Candidates prepare for SGA officer elections

It’s the time of year again when candidates are running for executive officer positions in the Student Government Association and Student Activities Council, and voting is open on the Union University Portal online November 13-17. Trey Gerrell, junior Christian thought and tradition major, and Holly Johnson, junior business administration major are running for the position of SGA president. Running for the SGA vice president position are Emma Kurt, sophomore biology major, and Allison Pulliam, junior political science and broadcast journalism double major. Running unopposed for the position of SGA secretary is Suzanne Fletcher, junior public relations major. Also Benton Hurt, sophomore cell and molecular biology major, and Katherine Caid, sophomore biology major, are running for the SGA position of treasurer. Reeves Garrett, junior Christian biblical studies major, is running for SAC president.

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Trey_Gerrell — [/media-credit] Trey Gerrell, junior christian thought and tradition major, is pursuing the SGA presidency position. | Photo by Abbey Orr

The executive president of SGA delegates duties to class officers and other executive members and acts as the main liaison between students and the school’s administration.

Gerrell, a native of Paris, Tennessee, said he wants to pursue the SGA position of president because he wants to continue the legacy of good servant leadership in that position.

“I want to go in to [this position] with a servant’s attitude and work for the student body of Union not necessarily to push my own agenda,” Gerrell said.

As the current SGA vice president of the junior class as well as the alumni coordinator of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity’s chapter, Gerrell desires to raise more awareness of SGA’s functions and involvement with the student body if he is elected president. He wants to make senate a more “approachable” place for students encouraging their voices to be heard. His favorite hobbies include reading, playing the bass and going to museums in his free time.

Johnson, originally from San Diego, California, but presently residing in Trenton, Tennessee, said she is running for SGA president because she wants to be a part of the solidarity movement on campus.

“We’ve been given a unique opportunity with a new administration, to make transitions and create a stronger bond between students, their organizations and our school’s leadership,” she said. “I would also love to use the position to listen to students and meet needs on a peer-to-peer basis.”

Johnson’s hobbies include travelling, reading and writing as well as socializing.

The duties of the executive SGA vice president position include presiding over senate and filling in duties for the president when needed.

Holly_Johnson — [/media-credit] Holly Johnson, junior business administration major, is running for the SGA executive president position. | Photo by Haaken Magnuson

Kurt, a native of Valparaiso, Indiana, said she desires the position of SGA vice president because she values senate and sees the important role it plays in fostering a community between members of different organizations throughout campus. She wants to help the student body by allowing its thoughts to be heard as a liaison between the students and administration.

As the current SGA sophomore class vice president and a LifeGroup leader, Kurt said she wants to allow smaller organizations in senate to have more opportunities for spotlights.

“I want to see if we can get a better location or a system where more people can come into Harvey Hall [for senate],” Kurt said.

In her free time, Kurt enjoys forestry involving identifying trees, studying astronomy and watching Netflix.

Pulliam, a native of Granger, Indiana, said she is seeking the position of SGA vice president because she wants to use the potential of senate to make positive changes for the school.

As a member of sophomore council and debate team, she wants to bring order in senate with her debate background.

“I think [my debate experience] is beneficial when I am running senate because we want to have an environment where it’s not just going to shut people down for speaking up for what might be an unpopular opinion,” Pulliam said. “We need to hear all the sides to better understand the issues that are affecting the student body.”

Pulliam said her favorite hobbies are running, engaging in debate and baking cookies.

Emma_Kurt — [/media-credit] Emma Kurt, sophomore biology major, is running for SGA vice president. |Photo by Abbey Orr

The position of secretary for SGA includes taking minutes at senate and SGA all-staff meetings as well as informing the student body of events SGA as a whole puts on.

Fletcher, a native of Jackson, Tennessee, wants to run for the position of SGA secretary because she wants to serve the student body as a whole. She said she wants to use her public relations skills and knowledge to fulfill her job of spreading the word about SGA events.

As the SGA junior class secretary this year and the event planning assistant of Chi Omega, she wants to come up with new ideas for SGA events.

Fletcher’s hobbies include writing, going to concerts and pursuing art.

The SGA treasurer is required to balance the SGA budget funded by the school and provide senate reports on the SGA budget as funds are given to student organizations.

Hurt is from Franklin, Tennessee, and he desires the position of SGA treasurer because he wants to involve himself in the heart of what goes on with student organizations as a whole in senate.

Allison_Pulliam — [/media-credit] Allison Pulliam, junior political science and broadcast journalism double major, is running for SGA vice president. |Photo by Hannah King

As a sophomore council member, Alpha Tau Omega’s treasurer and University Relations Ambassador, Hurt said he wants to use his experience organizing events to maintain a balanced budget and advise organizations who are granted SGA funds.

Hurt’s hobbies are spending time with friends, playing tennis and watching old movies.

Caid, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, is interested in pursuing the position of SGA secretary because she has enjoyed serving her class as the SGA sophomore class president and wants to serve the student body as a whole.

Also a LifeGroup leader, Caid said she wants to use her leadership experiences to continue to bring various student groups together on campus through SGA that wouldn’t normally work together.

Her favorite hobbies include running, hanging out with friends and reading.

The president of SAC serves to oversee the various SAC activities as well as conducting organization meetings.

Garrett, a native of Brownsville, Tennessee, is running for SAC president because he said serving and leading the student body as a whole is an honor he wants a part in.

As a SAC member serving on various committees, a member of the Student Advisory Council for School of Theology & Missions and a singer for University Singers, Garrett would like to improve the communication between the student body and SAC by providing avenues for student feedback in SAC’s programming.

Garrett said that because the SAC president uses the events SAC puts on to foster greater “student unity and community,”