BY RAEGAN NEUFELD
The ballot for Student Government Association elections opened at 8 a.m. today on TigerLink and closes at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Tiger Media Network reached out to the individuals running for president, vice president and senate to find out more about their platforms.
The following are submissions from each candidate who responded:
Why are you running for Student Government Association?
Emma Day (vice president): After serving as a freshman senator and working this past year as community relations director, my passion for senate and serving the student body has grown tremendously. SGA is dedicated towards positively representing the student body and providing students with opportunities and resources. I can’t imagine a better way to spend my time at Fort Hays than to contribute to serving students.
Noah Erichsen (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): As I have done the past two years, I would like to represent the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences again. The students of our college need a voice, and I am a seasoned veteran on getting our voices heard and bills passed.
Madison Albers (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): No response.
Mickey Mason (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): Within my education at FHSU, I am a double major. Political science happens to be one of my majors, because of this I have enjoyed serving in the Student Government Association and have been equipping myself for my possible future career.
Alex Johnson (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): I am running for senator of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to play a key part in keeping FHSU on the right track. Being one of the biggest colleges on campus means that there is work that needs to be done and I believe I can be the best advocate for that.
Jackson Sinsel (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): I really enjoyed my first year as a freshman senator and would like to continue to serve FHSU. I have always enjoyed governmental things and love to see what goes on behind the scenes with SGA to serve the student body. I also just like seeing all that the organizations and groups are doing on and off campus with events and trips that the SGA funds.
Courtney Jones (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): I am running for senate because I simply want the best for FHSU and its students and I believe I can be a part of that.
Brenna Schwien (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): I am running for senator of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences because I want to be able to hear ideas from students on campus who otherwise many have not had their voices heard. It is very important to me to be able to create change and have many students be heard while bettering the environment of our campus.
Grace McCord (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences): I have learned so much in my role as a freshman senator and hope to continue to advocate for my constituents as a senator for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Being involved in so many organizations and interacting with so many people who have different concerns has allowed me to see life on campus from so many different points of view. Serving as a senator I have written resolutions that help support our student body, and hope to continue assisting students take action on our campus.
Olivia Mull (Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics): I am running for senate because being in SGA this year has made me realize how much SGA does for FHSU and it really makes me feel as though I am providing good service to my constituents. I didn’t realize the full potential of student senate until I was actually in the group. There is so much positive change that can be made on campus, and I would like to continue to be a part of that.”
Logan Erichsen (Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics): I would like to fully represent the views and wants of the students who make up the Werth College of Sciences.
Kyler Semrad (Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics): I want to make sure that the students will always have a voice at Fort Hays State University. This will ensure that everyone on campus can voice their opinions, concerns, and ideas to reach the student senate to promote change in a positive way.
Joanna Carrillo-Maldonado (Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship): I would want to use my position as senator to advocate for all of my constituents and fight for their best interests. I want to hear their ideas and relay them back to make meaningful campus changes.
Aspen Patrick (College of Health and Behavioral Sciences): I am running for senate to provide a voice for the students in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. We currently do not have many senators in SGA and I would love to continue to be a voice for my peers.
What makes you a good representative for FHSU students?
Day: Alongside being an involved student on campus, I value servant leadership. I believe I have the professionalism, dedication and heart for putting others first to successfully fill the position of VP.
N. Erichsen: I am in many groups throughout my college. Not only am I in history and a political science club, I also am in the several bands and the symphony that FHSU provides. I know many people throughout all areas of my college and am friends with many more who are not with me in my specific clubs. I make sure all voices are heard.”
Albers: I listen to my peers and work to find solutions for all students. In my current position, I’ve written and supported bills that benefit my constituents and will continue to do so if elected. I also strongly believe that diversity is essential in any role, and I’m proud to represent my community as a Latina senator.
Mason: I represent my constituents by frivolously hearing their opinions and by having an open mind to support their endeavors within the student senate.
Johnson: The students at FHSU understand what it means to work hard and make a difference for the world around them. I have the same mindset and always try to strive for greatness. I would be a good representative for the students of my college and university because I believe and live by the values and beliefs that make FHSU a worthy school to attend.
Sinsel: I feel my representation in numerous other organizations on campus and off show that I will make time for student government and be a good rep for my college. Even though I have a busy schedule I have only missed one meeting and I think that alone shows my dedication to the Student Government Association. I also enjoy spurring discussion at meetings about minor issues with bills and what groups are going to use their funding for when no one else speaks up.
Jones: I am a good representative because I am inclusive, approachable and dedicated. I strongly value everyone’s opinion and feelings.
Schwien: I believe that I am a good representative for FHSU students because I will listen to the concerns that students bring to the members of SGA and find ways to resolve those issues to better support the students and environment of the FHSU campus.
