By ABIGAIL SHEARER
Tiger Media Network
Below are profiles of the six Fort Hays State University Student Government Association president and vice president candidates. Each candidate set was asked the same 10 questions. Below are their answers as submitted listed alphabetically by the presidential candidate’s last name.
Voting will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2 and close at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. A link will be sent via email with voting information.
Mickey Mason and Marcell Dely
My name is Mickey Mason. I am from a small western Kansas town, Ulysses, KS. I am a double major in Political Science Concentration Pre-Law and Music. A fun fact about me would be that I’ve interned for U.S. Senator Jerry Moran.
After SGA, I am most involved in our FHSU Collegiate Model United Nations Club, where I am president. This year, when we went to our competitive conference, we came back with several awards, multiplying our awards eight times over from last year. Further, we have multiplied our enumeration of members more than six times the numbers from the Spring of 2023. I am a member of several other student organizations as well.
My main focus is and always will be the student body. I make myself aware of issues that face the student body, like funding for student organizations, snow days and proper snow clearing, what new food service could potentially come to campus, the issue of parking, and many more issues. Categorically, I have responses to each of these issues and will always be aware of the concerns of the student body.
I have a strong conviction for civic duty and love for the FHSU community. After my time in the Senate, given my knowledge and experience, I believe I am the most fit to serve as SGA President, where I will make the quality of life better for all students on campus.
Voting for other candidates is voting for the status quo. A vote for Mickey and Marcell is a vote for progress and innovation. In addition, we are different from other candidates because we will do what we advertise. We practice what we preach, you can see that in our proven track record and voting history in the Senate.
I have a multifaceted approach to staying updated with students’ concerns. I often reach out to students for concerns and updates, but often students bring concerns to me. Other times, I hear about concerns through the grapevine. One thing is certain, the SGA must create a clear and concise form that is advertised through social media platforms where the student body can share up-to-date concerns across campus.
I appreciate the clear difference between adaptable problems and concrete problems. Other candidates, I believe, consider far more of the problems facing students to be unwavering without any solution. We take a different approach. We will coordinate with the Senate, therein recommending bills, resolutions, or amendments to the bylaws and constitution to resolve procedural issues. Many issues across campus do not fall under this area. For issues that change students’ day-to-day activities, we will work expeditiously with the University Administration, including the Offices of the President, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and any other group with interest in such an issue like Residential Life, Student Engagement, or any Registered Student Organization. We will resolve all issues that can be solved in a timely and proficient manner through these means.
The issue that I want to see changed immediately is student engagement with our SGA. It’s important that we have a strong connection with the student body. Therefore, we need to meet with students more frequently, cosponsor events, have more social media posts, and generally be more transparent.
Among our Student Government Association, our Senators must be aware that they are entirely in control of the Senate, regardless of who presides over and administers rules for the meetings. So, we need to empower Senators to represent their constituents more effectively. Through this and proper leadership training events, positivity will be prosperous. We also want to do research on groups that are underrepresented on campus and find innovative ways to increase engagement. This will naturally increase and better inclusivity on campus.
Thank you for giving candidates the opportunity to share our thoughts and plans! Vote Mickey and Marcell on April 2nd and 3rd!
My name is Marcell Dely, and I am a junior double-majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice. Originally from Budapest, Hungary, I came to Fort Hays State University as an international student and have been actively involved in student leadership, athletics, and advocacy. My experiences have shaped my passion for public service and my commitment to making FHSU an inclusive and opportunity-driven campus for all students.
I serve as a Senator in the Student Government Association, representing international students. Additionally, I am a student-athlete on the Men’s Wrestling team, competing in the starting lineup at 157 lbs., a Global Ambassador in the International Office, and a representative in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to the NCAA D2 and MIAA conference. I am also a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha (The National Political Science Honor Society). Through these roles, I have gained firsthand experience working with diverse student groups and addressing their concerns.
My main focus is enhancing student engagement, improving campus resources, and strengthening advocacy for all student populations. Especially international students, student-athletes, and underrepresented groups. I aim to push for clearer communication between SGA and students, increase accessibility to student services, and ensure that students’ voices are actively heard and get all the chances to shape campus decisions.
I believe leadership is about serving and providing continuous change/action for further improvement. As Vice President, I want to ensure that students feel represented and heard, regardless of their background. My experience as a student-athlete, an international student, and an SGA Senator has shown me the power of advocacy, and I want to use that to build solutions that truly benefit students.
My background as an international student, student-athlete, and student leader gives me a unique perspective on the challenges students face at FHSU. I understand the struggles of balancing academics and extracurriculars and adapting to new environments. Additionally, my global perspective allows me to bring fresh ideas and problem-solving approaches to campus issues.
