At The Recorder, we believe students have certain responsibilities. Foremost among them, to be informed and engaged members of the campus community, to be involved in university activities, and to vote in student government elections. Next Tuesday and Wednesday, we have the opportunity to fulfill all of these expectations at once by voting for SGA senators and executive officers.
Our weekly newspaper serves as a vehicle for information and the acquisition of knowledge. In an attempt to expand that role, we hosted an SGA Candidate Forum on Monday afternoon so that students could become more informed when choosing candidates for executive office. The forum was well attended and the ensuing discussion was both informative and important.
Presidential candidate Eric Bergenn, vice presidential candidates Liz Braun and Erika Dawson-Head, and candidates for treasurer Nick Alaimo and Alex Rodriguez spoke on their backgrounds, qualifications, and ideas surrounding student government for the better part of an hour. By the end of the forum, students in attendance surely had a better portrait of the people that will lead our campus next year.
As we’ve said time and time again, SGA and involvement therein is tremendously important. Controlling nearly $800,000 in student activity fees and deciding campus issues, consulting and influencing administrators on academic policy, the people we elect matter. That being said, The Recorder has decided to take on the controversial task of endorsing the candidates we believe will be best suited to fill these positions.
For treasurer, The Recorder would like to endorse Nick Alaimo. Nick is a solid fiscal conservative who seems to have a tangible plan for his tenure as treasurer. He has held leadership positions in the past, and will bring an empirical approach to the role that he hopes to attain. Nick has alluded to a potential reform to the club funding appropriation process that we believe is both logical and necessary.
For vice president, The Recorder would like to endorse Liz Braun. Liz is an intelligent, thoughtful, and organized member of our campus community. Liz is a student leader, in our opinion eligible for even a greater position than the one she currently pursues. Her priorities are in the right place and she has a clear understanding of her role as vice president of the SGA, an indispensable characteristic in a time of great change.
For president, The Recorder would like to endorse Eric Bergenn. Though there isn’t another choice for this particular position, we believe that Eric is a smart and level-headed leader who will bring pragmatism and transparency to the role.
Our opinion is neither omnipotent nor prescient, but merely an informed and hopeful look to the future of our student government. No matter who you support, or the forthcoming results, take the first step to learn about, vote for and support the candidates so that they may better fulfill their duty to serve you and the campus community.