On Oct. 26, the Senate of Union’s Student Government Association heard from candidates running for positions in the next administration.
The positions being campaigned for were executive president, executive vice president, vice president of finance, vice president of administration and SAC president. The meeting began as usual with prayer and legislation before launching into the speeches.
The first candidate to speak was junior communications major Danielle “Dannie” Harrington, running unopposed for executive president. Harrington explained that she wished to continue the work done by current president, Ethan Voss, both internally in student government and externally with clubs and the community. She also expressed wishes to increase interaction with the general community.
“One of my big emphasizes is to just focus on communicating with the student body,” Harrington said.
“I’ve been in SGA since my freshman year,” Harrington said. “Freshman year I was on council, sophomore year I had the amazing opportunity of being president, and this year, obviously, I serve as your wonderful clerk.”
The next speaker of the evening was sophomore english major, Liliana “Lili” Pettigrew running unopposed for vice president of administration. Pettigrew is currently a freshman council mentor.
The next candidate was junior pre-professional art therapy major Joelle Cruver, running unopposed for Student Activities Council (SAC) president. Cruver focused on her experience finding community in SAC.
The fourth speaker of the night was sophomore history major Austin Alexander, running for vice president of finance.
“I want to serve in this position for you,” Alexander said. “So, if you elect me, I’ll take it as my responsibility and duty to prove to you guys that you made the right decision.”
Alexander also gave a short review of his experience and qualifications that included currently being a senator for Pi Alpha Theta, serving on the sophomore council, being a Life Group leader, serving as the student representative on the Educator Preparation Program Council and co-running a business for multiple years where his duties included managing finances and budgeting.
Running against Alexander for vice president of finance and next to speak was junior public relations major Mattie Washington.
“I am a firm believer that the senate and the senators and SGA have a symbiotic relationship,” Washington said. “So, if you were to vote me for your vice president of finance, I would make that my primary goal.”
Washington also reviewed her own experience and qualifications. She was the vice chair of freshman council, vice president of the sophomore class and is the current vice president of administration. She also spoke of her experiences with the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL), Google Sheets and staying in budget while making purchases for other positions.
Next came the candidates for executive vice president, beginning with sophomore political science major Jacob Little.
“Senate gives a voice to ideas and allows us to make our excellent university even better,” Little said. “Senate is my favorite part of student government, and I would be honored to preside over it by serving this next year as executive vice president.”
Little explained his qualifications for the position, including serving as the chair of freshman council and serving as the current sophomore class president. He also elaborated on his love of public speaking sharpened by years of debate and his experience as a stage host at Winshape Camps over the summer.
The final candidate of the night was junior public relations major Emma Coykendall who is also running for executive vice president.
“SGA is my passion,” Coykendall said. “I think each one of us come into college and we settle on something. I joined a lot of clubs when I first came to Union, like I know a lot of us did. However, SGA is the one I stuck with. It’s the one I poured myself into.”
Coykendall read Matthew 20:26 and spoke about the importance of servant leadership. She also reviewed the duties of the executive vice president and then gave her qualifications for the position which include having served as the chair of freshman council, freshman council mentor and currently serving as the vice president of finance.
The ballots will be sent to each student’s Union email account, and voting will take place between Nov. 2 and Nov. 6. Ballots are open to the entire student body.
Editor’s note: Washington is the news editor of Cardinal & Cream. She was involved in the editorial process but did not directly contribute to this article.
