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The Seaver student body is abuzz over this week’s SGA elections. Walls covered with posters, laptops in the cafeteria and even Facebook advertisements were set up as a reminder that it’s that time of year again: voting time.
Dixson
There are 21 people running for the 26 positions that will serve the student body next year.
“I am looking for a group-body that is willing to serve and work hard for students, not something that’s just a resume builder or a popularity thing,” senior voter Mark Horton said.
Horton was not the only voter with an opinion.
“We need someone who listens to the student body and is pro-active,” junior Eric Smith said. “We also need someone who realizes the overreaching purpose of SGA, which is to improve student life.”
Davis
Juniors Matt Davis and Leon Dixson, each limited to 90-second speeches at Wednesday’s 10 a.m. Convocation, spoke to persuade voters such as Horton and Smith that they posess traits that students need in an SGA president.
“I love Pepperdine,” Davis said in his speech. “I will make sure that your $90 is not spent on anything that does not directly benefit you.”
Davis cited his academic major in finance as a tool to keep his promise.
Dixson followed Davis, quickly citing his previous achievements in SGA over the past two years, such as added washing machines, extended library hours and improved cafeteria services.
“I want to make sure projects are more publicized, and I want to encourage student involvement in SGA,” Dixson said.
Later in an interview, Davis, who served as an SGA senator his freshman year, said that through social interactions in his various venues of involvement such as the radio show, the debate team and Sigma Chi, he has a feel for what the student body wants.
Dixson, who has been serving on SGA for the past two years, first as a senator, then as junior class president, said he is excited to help implement major structural changes in SGA. He also said he is interested in serving the students and asking them what they would like done.
“I care about what they (the students) have to offer,” Dixson said.
Presidential candidate, Heather Conn, was removed from the ballot because she is not registered as a student this semester.
“There are no hard feelings there,” said Election Rules Director Brad Hackleman. “There was just a miscommunication.”
In other E-board positions, junior Jennifer Akamine, who has been part of SGA for the past three years, both as a chair director and a senator, is running for SGA vice president.
“I have seen the developments of the changes SGA as made thus far, and I would like to see them in their full completion,” Akamine wrote in her bio.
Akamine is thankful she runs unopposed.
“It makes campaigning a lot easier.” However she said, “I still campaigned to show that it means a lot to me.”
Freshman Michael Yoo is the only secretarial candidate.
“I am running for the secretary position because it will truly be a learning experience,” Yoo said. “I promise that I will work harder than anyone else out there,” he added in his online bio.
Though Yoo runs officially un-opposed, Taylor Zeinert is running against him as a write-in this week. There are a few like her who did not turn their election packets in time but still want to run. Voters can type in the candidates names with the online voting.
Zeinert has worked as an intern in the SGA office for the past two years.
“I know the ropes,” Zeinert said. “It is important for E-board members to know the ropes.”
Junior senator candidate, Trent Allen, agreed that experience in SGA is important for an E-board member.
“Things are changing every day,” Allen said. “So being in the know is an important aspect of student government.”
Juan Manuel Kim is running against Robert Romero for treasurer.
Robert Romero, a junior senator this year, is interested in making structural changes, such as constitutional reviews.
“I have wanted to get more involved and start doing constitution reviews,” Romero said. “The treasurer will have a big part in that, and I just want to be a big part of it.”
Romero’s opponent, Kim, is campaigning with his roommate, secretarial candidate Yoo.
“Security, stability and success — these are the three things that I wish to achieve as next treasurer for SGA,” Kim said in his bio.
As far as senator positions, five of the eight junior senator candidates are running from overseas this year, according to Hackleman.
In spite of possible problems that could cause, “So far, no glitches and no complaints have been forwarded to me,” said SGA advisor Michael Houston.
Voting will end at midnight tonight.
“By Friday, we will have a full E-board and junior class elected,” Houston said.
Submitted 03-17-2005
MALIBU, CA
