It is that time of year again when the top student leaders on campus strive to earn the most prestigious leadership position on campus: student body president, selected from a pool of SGA candidates. SGA is the Student Government Association on campus and defines itself as being “the official voice of the undergraduate student body at the University of North Texas.” Think of SGA as the collegiate equivalent of a high school student council. The representatives elected to this governing organization put forth student opinions and concerns to university administration. SGA elections are important because this is when the student body chooses representatives to communicate with those who make decisions on campus. The current pool of candidates for the presidential election for the Fall 2016- Spring 2017 school year are as follows (in order of left to right facing the stage during the debate): Alessandria De La Rosa, Sam Deleon, John Andrews, Grant Hale, and Mikayla Barnes. Their full platforms, bios, and running mates can be found on the Division of Student Affairs website. Voting opens Monday, April 4 at 8:00am and ends on Thursday, April 7 at 5:00pm. Run-off voting begins Monday, April 18 and closes Thursday, April 21 at the same times. In addition, SGA is having a Vote-A-Thon in the Syndicate on Thursday, April 5 12:00pm-5:00pm to encourage voter turnout for this election. You can find out more information on this event or SGA in general on Twitter @UNTSGA or search for UNT Student Government Association on other social media.
As for the debate, it was broken into five different segments with introductions, a series of questions, a break, questions pulled from Twitter, questions candidates asked each other, and closing statements.Due to length constraints, questions were combined or unfortunately cut altogether.
Introductions
All the candidates spoke of wanting a more transparent and inclusive SGA that represents all students equally, especially those who feel underrepresented such as first generation, students with disabilities, veterans, etc. They emphasized wanting a reunited community and excitement for the university by providing information in a clear and concise and therefore, improving communication and connectivity with students to increase student engagement and involvement. Barnes, De La Rosa, and Andrews focused primarily on these goals. Hale described the same goals with more specific examples of posting meeting notes on a public forum, having a presence on social media, sending emails, and hosting monthly town hall meetings, promoting the arts, music, and other aspects of our university, and togetherness of special interest groups providingan avenue on campus for underrepresented students. Deleon wants platform goals that are reasonable, logical, and affordable.
Representing Students On Their Biggest Challenges
The biggest issue on campus according to Deleon is the retention rate. SGA must have strong and effective leaders who reach out to the student body with emails, meetings, ballot boxes, going out and engaging with students, just having a presence on campus to unify the student body so no one feels excluded. He suggested having more events such as Yell Like Hell. Barnes noticed a division of groups on campus and wants to bridge the gap between students, by starting with SGA executives and representing everyone by going beyond emails and tweets. Working students is De La Rosa’s main concern. She proposed extending hours for students to them get involved, tabling to departments and organizations. SGA is supposed to be the voice forstudents, to meet with administrators on campus, and create environment for welcoming students. Andrewssaid there is a lack of resources such as financial aid and parking. Students feel like they have nowhere to go. SGA is to help inform students, by taking an active role of listening to form one community and have no student afraid of going to SGA. Hale focused more on the bigger picture of national student loan debt. SGA is the official voice of student body and should pay attention to how much are students paying in tuition and fees. SGA should listen to student feedback and wants to make students understand they are already members of SGA. He suggested face-to-face interaction and going to classes to speck in front of students.
Qualifications To Serve As President
Both Hale and Deleon were SGA Freshman interns as well as experience in NT40 and Greek Life. Hale is the current Chief of Staff and has been involved since day one at UNT. He is experienced and has the vision, drive, and determination. Deleon has been a senator for the past two years and has put his leadership skills to the test in different crowds andareas such as FSA and an Orientation Leader. He likes to challenge himself. Barnes has been also an Orientation Leader where she learned about leadership and students. She is the current Director of Outreach. Academics are really important to De La Rosa. She has been involved in the Student Support Program and Multicultural Center. She learned development in her job, previous organizations, and will transfer skills into SGA despite having no previous SGA experience. Andrews has been on campus for three and half year. He is the third Orientation Leader and member of Greek Life among the candidates. He has leadership positions in both his fraternity and council as a whole. He strives for greatness.