I actively listen to students on a daily basis as I’m involved on and off campus in multiple events throughout the academic year. As well as through my roles in SGA, athletics, and the International Office. I believe in direct communication, whether that’s through conversations, attending student events, or using social media to gather input. If elected, I will work on expanding town hall meetings, improving outreach, and making it easier for students to voice their concerns to SGA. A big concern of mine is that SGA and the student body face today is that lots of the students don’t know about SGA and its purpose and role.
I believe the key to solving adaptable problems is flexibility, student input, and collaboration. I will work closely with student organizations, administration, and faculty to find realistic solutions that meet student needs. Additionally, I want to create a feedback system where students can share concerns in real time and see progress on issues that matter to them.
One quick change would be creating a more transparent and accessible student feedback system. I would implement an SGA suggestion form (both online and physical) where students can submit concerns, suggestions, or questions, and we would provide updates on how these are being addressed. This would bridge the gap between students and SGA, ensuring that concerns don’t go unheard.
Inclusivity starts with representation and respect. I will ensure that every student group feels heard within SGA by collaborating with different student organizations and ensuring diverse perspectives are included in decision-making. Additionally, I will advocate for leadership training within the senate, that promotes collaborative decision-making and problem-solving, ensuring that all voices are valued within SGA.
Grace McCord and Madison Albers
Hi! My name is Grace McCord, I am a first-generation Tiger, born and raised in
Hays, Kansas. I am passionate about ensuring that students have a positive
experience at FHSU because becoming a Tiger was truly a life-changing
experience for me, and I want other students to feel empowered and supported
here. When I’m not taking courses for my Political Science Major, or History and
Sociology Minors, I’m often reading, sewing, or hanging out with friends!
Involvement on campus is so important to me, I wouldn’t have had such a
positive experience at FHSU if I had not been involved in different clubs and met
so many great friends at Fort Hays. Students are worth fighting for, but that starts
with getting to know students of diverse backgrounds, here are some of the clubs
and organizations I am a part of!
■ Encounter
■ Pi Sigma Alpha- Political Honors Society, Vice-President
■ VIP Tigers, Ambassador for the office of the President
■ National Student Exchange
■ Alpha Gamma Delta, Vice-President of Finance
■ Fort Hays Honors Society
■ Phi Alpha Theta- History Honors Society
After spending months talking to students about what they love about FHSU and
what they would change, there is a common thread. We are all doing such
amazing things, but there is a communication barrier. Students aren’t always
filled in on decisions that the administration makes, sometimes student
organizations have events that are duplicated and could be stronger together, our
students are so busy with projects, and coursework that they are passionate
about, we shouldn’t have to struggle to find basic information. If elected, I would
dedicate time to making communication from administration to students more
accessible, and help students share the things they are passionate about.
I have been involved in SGA the entire time I have been at FHSU, I was initially
drawn to this organization because real change can be made. I would like to lead
SGA, because I have seen the organization help students in so many ways, I
want to be able to continue helping students get the most out of their FHSU
experience.
Madison and I have been a team, working both together, and apart for FHSU the
entire time we have been enrolled. We have raised money to fight hunger in our
local community, helped organize Night to Shine (a prom for individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities), helped students figure out how to
vote, helped the Tiger Food Pantry apply for grants, helped incoming freshman
move into the dorms, gone to speak to senators and representatives about why
they should invest in FHSU, and so much more. Our entire student experience
has been about helping students, if elected, we will continue listening to students,
and advocating for them!
FHSU is such a great place because the students, faculty, and staff are so
invested in creating a community where everyone can thrive. Madison and I
recognize that there is some institutional knowledge that no student can have, no
matter how experienced a student is, knowledge that takes decades to form, with
this in mind, we will always seek a diverse range of perspectives about issues
before making decisions. Madison and I have already been in situations where
we have had to change course, or alter plans, that doesn’t stop us, it allows us to
find different solutions and continue to help students.
One of my favorite things about campus is how many opportunities there are to
connect and interact, the line at Starbucks, in classes, during club meetings, and
on the quad. I have spent the past three years meeting so many diverse and
dedicated students at FHSU, and getting to know what people love and are
passionate about are some of my favorite memories at FHSU. I promise to stay
dedicated to that mission, by having a 100% open door policy in the SGA office,
holding office hours in different spaces on campus, so we can meet students
where they are at, and always being willing to attend meetings if students have
specific concerns!
○ Every week, during our SGA meetings, we have an open forum, which is an
opportunity for any student to speak to SGA, I would like to reach out to all
organizations, and offer them a chance to share any events they might have
coming up, or share about what they are doing on campus. I think this would
really help make our campus feel more informed and connenced.