McCord: I am a good representative for FHSU students because I am approachable and open to all suggestions. The fact that I am involved with so many organizations on campus and in touch with so many students from diverse backgrounds helps me see life on campus from all different angles.
Mull: I am a good representative for FHSU students because I am a good communicator, I am approachable, and I am a good leader. I am also involved in many on campus organizations, and being in SGA this past year has helped me inform my constituents about many things they did not know before such as how allocations work.
L. Erichsen: I am involved in many on campus activities such as the Honors College, FHSU Bands, and am active within my major.
Semrad: I believe I will represent my constituents in a positive manner. I am a hardworking student who has his goals set to become a physician one day. I surround myself with people who also have similar goals as me, and I surround myself with people who make me a better person. I am a reliable person who will do things on time and with maximum effort.
Carrillo-Maldonado: I would be a positive representative for all of my constituents and the Student Government Association by representing, advocating and empowering every student at Fort Hays State University. I would ensure that every single voice is heard and has a chance to be represented. Through my leadership diversity and innovative ideas I would ensure my best ability to be a leader for my constituents and the Student Government Association. I would recognize the traditions we hold dear at Fort Hays and also embrace the future that students seek while unifying students, faculty, staff and alumni to enhance the campus community as a whole. I want to best serve my constituents and stand up for student rights through the Student Government Association.
Patrick: FHSU has truly been an amazing experience for me and I want to create the best possible environment for current and incoming students. I am also involved in a lot of different areas on campus and that allows me to build relationships with my fellow students and voice what they want to see happening around FHSU.
Is there a problem in your college or the university that you want to work towards solving?
Day: My campaign partner, Ella Burrows, and I are running on a platform of support for sustainability, access to student resources, diversity on campus and in senate, and student wages.
N. Erichsen: As always, I would like to make sure that the arts are no longer disadvantaged. I work to make sure that the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences students get the same opportunities and inclusiveness that the rest of the university receives.
Albers: Voting accessibility and education have always been crucial to me to support a greater reflective democracy. An issue I’ve been working on since coming to campus is an on-campus polling location initiative. Some key steps I’ve taken to progress my solution is gathering research, interviewing outside sources and petitioning FHSU students to create a cohesive presentation. I’ve presented this initiative to President Mason, the county clerk and numerous other organizations on campus and garnered support. More progress has been made than in past attempts, but I still have a long road ahead to provide FHSU with accessible and efficient voting.”
Mason: Previously other senators and I have made a coalition to recognize our university hymn, ‘A Song for Fort Hays,’ the song that the band and choir performs at the football games and different events, and officially recognize it as our alma mater. Since then, I have been actively working on other matters to represent my constituents, and I hope to continue in these endeavors.
Johnson: I would like to play a role in assisting my college with a possible reorganization. There has been word that it is in the works and using a student’s point of view is crucial.
I would also like to see a stronger relationship with the university and the City of Hays. We can start this process by recognizing that there’s not just work to be done here on campus, but branching the students out into the city.
Sinsel: I look forward to hearing any issues that need to be brought up to me if elected. I don’t know of any at the moment, but would be interested in helping fix issues my college has in the future.
Jones: Since the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is such a large college, I want to work towards inclusiveness across departments. I want to make sure every student understands what is happening with the reorganization.
Schwien: I want to work towards resolving gender-based violence, sexual assault and overall better the conditions for women throughout our campus and community. While many people are aware of the severity of situations occurring on our campus, there are not many changes being made to improve conditions and awareness, and I would like to be the one leading the change.
McCord: I have been working on bringing a polling place to campus so students can more easily vote in elections and have their voice heard. Fort Hays State University is the only Kansas Board of Regents School that does not have a polling place on campus. If we change that, our students can more easily access the polls and take an active role in our democracy. A new challenge I would love SGA to tackle is diversity throughout campus, there are so many cultures on campus and I think that it is important for them to all be celebrated. There is now a seat in student government that is reserved for international students. I encourage anyone who is interested to look into the opportunity to represent students from diverse backgrounds.
Mull: Although there are not many major issues in my college that need to be addressed, I do think that there should be some updates made to Albertson. For one, it is one of the oldest buildings on campus and is outdated in some ways. There is very little room for studying and I think updating and providing a place for students to study and gather in that building would have a positive impact on campus. I also want to work towards finding better job opportunity education for STEM majors. I felt like we were all under informed about what our major could mean for future careers, or what to do with our degrees besides becoming a doctor.”
L. Erichsen: At this current time there are no pressing matters that need solving.
Semrad: I believe it is our goal to unite the students and staff together. The students should have rights in the classroom, and every student should have a voice.
