Face Time: Alexandra Curtis

By Alexis Rodriguez

As Vice President of Student Association, Alexandra Curtis is driven by her passion for politics and, most of all, Cuse. Jerk was lucky enough to sit down with her and discover her thoughts on Keeping Up with The Kardashians and what it takes to find sanity for the mass of students she is responsible for pleasing. She also shares her most embarrassing college experience, kicks Taylor Swift and her pop-heavy track out of the country genre, and lets us know what’s in her Starbucks cup--depending on the season, of course.

How long have you been involved with Student Association?

I’ve been involved since the very first week I came here. So it’s been two years.

Favorite magazine?

Can I say two? The Economist and Vogue. If they had a baby, that would be my favorite.

What was the best thing to happen to you in college?

Aside from achieving a longtime dream of winning a national pageant my freshman year and then becoming student body president my sophomore year, the best thing to happen to me was discovering my secret talent for competitive eating. I compete in the Daily Orange’s competition every year. I actually have a trophy that I am really proud of. I was the only girl in the competition and I was partially dressed in my Hilary Clinton Halloween costume. I just barely beat Dylan Lustig, [Student Association] President. I even got a nice Wings gift card. By the next morning I got five texts about a cartoon in the Daily Orange about me winning the wings competition.

Thoughts on Keeping Up with The Kardashians?

Hmm…oh my gosh…well, to be honest…I..uh, don’t typically keep up with the Kardashians but when I do…Kim is such a riot. The whole show is a riot.

Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds?

Ryan Reynolds, easily.

Favorite thing about Syracuse?

My favorite thing about Syracuse is the spirit. There’s definitely sprit here. No other school could touch what Syracuse has. The entire mentality of “bleeding orange” is undoubtedly prevalent. I thought at some point I would show up to an athletic event and paint myself entirely orange. Actually, my freshman year I was planning on trying out for Otto. I ended up not doing it because of my involvement with Student Association, but I still live and breathe Syracuse athletics.

What do you love most about Student Association?

I love that we can bring the top leaders from each of the home colleges on this whole campus. There are a wide variety of people attracted to SA. We all come in with different majors and interests, but at the end of the day we’re a group of people who are similar and share a common goal. It’s a lot of work. I don’t sleep very much. Ever. There’s actually a Snuggie in my desk ‘cause a sleep in my office more often than not. Ask anyone in SA and they will tell you they have met some of their best friends in our organization. These are the people I have spent a lot of time with and have built the most incredible friendships with. There’s always someone there to cheer me up or crack a joke. We are a bunch of people who want to make things happen. I was asked one adjective to describe myself during elections my freshmen year and I said quirky. Little did I know everyone in SA was a little quirky, which definitely makes us work. I’m so blessed to be a part of it.

Which celebrity would you want to punch in the face?

Rachael Ray from the Food Network. I’m all about the Food Network—Ina Garten, Paula Deen, and Giada [De Laurentiis] are my girls. [Ray] drives me up a wall…love all foodies, except for her. Make that very clear, though. Love the Food Network…not Rachael.

Biggest pet peeve?

I hate it when people wear socks with Sperrys.

Most embarrassing moment in college?

I was asked to go on SA Today (Citrus TV’s weekly show for SA) my freshman year to talk about academic affairs. I looked super professional and thought I was doing really well with my interview. Then, I accidentally referred to Chancellor Cantor as “Chancy Nancy”. I was so embarrassed, I felt like I had just talked down to the Chancellor!

What song are you absolutely sick of?

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift. I’m a big country music fan but Taylor Swift is not real country to me, and I can’t stand hearing her on CMT. It’s a bit overplayed.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I want to say a lion. Lions are fierce creatures, not to mention they have the mane going on. I have a lot of hair…I guess I kind of have a lion’s mane going on. Once a professor asked me a physical trait I could be remembered by—I said the hair. She referred to it as the “lion’s mane” later on. I guess it stuck.

What is something people don’t know about you?

I’m a huge nerd and I’m a huge goofball. A lot of what I have to do on campus has to be in a very professional capacity, so I don’t think people get to see my off the wall sense of humor as often as I would like. My best friend and I actually had a YouTube channel where we made these crazy videos with characters and voices that we created. It was a lot of street theater. I also grew up very involved with acting and voice-over work. I unfortunately haven’t had many opportunities to keep that up here at school, but I do a mean Chancy Nancy impression. A big part of my off-the-wall sense of humor is that I’m not afraid to embarrass myself. I’m the prankster amongst my friends, and they know I will do some crazy things to get a laugh.

Favorite site to procrastinate on?

FiveThirtyEight—my favorite political blog by Nate Silver who I am a huge fan of. It’s run through the New York Times. I love just sitting there and reading it. I love reading anything political because I feel productive. It’s not what I need to be doing for class, but it’s still definitely something of value.

What is your Starbucks order?

Oh—my Starbucks order. Right now, absolutely a pumpkin spice latte. Favorite time of the year…gotta go with pumpkin spice. I have a drink every season; over the summer it’s caramel macchiato, in the spring it’s a green tea frappuccino, and in the winter it’s peppermint mocha.

If you could change one thing about Syracuse other than the weather, what would it be?

I actually like the weather! I just wish we could pick up the campus and drop it in D.C. With the strength of the public policy program and the communications program, we would be running things in D.C. Not to mention, giving Georgetown a run for their money!

Top item on your bucket list?

I really want to go skydiving. I just think it would be exhilarating. When I was a child, my first ambition ever was to be a stunt double. I always thought something like skydiving would be fitting for me. I also want to make it to all 50 states.

Go-to vending machine delicacy?

Definitely Junior Mints.

Last song stuck in your head?

“Gangnam Style.” I’ve definitely got the dance moves down, too. It’s a good jam.

Go-to dance move?

Oh my gosh, I can be incredibly embarrassing on the dance floor, but I have a good time. The worm is definitely on the top of my list. I’m also a big fan of the sprinkler and the lasso.

You get to spend the whole day with Otto. Where do you go off campus?

Off campus with Otto? Definitely hit up Destiny USA and go shopping. We would take the Centro bus there and bring the scooter, because it’s his favorite method of transportation. We’d go shopping, see a movie, and have a nice dinner. I might be the one coming back in the Otto costume though—life long dream!