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The time has come for posters and platforms to deck the walls and halls of Pepperdine. Campaigns for Student Government Association elections started last night after an official candidate meeting and will continue through Wednesday, when students begin to cast votes.
The positions up for grabs are SGA president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Respective classes will also elect their class presidents and senators.
Five will vie for the presidency: Jason Palmer, Guiseppe Nespoli, Steve Williams, Paris Dennard and Steve Lyle. All the candidates possess experience serving in elected and appointed positions in SGA.
For the first time on campus, the College Republicans club is endorsing an SGA presidential candidate. However, controversy arose between members Lyle and Dennard, both longtime members of the club, on the democratic process of the endorsement, which would give the winner extra help campaigning during the week before the election.
Katie Vaughan, communication and public relations director of the College Republicans, said after a series of unanimous votes by the executive board and members, the club decided to endorse Lyle in his campaign.
Dennard questioned the legitimacy of the endorsement.
“I and along with everyone else was excluded from the College Republicans slate,” he said. According to Dennard, he was never told a vote was to take place to endorse a candidate at the club’s meeting. Vaughan verified Lyle was the only candidate present at the club’s first vote of confidence at a meeting Jan. 23. Though the attendance of the candidate was not mandatory, Vaughan also said the club did not receive formal notices from other candidates running.
At an E-board meeting Feb. 12, another unanimous vote was taken to endorse Lyle. At a meeting with approximately 12-15 members present Feb. 13, a final vote was taken to officially endorse Lyle for the College Republican slate.
The slate was supposed to be open to all presidential candidates whether or not they had membership in the club, Vaughan said, but e-mails to publicize the slate were only sent to members.
Dennard maintains he was never informed about the series of votes dating back to January. He said he received e-mails publicizing the most recent club meeting, but in a personal conversation, Vaughan did not inform him a final vote was to take place.
A conference was held between the College Republicans E-board and Dennard Feb. 19 to discuss Dennard’s concerns about what was going on.
In response to the events at the conference, Vaughan said, “Paris was very upset, not very mature, and we were disappointed as a club for his behavior.”
Dennard denied this.
“It’s utterly false,” he said. “I am a mature individual and I know how to handle myself. I believe I was lied to and deceived by people I trust. From day one, I stated, ‘let’s make it fair for everyone.’ This election is about the students and not about me. I never asked for another vote.
“It hurts to know that we can’t have an honest, fair campaign from the start,” Dennard continued.
Lyle’s key platform point is that he wants “to be a servant to the student body and really be that voice to administration.”
Lyle stresses the need to speak up as student leaders.
“I want to be critical and not be afraid to voice student concerns to administration,” he said. He also emphasizes the need for fiscal responsibility within SGA. According to Lyle, a lack of accountability also exists in the student government structure and suggests the addition of an executive board within each class to streamline SGA. Currently, there is only class presidents and senators.
Lyle has served in SGA for one year as a junior senator and co-chaired the Pepperdine AIDS Walk team. In his experiences dealing with finances and organization, he is the current president and CEO of J & L Holdings and chairman of Falcon Investment Enterprises.
On the other hand, Dennard is motivated to run for SGA president because “there is a need for leadership for SGA and the students.” He proposes Paris’ Pact with Pepperdine, a list of 20 agenda items to champion student needs that will always keep SGA working for the students, even in down time. These issues range from expanding hours of operation for the gym, to exploring the possibilities of an additional coffee shop at the corner of lower, upper and Greek Row dorm roads.
Dennard’s past experience in SGA includes serving as freshmen class president, sophomore senator and the SGA representative in London. He is also a member of the Pepperdine Ambassadors Council.
In addition, Dennard emphasizes that he has been elected to the position of student body president in elementary school, middle school and high school. “I have a track record of people realizing the potential in me,” Dennard said. “Ultimately, what we’re all running for are the students. I want to make the students’ time here a better one.”
Current Junior Class President Palmer said, “SGA can do amazing things, especially only under the leadership of a president who is passionate for his/her school and his/her position.”
Palmer’s agenda for SGA president includes increasing spirit and involvement at athletic events by getting a Pepperdine spirit bus and pushing for more coverage from ESPN. Other specific items on Palmer’s platform include allowing student ID cards to be used on and off campus for laundry and groceries, seeking car wash facilities on campus, ensuring stairs are built to connect lower dorm road with the Towers apartments and putting a community living area in the Lovernich apartments.
“I feel so honored to attend this school, and to have been able to serve at the capacity I have served thus far,” Palmer said.
He has served in SGA for two years, as class president this year and as the SGA representative in Heidelberg last year. Palmer is also the Student Advisor of Rho Hall and was this year’s host of Midnight Madness.
Another current SGA officer running for office is Guiseppe Nespoli, SGA vice president.
“SGA is my passion. I love being able to serve not for recognition, but so that other people benefit.”
In his two years of SGA experience, Nespoli has held the posts of sophomore senator, student activities and services chair, and summer events programmer. As vice president, he has also been in charge of the Inter-club Council.
He said his highlights in SGA have been establishing the traditions of the Tidal Wave Pep Rally and the Homecoming Parade, as well as working on lighting the Theme Tower in memory of Sept. 11.
“So far, I’ve gotten the job done and it’s been fun for me and the students,” he said. “I am passionate about SGA and giving students what they want and what they deserve.”
Also running for SGA president is Williams, the current director of special events for Ocean’s 37.
“I believe the students are in need of a leader who is not interested in being president for their personal good,” Williams said.
Williams’ intentions are “to listen and respond to students with an unselfish intent.” He also intends to be “upfront with administration in a business-like manner.”
As director of special events for Ocean’s 37, Williams was responsible for approximately half of the group’s budget and for organizing Fall/Spring Fling, Homecoming activities and Midnight Madness. Outside of SGA, Williams is the president of the Equestrian Club, a member of the Catholic Student Association, a member of the East Coast Club and the former executive producer of a program on TV-26.
At Convocation next Wednesday, presidential candidates will be allotted one and a half minutes each to deliver speeches to the students.
Changes in elections rules will allow all candidates to publicize their campaigns through campus mailboxes and mass e-mail listings as well.
Students will be able to cast their ballots March 19-20 at the fountain on main campus. Results will be posted by 5 p.m. March 20.
Submitted March 13, 2003
MALIBU, CA