In the past, student senators have been assigned a weekly office hour, as a
senator, these were some of my favorite tasks, they gave me a structured
opportunity to speak to students and ask their opinions about their concerns, or
opinions on specific issues. I would like to bring these office hours back for
senators, because we are all there for a reason, to advocate for students, and
make the FHSU experience better, our senators do their best work when
students are the focus of all of their initiatives, I would like to bring that focus
back, so we can have engaging meetings where senators feel empowered to
work with Executive staff about issues on campus.
Hi! I’m Madison Albers. I am a first-generation student at Fort Hays State
studying Political Science (Pre-Law) and Communications (Public Relations and
Advertising). FHSU has been my home, and I’m passionate about making it
home for others, too. I’m involved with Alpha Gamma Delta Pi Sigma Alpha and I
am involved with SGA, VIP Tigers, Ceramica Clay Club, HALO, and more. I enjoy
volunteering my time to fight against hunger, educating and engaging voters, and
advocating for others! I am a tiger through and through!
I love being involved on campus; it has been one of the most meaningful and
impactful experiences I have had at FHSU. If it weren’t for the amazing people in
these organizations and the awesome work they do, I wouldn’t be where I am
today! I am involved with
■ Pi Sigma Alpha
■ American Democracy Project
■ VIP Tigers
■ Alpha Gamma Delta, VP Marketing
■ Young Dems
■ Political Science Club
■ Public Relations Student Society of America, Secretary and Treasurer
■ Hispanic American Leadership Organization
■ Phi Alpha Theta- History Honors Society
■ Ceramica Clay Club
After spending so much time at FHSU surrounded by incredible people, there
have been a lot of issues I’d love to devote my time to. Most importantly, what
I’ve noticed, especially as a communications major, is that we need more clear,
established lines of communication between administration and the student body.
In addition, more communication and collaboration between other student
organizations would better empower FHSU and the tiger spirit. If elected, I’d love
to devote my time to creating a clearer line of communication that is easily
accessible to all students at Fort Hays.
Grace and I have been on SGA for three years since our freshman year at
FHSU. I’ve seen the real change and impact SGA makes at Fort Hays. As a
student, I fell in love with this campus, and my dream had been to do anything I
could do to better it! SGA provides me with the exact opportunity to continue
helping students!
Grace and I have been a team from day one! Ever since we met, we’ve been
working alongside one another to improve FHSU. Whether it’s the work we’ve
done at ADP or the service we give back to the community, we do so with perfect
teamwork. We are unique because we have the most important foundation for
dual leadership, effortless teamwork, and collaboration.
One of the best things I’ve learned as a student leader is to learn to lean on
others; no one person can make the perfect decision. But you know who can? A
great group of people working together to workshop the best possible solution.
That is the key to addressing adaptable problems, reaching out to a diverse
range of perspectives to build a fuller picture.
I love chatting no matter where I am, wether its a meeting, event, or just hanging
out I love to learn from others. That’s where I’ve always kept up with student
concerns just by starting the simple task of listening. I always keep information
public and love to reach out to others to be in important conversations. Building
relationships with the student body is key to being in the know.
As part of my job as a senator, we used to dedicate an office hour a week to
improving FHSU. I’d love to bring that back with some meaningful changes so
that SGA can really go out on campus to build stronger relations with the
students and start working on plans to implement key changes the students care
about. Also, we should continuously have a student comment form open so
students can always tell us their concerns no matter where they are!
As I mentioned earlier, the office hours really helped to bring structure to the
Senate, so I’d love to bring that back with improvements. I also want to create an
office space where the door is always open so students can come in to chat
wherever they have a concern. It’s important that students feel comfortable within
SGA and interacting with us!
Jackson Sinsel and Brenna Schwien
Hello everyone, my name is Jackson Sinsel and I am a Junior dual majoring in political science and psychology. Originally from Sutherland, Nebraska I came to Hays for an affordable and great education. I’m involved in 6 on campus organizations and hold important roles in 4 of them. I currently serve as your Student Government Association Treasurer and have helped distribute approximately 2 million dollars to your student organizations over the last 3 years! When I’m not working you can find me hanging out with my friends and enjoying all that Hays has to offer. I am involved in
- Student Government Association – Treasurer
- Pi Sigma Alpha – Treasurer
- Fort Hays Honor Society – Treasurer
- Motorcycle Club
- Honors College – Mentor
- College Republicans
Our main focus if elected are to address the issues we have heard from the students. Items like our food service, academic transparency, and recycling are all things we have heard concerns about. We want to address these issues while also addressing new problems that may arise. We are focusing on items that could provide real change and immediate results. I also have plans to institute an open survey when students can place anonymous concerns for things they feel need addressed.
