The SGA elections are coming up and it seems like the presidential nominees have a case of Obama syndrome. It’s all about change this and change that. I’m sure you all have seen the DeMario/Gibson slogan “Changing the campus, by changing the conversation.” Catchy little saying, but I would have preferred this one instead:
Changing the campus, by HAVING the conversation.
The focus during this campaign has been on the future attempts to connect with the student body. For whatever reason, despite the attempts made by Student Outreach and the Spectator reports, students still don’t understand the reasons behind the SGA and their effect on campus. So, since the elections are next week, allow me to briefly explain what the signs and cookouts have been trying to tell you all year.
Blazers, the SGA is a service. More importantly, it’s a service that you have already paid for with student fees. The SGA is responsible for a budget that is meant to better your life on campus and make your student experience as pleasant as possible (provided that the faculty senate goes along with it). Much like how tax dollars go into maintaining and improving the community, your student fees pay for upgrading the college experience.
Unlike taxes, however, there’s no way around paying for student fees. So you might as well get your money’s worth out of the SGA.
And what better way to start cashing in on your investment than by voting next week during the president and vice-presidential election?
That’s right; it’s time for the annual “spring cleaning” of the SGA executive board. If you couldn’t tell by all the chalk advertisements, we have a choice between three candidates for SGA president and two vice-president hopefuls. If you’re wondering who the odd man out is during this election, it’s presidential nominee Chris Nish, who is currently the vice-president of the SGA.
This time, he’s aiming for the big seat. However, if I were him, I wouldn’t remind people during the campaign that I was part the current executive board. It was a rough year Nish; you would be better off just sweeping that history under the rug like a good politician would.
Speaking of hard sales, we have DeMario Jones looking to score big with a presidential nomination. He’s an unusual candidate, for sure, but not because he’s a football player. It’s hard to look past that he’s up against seasoned SGA veterans, while he just joined the party a few months ago.
It’s not that this move is impossible, as proved by President Obama and his quick ascension to the Oval Office. However, it’s not like Obama has to juggle his time between running the country and pounding foreign representatives into the ground.
But to give credit when it’s due, DeMario, you obliterated my expectations and proved yourself to be a strong public speaker. You could probably talk a quarterback into giving you the ball, if granted three minutes to do so.
Then we have two year senator Ryan Brown, who doesn’t really have any quirks I can pick on. Shame, because I would have given him more attention if he did. Same goes for vice-presidential nominees Adrian Gibson and Jasmine Coer. From my perspective, we really can’t lose in this category. Gibson has always had a very strong presence in the SGA and Coer, even though I had never heard of her before last week, seems well-liked enough by the senate. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but that becomes pretty important when it comes time to run a meeting filled with senators.
As much as I like to poke fun, none of the candidates are by any means unfit for the job. Brown and Nish are experienced in all matters of the SGA and DeMario might have it in him to intimidate the faculty senate into submission.
When you get right down to it, everyone is on the same page about what needs to be improved on campus (i.e. dining services, parking, and transportation). The thing you need to ask yourself when you sign in to vote next week is “Which one will get the job done?” Which nominee do you think will fight the faculty senate on your behalf? And, most important, which nominee will never say “There’s nothing we can do”?
Nominate your pick on April 19 and April 20 on the VSU website.
Vote, Die, or you’re just being a burden to our society.