He goes to every Undergraduate Student Government (USG) meeting. He advises the executive cabinet and Senate. He even wrote one of USG's most crucial bills.

But he's not a member of USG.

Shawn Gordon (senior-accounting), author of the proposal for USG's new "constitutional convention," plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role in USG, even though he doesn't have an official position.

USG President Nick Stathes called him a "real asset" to USG.

"I consider him one of the most important people I work with everyday," he said. "He knows a lot about the inner workings of the university."

Gordon began his involvement in student government as a USG senate staff member his freshman year. During his second semester, he served as the senate secretary. The spring of his sophomore year, he served as the USG elections commissioner.

The spring of his junior year, Gordon studied abroad in London, so he was never able to run for a position on USG. But he did follow the campaign on the Internet, he said, and Stathes' idea of a constitutional convention appealed to him.

Gordon said he and Stathes spoke over the summer and Gordon agreed to write a proposal.

"His proposal was so well written and well done that we decided to go with it," Stathes said.

Since the administration recognized the University Park Undergraduate Association as the new official student voice after a student referendum in the spring, Stathes said the new USG administration did not get much help transitioning into its positions.

"After [Vice President] Pat [Daley] and I were elected, we had no one to transition us into power like is traditionally done in USG," Stathes said.

Stathes said Gordon has stepped in to help by drawing on his "vast experience" in student government.

Gordon described his role as an "unofficial student adviser." He said he has even adopted a nickname -- "den mommy," the title of a mother who leads a group of Cub Scouts.

Gordon said he worked with a USG president other than Galen Foulke who previously served two terms in office.

Gordon said he would like to see USG return to "really being representatives for the students." He said USG had a good year when Ian Rosenberger was president.

"We lost a lot of ground [since then]," he said.