves the meeting with Englin to speak with Tugen.

After a brief discussion, Tugen leaves and Banasiak shuts the door behind him to continue his discussion with Englin.

“We need to narrow this thing down,” Englin explains.

Banasiak nods his head. “It’s getting more complicated.”

3:18 p.m.

Banasiak heads to the Jacobson Building to meet with Director of Athletic Marketing and Promotions Mary Pink to discuss the proposed student appreciation day.

Banasiak and a marketing representative from the department discuss logistics, food, entertainment, estimated attendance and funding the event.

4:15 p.m.

Banasiak is exhausted, but his day isn’t over yet.

Banasiak and Rydberg stop by Banasiak’s apartment to relax before tonight’s weekly GSB senate meeting.

Banasiak opens the door to his refrigerator and scans its sparse contents. Assorted liquor bottles lining its top — wine, vodka, rum — rattle.

“We need to get groceries,” Banasiak says to his girlfriend, selecting a bottle of water.

Rydberg, now curled up in a blanket in the living room, makes room for Banasiak as he sits down on the futon next to her.

He unbuttons his shirt, removes his glasses and rubs his eyes. Rydberg leans into Banasiak, and they relax, cuddling on the futon. It’s been a long day full of classes, meetings and phone calls for Banasiak.

“You go through a lot of stress and frustration, but it’s all part of the job and it’s a great feeling to be able to walk away having done something for students,” he says. “It’s very important to find time to relax — not just because it is a stressful and demanding position, but just being a student too is demanding and tiring.”

4:50 p.m.

The quiet of the apartment is interrupted by the ring of Banasiak’s cell phone.

“Hi, this is Mike … Hey, how are you? Yeah, I talked with Pete today and met with someone from the athletic department today about creating a student appreciation day for the Kansas State game,” Banasiak says into the phone, walking into his bedroom to escape the noise of the television.

When he hangs up the phone, Rydberg is looking at her watch — time to leave. Mike walks her to the door, and after a quick kiss, she leaves.

Banasiak’s phone rings again — the house line his time.

Nearly simultaneously as he hangs up, his cell phone rings again.

“Sometimes I’m on the phone all the time,” Banasiak says. “I find myself at home getting a lot of calls, but it’s all part of the job.”

5:25 p.m.

After hanging up the phone, Banasiak looks at his watch — time to get ready for the GSB meeting. He changes into dress slacks, a blue dress shirt and tie.

6:14 p.m.

Banasiak picks up Rydberg and they head to the 7 p.m. senate meeting.

He makes his executive remarks at the meeting and leaves for dinner with university officials — he’s on the hiring committee for ISU’s new campus information officer.

“[Being president] is difficult and frustrating,” Banasiak says. “There are times when I’ve though if all of this isn’t worth it. But you can’t let it run your life.

“You can’t let it get you down. You realize it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You have a position where you can make a difference, so you just have to keep trying.”