It’s 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning and David Sargalski is waiting.

The women’s basketball team had made it to the Final Four and a select group of Syracuse University students were preparing to leave campus to watch the game in person.

The requirements were simple enough: meet at Schine Student Center early, because the buses will depart at 8 a.m. Schine doesn’t usually open up until 11 a.m. on the weekends, but Sargalski, director of the Division of Student Activities, coordinated for Schine to open early.

He then volunteered to spend his Saturday morning waiting with the students.

“I mean, to me it was obvious,” Sargalski said. “Like, of course I’m going to be there. This is a big event and I want to be there to wave to them as they leave.”

Sargalski’s SU pride and his love of the students is what inspires him to get heavily involved in every event and affair students organize.

Sargalski is part of a team that helps make things happen for students.

His track record is long and extensive. Some notable efforts include arranging buses for the Final Four basketball games, coordinating leadership programs and assisting over 300 student organizations.

Sargalski has always been a part of a team at SU.

He attended SU on a swimming scholarship as an undergrad and graduate student, and after it was over, he didn’t want to leave. He worked as an assistant swimming coach for a few years, then moved to working in recreation services for 10 years and now has worked in Student Activities for 10 years.

Even when Sargalski’s not at work, his free time involves him in a very important team: his family. He tries to spend time with his wife and 15-year-old twin daughters whenever he is not at work. He often brings his family to SU-hosted events.

Growing up visiting their dad’s office, his daughters already bleed orange. They’ve attended every Juice Jam and Block Party and know the whole Student Activities staff. Sargalski said he’d be shocked if his daughters don’t attend SU when they apply to college, but he said there’s no pressure.

Whether his daughters attend SU or not, Sargalski said its still all about the students.

SA president Aysha Seedat echoed Hong. She said he is always open to forming relationships with students.

One of Sargalski’s important roles is reminding students and faculty to help each other.

When Hong wanted to enact a bike share initiative on campus for students to rent bikes for free, she found herself hitting a lot of red lights because it conflicted with summer construction schedules. Officials were thinking of banning bikes on campus altogether.

Sargalski was frustrated and rhetorically asked, “How are we thinking about the students?”

Hong said this is a question Sargalski asks a lot while on the job.

“One way that he shows how much he loves (Syracuse) is by always thinking about what we could be doing better,” Hong said. “He critiques SU because he loves it and he knows that we could constantly be doing better.”

SA will often get credit for the work it accomplishes, but both Hong and Seedat said they couldn’t do it without Sargalski and his staff.

Aside from advising Seedat and Hong on personal and SA-related issues, Sargalski guides all students in the right direction for whatever passion they bring to the table. He helps them zero in on what it is they want out of their event, program or initiative.

Sargalski often credits Student Activities’ work to his team — the staff and the students themselves, but rarely himself, even when he plays a large role in a lot of the work.

There’s no denying that maintaining office work, student relationships, 12-hour work days and family life is a lot, but Sargalski keeps a level head.

“He’s Superman,” Hong said. “If I could define Dave and the important role he’s played during this past year, he’s the friend and support figure I never really knew I needed. I don’t know how I did life without him.”

Banner photo by Bridget Williams

Published on April 27, 2016 at 11:46 pm

tathomps@syr.edu