Students gathered at Reeves Theater on Tuesday night to hear candidates speeches for the Student Government elections, which opened at 9PM the same night. Reeves was packed with students and SG Representatives in support of the candidates preparing to present their platforms.
Sophomore senator candidates Robyn Hurrell and Molham “Mak” Krayem spoke first. Hurrell is one of the current freshman senators on SG and said, “I just want to make a better place for you guys and make sure all of your voices are heard.” Krayem said he’s running for senate because he is “passionate about making change” and plans on “taking change into his own hands.”
Five candidates spoke for the campus wide senator positions: Katelyn Edwards, Jacqueline French, Bozhidar “Bobby” Mladenov, Sommer Sanfilippo and Nick Tran.Edwards kept the crowd laughing throughout her speech, joking that being an Asian woman qualifies her for the position. French, who has been involved with SG for two years, created the campus Senate suggestion page and presents student suggestions to SG.
With over 3,000 community service hours accumulated in the last five years, Mladenov said he is running for senate because he wants everyone to work together like a family.“In Student Government I feel like I can help a large, diverse group and that just makes me feel better,” Mladenov said. “It makes me want to live and feel like my life is worth it.”
Sommer Sanfilippo, who is currently a campus wide senator running for another term, is open “to listening to ideas from fellow classmates.”
Tran said he is running for senate “to be an example.” “I want to be inspiration to you guys,” Tran said.
Junior senator candidate Michael Catipovic and senior senator candidate Matthew Luber were not in attendance.
Eve Haydt, the only candidate running for speaker of the assembly, “want[s] to make the best of UT.” “We shouldn’t waste any time just doing the best that we can and implementing the best plans that we can,” Haydt said.
Vice Presidential candidates spoke next. Chanel Vanzant, paired with presidential running mate Patrick “PK” Creedon, said their platform “is one that is based off of very realistic ideas and honesty at UT.” “We want to put the student back in student body,” Vanzant said.
Trevor Hyssong, paired with presidential running mate Jacob “Jake” Loken, has made a commitment to be “the catalyst for change” for student organizations.
“True Leadership is defined when you put the importance of others before yourself,” Hyssong said. “We need Student Government leaders that are committed to this principle of putting others success above personal gain. We need student leaders whose primary concern is supporting fellow Spartans, not enhancing their own resumes.”
The presidential candidates spoke next before a debate moderated by current Speaker of the Assembly Dylan Sellberg
Creedon spoke of students’ level of caring in his speech. “If I’m elected president, this isn’t my student body. It’s ours,” he said. Creedon discussed change, especially in students not caring and participating enough in SG. He promised to work to re-brand SG with the goal of SG representatives wanting to go to meetings, not because they have to.
Loken said that what he loves most about UT is the diversity on campus. He believes that he can be a “diverse and understand leader” due to his immersion in many different cultures through much traveling in a military family. Loken, a current campus-wide Senator and former Sophomore Senator, promised “dedication and leadership” if elected. Loken said that he is “Fully invested in seeking this position in order to better the school” and serve the student body.
Voting will take place between March 26-31 and winners will be announced on April 2.
Jessica Keesee can be reached at Jessica.Keesee@theminaretonline.com
Mia Glatter can be reached at Mia.Glatter@theminaretonline.com