After Wednesday’s Student Government Association meeting President Greg Lee addressed a new set of faces: the candidates for next year’s SGA officers and class presidents.
“Be very excited he told them. It is the most fun and stress and hard work that any of us have done and it has been so fruitful.”
A couple issues emerged as key points the candidates wish to address in the coming campaign: fostering a vibrant inclusive Pepperdine community and renovating the relationship between SGA and the student body.
“I want to truly bring a sense of community and implement a more college feel to the university Louis Boney, a candidate for student body president, said.
Presidential candidate Taylor Thompson said he plans to focus on involving more people in the on-campus community. He said his experience as an resident advisor illuminated how marginalized some people on campus are.
We need to think creatively about how we can pull these people out Thompson said. I would really like to see the student body get passionate about the things that they see and get the whole community working for the better.”
Junior Will Golemon another presidential candidate proposed a class-wide event for the junior class at the beginning of the fall semester to refresh the class unity that is lost during the study abroad divisions the class faces during sophomore year. He added communication transparency and accountability to the list of key issues for SGA to address in the fall.
“The student body should know what’s happening to their money and have a way to respond Golemon said. It’s huge that our senate talks more that they’re held to a higher standard and I want to be held to that same standard.”
Daelan Blankfein also running for president couldn’t be reached for comment.
Khail Parris candidate for executive vice president proposed sports as a rallying area for a more active student community.
“I want to get school spirit on track he said. The fact that we don’t have a football team is no excuse. We want to start tailgating getting people to go to games. We want to start promoting free fun.”
The candidates will face off in a public debate Tuesday in the HAWC at 6 p.m. Polls will open online Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. and will close at 8 a.m. the following morning.
A candidate needs at least 51 percent of the vote to win. If no candidate garners a majority after the first round of voting a runoff poll between the two leading candidates will decide the winners.