Carrillo-Maldonado: More than half of all college students will suffer from a mental health issue at some point during their time at college. I think as a collective we could be doing more to help students in need when their mental health declines. As a university we could offer more stress management resources as well as other mental health resources.
Patrick: I want to make SGA and what we do more known on campus. All of the senators and executive board members work really hard for the students and the university but what we do and who we are is pretty unknown.
How will you work together with your fellow senators/executive staff to carry out your responsibilities as an SGA member?
Day: I will be professional, efficient and dedicated to getting to know those I work alongside. Establishing a positive dynamic is an important part of ensuring we serve students to the best of our abilities.
N. Erichsen: This past year, I was chairman of the Legislative Political Action Committee (LPAC), and with our ideas we passed several bills championing equality throughout campus. If elected, I will continue to work with my fellow senators to formulate new ideas to make our campus even better.
Albers: By creating bills that address the needs and concerns of my constituents alongside my fellow senators and executive staff. As well as critiquing and amending anything on the floor to better serve FHSU. I will also work with my committee members to create and promote events that serve the needs of students at FHSU.
Mason: By being open and transparent with goals and traditions put together by the student body, SGA and the university at large; in which attempting to maximize the effects of these traditions for the university and the student body there in.
Johnson: Keeping each other in the loop and having an open line of communication is vital. It always has to be a team effort in the legislative making process and working together is the key.
Sinsel: I find working with other senators is easy if you are willing to reach out to them and discuss different bills or things you may want to pass. My way of getting support and working together with other senators and executive staff is simply by reaching out by email or when I see someone in person around campus.
Jones: I will first attend every senate meeting I possibly can to make sure I have the weekly knowledge of what is happening around campus. I will also be active on my committee and be open to all ideas.
Schwien: I will work with my fellow senators/executive staff to carry out my responsibilities as an SGA member to create solutions for the students on campus. There are many different issues that matter to the students on the FHSU campus, and by taking those issues to my fellow senators and executive staff, we will be able to find solutions by working together with one another and the campus connections.
McCord: I have loved working with SGA senators and executive staff this year through my position on the Senate Affairs Committee. I plan on continuing working with everyone as we focus on making FHSU a welcoming space for all students. Specifically, I would like to work with senators and executive staff to make sure that student fees stay low and students continue to have access to an affordable education.
Mull: I will work with my fellow senators/executive staff by communicating efficiently, having a good attitude and volunteering for events that SGA is having. That is one thing I would like to do is try to volunteer to work more events. I am looking forward to another year on the student senate.
L. Erichsen: I have sat on the Appropriations Committee which allows for me to have a say within reimbursing different activities FHSU students go on. This allows us to offset costs for students while they are representing the college at different conferences and academic gatherings. I also love hearing feedback from constituents especially on different allocation bills where we allocate organizations money for the next fiscal year. I am always open to hearing the needs and wants of all students so we are able to address it in different committees and on the senate floor. Any problems brought to me I can either pass on to other Senators passionate about the cause or direct it to the correct executive staff member. The goal is to work with everyone to always get unanimous consent on the bills passed through the SGA.
Semrad: As senators we will communicate and voice concerns to make sure every student is heard. The goal is to represent the student body, and through reviewing concerns and making resolutions we will accomplish goals to benefit the student body.
Carrillo-Maldonado: I have learned that there is great value in team work and working together with other people. I have participated in many different organizations throughout my Fort Hays State University educational career. I have been involved in Alpha Kappa Psi, the Fort Hays Honor Society, Alpha Gamma Delta, Tiger Team, the Political Science Club, the Spanish Club and Catholic Disciples. I served as the Political Science Club treasurer for two years during my freshman and sophomore years of college. I have also served as the VP of Event Planning and the VP of Campus Relations for Alpha Gamma Delta. Under these roles I have planned and executed events. Events that I have worked on include organizing a formal for the chapter, planning socials with other sororities and fraternities, as well as planning an international reunion day with alumni and other Alpha Gamma Delta chapters in Kansas. I have experience with planning big events which would highlight my skills of being organized and paying attention to the small details. During my time on Tiger Team I have helped with freshmen orientations, volunteer activities, and leadership building. Tiger Team has allowed me many opportunities to give back to Fort Hays State University by volunteering through Student Engagement. Throughout my time at Fort Hays, I have always found an opportunity to be involved and I know that it will be very important to work with my fellow senators and executive staff to carry out my responsibilities as an SGA member. I will use the skills I have learned in my other organizations to ensure I work with other SGA members.
Patrick: Working with my fellow senators/executive staff allows for the opportunity to make university wide changes that will benefit all of the colleges. It also gives us the ability to discuss issues from our college and get outside opinions and solutions.