The Student Government Association hosted their first ever “Meet the Candidate Forum” April 8, allowing William Peace University students to get to know the candidates running for the upcoming 2019-2020 SGA Executive Board before having to cast out votes.
“For the first time in over four years the SGA President position has a run off, and I thought it was very important to have a forum so students could hear each candidates platform,” said Current SGA President Matthew Comenski. “It is important to me that people vote informed rather than based off of friendship.”
At the beginning of the forum, moderated by political science professor Dr. Elizabeth Kusko, non-presidential candidates gave a brief summary of who they are and why they are running for their specific position. The three candidates running for president also gave an overview of why they were running, and were also asked specific questions on campus issues.
The three candidates, all current juniors, are Deja Gainey, Elizabeth Ralph; and Maxwell Owens. All three candidates had very different platforms on what they hope to bring to campus if elected.
Here are excerpts of what each candidate said were their goals and priorities.
Gainey: “My priorities include increasing student involvement in community service events on campus, adding color printers to our libraries, and just making them more accessible for students.”
Ralph: “My main goals would be as student body president to make campus more accessible to all students because I know that this place was built in the 1800s but I think it needs updates so that people of all abilities can reach every part of campus.”
Owens: “The most thing I’m trying to change this year is parking,” said Owens. “In my opinion, its the biggest problem that we have by ten foots.”
If you would like to hear the entire forum and what the candidates think about diversity and inclusion, campus improvements, campus services, and their view on how to keep a good relationship with academics, see @ThePeaceTimes video on Facebook: bit.ly/WPUSGA.