From Fling to UA, Gil Beverly does it all

Gil Beverly is a big man on campus -- but not just because the 6'6" Wharton senior towers over most of the student body. Beverly has been active in student affairs since his freshman year, and has been Spring Fling director for the past three years. He is also currently vice chairperson of both the Undergraduate Assembly and the Social Planning and Events Committee. But he said he does not think of himself as "too important." Beverly's role as a leader in student government began only recently. "Like most people, I knew little about student government," he said. "Then last year there were a series of constitutional reform proposals, and I did not like the handling of student activities according to these proposals. I figured someone needed to be in government to protect student activities." A dark horse candidate, Beverly, or "Big Dog," as he has been nicknamed, advanced to the run-off race for UA chairperson, eventually elected to the position of vice chairperson. In retrospect, Beverly said that the election worked out for the best. "It is probably better that I didn't win because, at least at the beginning, I would have been in over my head," he said. Beverly, who is also an avid sports fan and short story author, said he considers the UA to be in a rebuilding stage. "What I hope happens is that this UA is a transitional body," he said. "We have not been as completely productive as I would like, but it hasn't been a mess like last year. "Hopefully next year the people who are learning this year will step up and be productive," he added. Beverly, whose hero is basketball star Michael Jordan, said his experiences as Fling director include many ups and downs. Beverly claimed the worst Fling experience occurred on the second day of the 1994 Fling when early morning "monsoon-like rains" caused the electrician to declare the ground so wet that the wiring in the Quadrangle risked electrocuting the crowd of several thousand revelers. Beverly explained that after cancelling the shows, vendors and security, the ground dried up -- leaving several thousand unhappy students outside the Quad with no security and no Fling. Even though he was able to handle the situation, he said he still remembers his near breakdown. He added that being "cheated" out of one day of Fling led him to take the job for a second year. "If things hadn't gone like that I might not have done it again [last year]," he said. "I wanted the best Fling. [Doing it this year] was just psychosis." Beverly lamented on his loss of identity as a result of his Fling efforts. "You can let yourself give up some identity," he explained. "You get to thinking 'I'm Gil Beverly -- Fling Director, because that's all people see you as. "And that's something I have grown to hate," he added. "Gil Beverly is not Fling and Fling is not Gil Beverly, and people don't understand that." But he also commented on the more positive aspects of running the event. "The best part of Fling is getting out on stage in the middle of a concert and seeing all the people and realizing that I helped do this," he said. Regarding his role on the UA, Beverly claimed to have mixed feelings. "The UA was a new challenge, and for someone who likes to meet challenges, its exciting," he said. "I find that I am in the role of teacher a lot. I've made my mark on the University and it is time for others to start making theirs and that it exciting too." He added that the worst part of the UA is "dealing with inflated egos." "A lot of times someone gains a title and all of a sudden they are important and the fact that they have a title means more than what they are supposed to do," he said. "Some people think that having a title means they have arrived. To me, it means you have just gotten into the arena and it is time to play." Since Beverly plans to stay around for a fifth year, he has begun to consider his future goals. He said he intends to stay on as a residential advisor for High Rise North. And although his next student activity remains to be undecided, Beverly said he certainly intends to be active. "I can't just sit around," he said. "I've thought about SPEC president, which is something I gave up to run for UA or a TV show on UTV13 -- or even a column at The Daily Pennsylvanian." Beverly has no regrets about his past achievements, particularly those in the UA. "My student government career could end and I would not feel like there is something I still have to do," he said. "I am very satisfied. Every senior should feel that way."