Probing the Board: Advising the Advisor

This is the final of the Probing the Board series and we are ending with an eye on the Advisor to SAB – Val Davids! Now, I’ll be honest, getting answers form her was like pulling teeth. But! The wait is over! To celebrate the finale of the Probing the Board series, I asked someone who’s known Val a very long time, Aaron the “Big Cat” McCabe, to critique her very short answers. I think he’s older than her in fact! So without further ado, here’s the boss lady!

What is your full name? 

      Valerie Davids

What is some of your past and current involvement here on campus?

      I have worked on campus going on 27 years.

What was your major and how long have you been at ISU?

      My major was Sociology.

Where are you from?

      I grew up in Bancroft, Idaho. (Where?)

Apple juice or orange juice?  

      Apple juice.

List 5 goals on your life’s to-do and/or bucket list.

            Learn to make bread, travel, go on a girl’s only hiking trip, spend time with my grandson, and receive the Golden Arrow Award. (Is that for old people?)

What is an embarrassing moment of yours?

      Which one! (Ha. How about getting pied in the face?)

What are three things you cannot live without?

      Electricity, hot water, and my Vitamix.

What is your favorite color? 

      My favorite color to wear is black, but I love all colors in my flower garden.

How would your friends best describe you?

      Organized, honest, and hopefully fun.

If you were a Star Trek [or Star Wars] character, which one would it be?

      Really?? Lol (She is too old to know what movies these came from…)

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

      (She refused to answer this one...)

What is the one food you could never give up?

Cheese. (Who cut the cheese? This one!)

Do you like to sing in the shower?

            Wish I had a shower, but yes I do like to sing in the tub. (Singing while cleaning, that’s another story)

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

      Retired!! (Yea right…)

What is the last book you read for pleasure? 

      Hunger Games books.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? 

      Morning. (Then why are you always late to work? Low blow Big Cat…)

Who is one of your role models and why?

      My mom is my role model because she is always positive and upbeat. (And Big Cat)

Do you have any hidden talents? What are they?

      I can play the bones. They are made of wood, not from real bones.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

            Almond milk, spinach, greens, carrots, cheese, lemons, grapes, jam, salad dressing,  condiments, yogurt, eggs, and turkey lunchmeat.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

      Josephine Marcus-she ended up with Wyatt Earp.

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

      A Little Bit Stronger (Not “We Came to Party?”)

Which areas of the world would you like to explore and why? 

            I’m intrigued by it all!! (Just like me. Not really sure what you meant here Big Cat. I smell fail…)

How would you describe yourself in three words?

      Fun, Independent, Organized

Tell me a joke.

      Knock Knock… (Who’s there?)

Thanks for reading along as we Probed the Board. Stay tuned to the Probe for future updates, sneak peeks, and behind the scenes action of the Student Activities Board. Until next time,

Probies out!

Probing the Board: Staring down the Prober

This time around we look at the SAB Marketing Chair, and the author of the Probe: ME! Curious who's been writing all of these stories and Probing SAB? Well now you know. Best kept secret maybe?


Well, since I normally make the snarky comments on the Board, I decided to turn the Probe over to another, and take my own turn. Thank you Sheila Mitchell for taking over this time! Here ... we ... go...

What is your full name?

      Phillip Trey Coates

Meeeeooowwwww

What is some of your past and current involvement here on campus?

I have served as the vice president for the French Club – Le Conseil Français – as well as the president.  I have been an assistant editor for the campus literary arts journal – the Black Rock & Sage – for two years and currently I am the secretary for the College Democrats as well as the vice president of the ISU QSA (Queer Straight Alliance). Over the summer I also worked for New Student Orientation and got the chance to meet tons of really fun incoming freshmen.

What is your major and how long have you been at ISU?

I am an English major with an emphasis in professional and technical writing and I am also minoring in French. Yes, I am a super senior! This is my fifth (and final) year here at ISU.

Where are you from and why did you decide to come to ISU?

I am originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but I lived in Rexburg, Idaho before coming here. I chose ISU because of all the wonderful things I heard about it from my mother, a graduate student here currently, and it was close to home.

Apple juice or orange juice?

Apple juice. Orange juice gives me a sore throat…

List 5 goals on your life’s to-do and/or bucket list.

Live in Europe (preferably Paris, London, or Lucerne), be a published author, own my own home on a different continent, go sky-diving, and travel to my hearts content. (He is seriously obsessed with Paris, its everywhere in his apartment).

Socks anyone?

What is an embarrassing moment of yours?

I fell off of a camel when I was in Africa 4 years ago. I fell of a camel onto someone. I also broke the camel’s tail in the process. Enough said. (I feel like there is more to this story!)

What are three things you cannot live without?

Time by myself, to-do lists, and my friends and family. (Really Phillip, to-do lists, that must get tiring).

What is your favorite color?

Purple (with red especially). (A man after my own heart!)

How would your friends best describe you?

Quiet, reserved, and fashionable. (Um, which best friend is that?)

Oh so very reserved...

If you were a Star Trek [or Star Wars] character, which one would it be?

For Star Wars I would be Anakin Skywalker, and for Star Trek it would have to be Captain Janeway of Star Trek Voyager!

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Querying into the Life of Phillip Coates

What is the one food you could never give up?

Pasta. Any kind. (When did you last eat pasta?)

Do you like to sing in the shower?

I like to sing everywhere. No matter the setting. I’m that awkward. (That is not that akward!!!)

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Living either in Portland or Seattle and writing, advocating, studying, learning, laughing, and keeping just as busy as I am now. Oh and tastefully renovating an old Victorian style home.

Just call me Julia Child

What is the last book you read for pleasure?

The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed by Judy Shepard.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I don’t have time to sleep…

Who is one of your role models and why?

I don’t really have one specific one. I tend to sponge off of a collective. I don’t want one person to influence me too much, but I do often say my spirit animal is Hillary Clinton.

Do you have any hidden talents? What are they?

I can read people very well. I can usually judge someone within minutes of knowing them, and nine times out of ten, I’m right. First impressions matter to me, because in so many ways, even if someone is trying to pretend or put on airs, I can usually see right through that. I guess you could say my hidden talent is being judgmental. Maybe that’s not a very hidden talent always.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Hummus and beverages not allowed on campus. Maybe some spinach that’s expired and soy or rice milk – probably also expired.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

Harvey Milk. Even though he was assassinated I feel his life had purpose, meaning, and he actually stood for something. He mattered.

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

The theme song for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, because I rock out to it all the time! I even have a dance to it. (I want to see this happen, because I have never seen or heard it before!)

Which areas of the world would you like to explore and why? 

Asia, Europe, and South Africa. I have been to parts of Europe and I want to see more and return! I have been to North Africa, and would like to see the different culture of the South. I have never been to Asia, so basically I want to revisit places I have gone and explore places I haven’t been. I want to go everywhere.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

      Passionate, hypocritical, and eccentric.

Tell me a joke.

      Wanna hear a camel story?

A monkey and a bag...

Well Sheila, thank you for Probing me. Even though I think I do it better, not too bad for your first time. Thank you for reading a little about me and until next time,


Probies, out!