Transparency And Communication
Transparency and communication depends on successful networking within leaders of organizations, and Deleon already has past experience with them. Barnes will plan an SGA week in addition to socials outside of SGA in other organizations and networking. SGA must have strong communication in meeting with administrators. De La Rosa wants to expand awareness and knowledge to students and simplify minutes for meeting so they are less confusing. SGA president should be approachable. Andrews had the most ambitious idea of going to every organization on campus in pursuit of community. He wants to be thought of as a friend as well as send concrete and concise emails. He will host activities for students. Hale reiterated SGA’s need to be transparent and clarified that meetings are open in addition to minutes. University administration needs to be held accountable and disclosed that UNT is in trouble for failing to report sexual assault to the student body. Regarding sexual assault awareness in particular, De La Rosa argues that students are aware of sexual assault but administration needs to be more open in addressing issues and taking disciplinary action. Campus should be more lit throughout the night.Andrews want to improve safety on campus as well as implement anonymous polices and counseling.Hale stressed that the university should admit when it is at fault for not reporting sexual assault. There is not enough lighting on sidewalks despite the initiativesand safety walks on campus. Deleon called for more awareness. Students should feel safer and know the resources available to them such as the safety lights and to add more safety lights. All students should feel safe to go to anyone at any time. Barnes strives for educational programs and informational sessions on how sexual assault affects people and transparency in where security funding goes.
Twitter Questions
Individual questions were directed to Hale, Deleon, and Andrews. Hale admitted that the first town hall meetings will have low attendance but after word-of-mouth promotion, presenting to organizations, and social media, he expects attendance to grow. The start-up bulletin page Deleon proposed to cultivate school spirit will be updated each week through IT and Library services along with student input. Andrews will meet with all 400+ organizations by attending 20 meetings on campus each week throughout the year in addition to emailing officers. Every candidate denied the election was a popularity contest although Deleon pointed out the difference between “successful networking” and “popularity” of which is only being mentioned because Hale will doubt this later.
Candidates Questions
Hale asks Deleon to give more details since he has a lot of points without specific examples. Deleon counters that he is already diverse with the campus body and built a rapport of being approachable, welcoming, accepting, and knowledgeable. Deleonasks Barnes how being Director of Outreach has prepared her. Barnes responds by working with student organizations to collaborate. She has experience with working with people from different environments. Andrews asks Deleon what his outside experience has to do with SGA. Deleon is well rounded in different areas and groups from working as an executive for other organizations. He knows how to micromanage and knows what to look for and what is needed. Barnes asks Hale how his administration isdifferent from past platforms. Hale’s platform is due to reoccurring problems that depend on the people with experience and who is most trustworthy to solve them. Andrews asks De La Rosa how to get students who aren’t already involved in SGA. It goes back to having students feel included and awareness of resources on campus. De la Rosa later asks Andrews how SGA will grow and develop under his administration. He emphasizes community, success, and breaking the barrier for equal representation and treated. Hale inquires Barnes about her SGA week when outreach should be all year. She argues it was to introduce SGA to students. The point is to market and reach out to students as best as possible. Deleonasks Andrews how to get stimulation from student body. Andrews responds that having events such as free food while learning about SGA and what they have to offer if weren’t already involved on campus.Andrews inquires Hale of his experience and involvement on campus outside of Greek life and SGA. Hale says his past involvement has been so focused because he wants to do a job to best of his ability. It is not about what or how much he has been involved in past. It is about what he can do in the future. He wants SGA to reach out all of campus. Hale accuses Deleon’s usage of the term “successful networking” as a euphemism for popularity. Deleon claims successful networking is more in depth acknowledgment of his achievements, accomplishments, and experience while popularity is more surface level rumors. Deleon questions Hale about the qualifications of his running mate, Barrett Cole. Hale has known Barrett since last semester and felt she was the most qualified candidate. Hale believes she is the best representative to bring in more campus community. Deleon is not allowed to rebuttal.
Closing Remarks
Barnes and Deleon mostly thanked everyone for the experience and opportunity to run and how it means a lot to them. Deleon, Hale, and Andrews want the student body to take into consideration that voters are selecting future leaders and to vote for the right candidate. It is more than an election. It is an interview process for a paid position on campus. Hale reminded the audience that he was the only one candidate talked about what students want rather than what the candidate wants and was the first to bring up sexual assault. Andrews wants to be there for students as a friend to come talk to. De la Rosa wants major issues to get addressed and placed into action.