I want to lead SGA so our students feel heard and appreciated. Many student concerns are small issues and I think fixing those makes individuals feel heard and respected by the university they attend. Our students dedicate time, effort, and money to attend Fort Hays State University and I want them to know they are getting the best education while also getting the best experience possible!
My experience and dedication set me apart from other candidates. With two years of executive staff experience, I have gained in-depth knowledge of the processes, funding structures, and operations that drive Fort Hays. Additionally, I have served on the allocations committee, legislative and political action committee, food service selection committee, and hiring committees. I have worked hand-in-hand with student organizations in my role as treasurer and love to continue and build those connections as President.
I stay updated with student concerns by being involved on campus. I regularly eat in our cafeteria, speak with constituents/friends, and pinpoint issues that are important to them. We also created a student concern survey for our campaign to figure out the issues that mean the most to our students. Many of these responses have been enlightening since many students have smaller concerns that I didn’t know about previously.
Dealing with adaptable problems around campus revolves around knowing who and when to bring about these issues. Higher education can be a difficult landscape to address problems quickly, but with the right channels of communication and connections it makes it much easier for change to occur.
One change that could be made and implemented quickly is simply putting aside more funds for co-sponsoring events with various student organizations. If we rearrange some of our budget I think we can find additional funds to support our student organizations that do so much for our campus community! I would simply adjust our budget to move money from items that currently aren’t being purchased or used and place them toward co-sponsoring events.
A positive and inclusive environment within student government first starts with knowledge around student government. Students have to know that this is an opportunity that is open to everyone. I have made great connections with our current senators and am certain that if elected I could encourage individuals to join and fill our student senate.
I’m a junior majoring in sociology and minoring in political science and criminal justice with 7 certificates in various disciplines. I currently serve as our Public Relations Director of the Student Government Association, where I plan our annual Big Event, run our social media pages, and assist with other projects as needed. I was born and raised in Hays, but coming to FHSU was not a clear choice for me until I took my campus tour. From there, I fell in love with the campus and the endless opportunities that were introduced to me. Outside of campus and classes, you can find me hanging out with my sorority sisters and crafting!
I’m also involved in 10 other on campus organizations in addition to SGA, and hold leadership positions in 6 of those organizations. A few of them being Delta Zeta, panhellenic, bigs on campus and many that align with my major and minors. I currently serve as the president of both Delta Zeta Sorority and Sociology Club.
If elected, we have four main focus areas. Those are student organizations, food service, academic transparency and recycling. For student organizations, we would like to co-sponsor more events, simplify the RSO process and advocate for a food service partnership with student organizations and Union Catering Company. To better our food service, we would work with Union Catering Company to ensure that all dietary needs and restrictions are met, advocate for healthier options to be added to all dining locations and ensure that students are receiving the best quality meals. The academic transparency piece focuses on two areas: strengthen our academic advising program and work with departments to ensure that students are aware of what courses are only offered online. The final part is recycling, and we would like to work to promote sustainability on our campus and establish ways for students to be able to recycle in their residential halls.
I personally want to lead SGA because I feel that I can create a positive contribution for the students at FHSU. There are many different issues that are important to students on campus, and if elected as Vice President, I am prepared to step in and work to create change as soon as I take office.
Something that makes me different from the other candidates is the leadership experience that I am bringing to the table. I am currently our Public Relations Director on SGA Exec Staff, and this has allowed me to better learn and understand the processes that are important when wanting to accomplish various tasks.
Throughout our campaign so far we have spoken to students, sent out a survey, and even collected written responses from students in the Union. By asking students what was important to them, this allowed us to look into the issues that students wanted to see changed. In order for us to be effective as President and Vice President, we plan to continue these practices to ensure that students are at the center of decision making.
Dealing with adaptable problems around campus means having many different solutions. Depending on the problem at hand, various and differing solutions will need to be implemented in order for there to be positive outcomes and changes for the students at FHSU. If elected our ticket is equipped to handle each and every adaptable problem that may arise around campus.
A change that I would be able to implement quickly and that is helpful would be sharing
more information on how to join and be a part of SGA with more of the campus. It would be important to reach groups that are sometimes missed when looking for members to join Student Government Association!
We plan to work closely with our senators to create a positive and inclusive environment within SGA. By working closely with them, this allows for us to be able to create a stronger environment for all of our senators and executive staff members. I feel as a current executive staff member, that I have strong relationships with the current senators and aim to bring that into my term if elected.