Junior Sam Wallis has resigned from his seat in the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate, he announced publicly last night.
In a written statement, Wallis explained that as far back as last spring's TCU elections, he had wrestled with the prospect of studying abroad during the spring 2010 semester. He has decided to follow that path, and therefore cannot serve on the Senate next semester.
Wallis declared his resignation privately to the TCU Senate following the body's final meeting of the semester on Sunday.
"I finally decided that I did not want to miss the opportunity of learning in a different part of the world," Wallis said in his statement. He will study in Israel next semester.
Wallis told the Daily last night that he stayed on this semester in order to continue his work on various projects. Tufts' Election Commission will conduct a special election in January to fill his spot.
He said he is open to the possibility of running for another Senate spot upon his return. "I haven't thought about senior year," Wallis said. "But I've really enjoyed being a part of Senate, and I'd be interested in being a part of the body again."
Wallis served this semester as co−chair of the Senate's Services Committee alongside Joel Greenberg, a sophomore.
"Sam's spent five semesters on Senate, and it's sad to see him go," Greenberg said. "He's been consistently one of our biggest thinkers," he said.
TCU President Brandon Rattiner told the Daily he is sorry to see Wallis go.
"On the one side, it's a huge loss for the Senate to lose someone of Sam's talent," Rattiner said. "I've had the pleasure of working with Sam for three years, and he's been one of the most impressive senators and most impressive people I've met at Tufts."
But Rattiner sympathized with Sam's decision. "I understand that he has to make the choices that allow him to have the best four years possible," he said.
