“Your new president and vice president winners are Kristin Anderson and Jacqueline French,” announced Eve Haydt, Student Government speaker of assembly and a junior sociology major.
President-elect Anderson and Vice President-Elect French have been campaigning for the past two weeks for the two top-tier positions within SG. On Tuesday night, it was announced these women were chosen over opponent Robyn Hurrell, a sophomore accounting and management major, who ran alongside Kyle Benus, a sophomore marketing and public relations major.
“We are ecstatic to receive this opportunity. With six years of combined experience we have a very broad understanding of what work we can get started, even now,” said Anderson, a junior public relations and advertising major. “We would like to thank the current Student Government officers for all they have done this year. Without their support and guidance, we probably would not have had the motivation to run.”
During candidate speeches last week March 25, Anderson focused on her numerous leadership experiences, calling upon her previous role as SG vice president last year and current presidency in the Honors Council. She also cited involvement in many other campus organizations. French has also had an active role on campus holding positions such as SG senator, a UT diplomat and she was a recent recipient of a Leadership Achievement award.
“As a voter, I would ask myself what have Kristin and I done to consistently show what we want to do over these past three years,” said French, a junior double majoring in international business and government and world affairs. “As most of you know, Kristin and I have six years of combined Student Government experience together.”
Election campaigns were largely held over social media, where both Anderson and opponent Hurrell posted pictures of themselves around campus with students, reaching out with their own platforms for changes they would like to see on campus. Hurrell’s campaign was based on a concept called B.E.L.I.E.V.E, addressing some popular students concerns such as better student parking and evaluating student satisfaction with campus dining.
Taking a different approach, Anderson and French cited concerns that many needs are not being addressed due to a lack in communication between administration and students. Their platform was to approach institutional roadblocks and increase transparency with senior staff members in order to streamline change within the university.
“‘The Doing Work In Pencil Skirts’ campaign plans on doing more by fostering and building relationships with all on-campus offices,” said Anderson during candidate speeches. “To dream more by coming up with effective and innovative solutions to student problems.”
The announcement of the winners was followed by clapping and shouts of general approval within the assembly on Tuesday. Another newly elected leader is excited to be working with the duo starting in the fall: Kyle McGee, a junior international business major chosen to represent SG as a campus wide senator.
“I think it was a good choice. For me, doing research on what they [Anderson and French] were running for, I saw that they were focusing on what the school really needs,” McGee said.
Some students say they were not at all surprised by the announcement. Anisha Russell, a senior marine biology major, felt no shock when it was announced Anderson and French had won the election.
“I didn’t vote, to be honest. Mostly because I am graduating,” Russell said. “I expected them to win, just based off all their experience. But I really do think they will do a decent job.”
Anderson and French will be sworn in to their positions during Leadership Awards Night on April 15. As part of their positions, they will be working on applications for the 2014 to 2015 SG Executive Board and Cabinet, which will be made available to students on April 8.
“We are so honored to have been voted on by the students,” Anderson said. “This speaks volumes about how much UT Spartans care.”
Doha Madani can be reached at doha.madani@theminaretonline.com