Junior Ben Titter never planned to be where he is today, but his journey has nevertheless led to great places for him. “Politics was always one of my interests, but not my main interest,” Titter said. But this year, Titter serves as the Vice President of the Student Government Association at Anderson University. He also plans to graduate with a Political Science degree and go on to law school. As to what may lay beyond that, Titter speculates about getting into public service, but isn’t sure. How did he get to where he is? It all started in theater.
Living in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (a suburb of Milwaukee), Titter’s first exposure to live theater was in the third grade when he played Little Jake in a high school production of the Western musical Annie Get Your Gun. “I fell in love with the lights and the stage,” he said. Throughout his high school career he continued to perform in school and church productions, including a tour that allowed him to perform as far away as California. When he came to AU on a visit, he was very attracted to the people in the theater department, and that’s when he made the decision to attend.
That fall, Titter came to AU with the expectation of majoring in theater, but his plans would not last for long. Although his interest in theater continued as he worked on several of AU’s productions, his interest in politics was starting to increase. A high school economics and history teacher inspired him to the field, but it took a call from God early in his college career to help him find his place. “I came to AU in the fall to major in theater. Six weeks later I changed my major and I wouldn’t think of transferring,” said Titter, “I felt God calling me to other areas. So I decided just to go for it, with no safety net, and say, ‘I trust you.’” His pursuit of political science led to his involvement in student government, where he served on the court as a Justice during his sophomore year.
As the year came to a close, Titter reflected that he had learned a lot from his experience on the court and hoped to be involved again the next year. With most of the court graduating, the Justices felt it was important to have an experienced member on the court for 2006. Titter was considering the position of Chief Justice when Ryan Daniel came to him with an offer. Daniel planned to run for student body president for 2006-2007. “I think there may be a spot on my cabinet for you, Ben,” Daniel said. Titter still felt a duty to have an experienced court for the next year, but when one of the justices not graduating decided to stay on, Titter felt the liberty to take Daniel up on his offer. Daniel offered Titter the Vice President position. “We started to campaign that spring and the rest is history,” Titter said.
Before the school year started, the Cabinet met for a retreat to discuss the upcoming year. Each member came with 10-15 goals for the year, and together they formed an ambitious agenda for the improvement of the school this year. As Vice President, Titter chairs the four standing committees of the Senate and works as a liaison between students and staff. “We have a good Senate and a great Cabinet and they’re excited about issues,” Titter said.
The journey from growing up in a Milwaukee suburb to Vice President of SGA at AU has taught Titter much about different communities. “Milwaukee is still one of the most segregated cities in the U.S.,” Titter explained. Growing up there taught him how to “deal with people for who they are, and not their stereotypes.” At AU, Titter lives in a more relaxed setting that gives an opportunity to build many relationships and feel like being in a big family. “It’s a wonderful community full of intellectually diverse people and very multicultural. That’s what I love about it,” Titter said. In the upcoming year, he hopes to be able to serve the needs of the AU students. And what happens next in his journey is in God’s hands.
