Longwood University’s student body has the opportunity to choose the next generation of Student Government Association (SGA) leadership by voting in the 2014-2015 elections.
Elections begin today via CollegiateLink. The polls will remain open until Sunday. Students can vote for general senators, Honor Board and Conduct Board representatives and the executive board, as well as constitutional amendments.
All five of the executive board candidates are running unopposed this year.
The candidates will succeed current President Haley Vest, Vice President Steven Sommer, Treasurer Alex Julian, Secretary Kendall Lofton and Historian Paige Rollins.
The current holders of these positions are set to graduate in May 2014 with the exception of Rollins, who is running for senior class president.
Joe Gills, the sole 2014-2015 presidential candidate, said he hopes to become president because he sees “a lot of opportunities for positive changes, and I believe this is a great opportunity for me to give back to my Alma Mater and voice the concerns of the students.”
Gills, a junior mathematics and computer science major, is currently an SGA senator.
He has also served as a student representative in the SACSCOC reaffirmation process for more than a year.
Gills would like to use his position to unite the SGA in order to promote the organization’s mission.
“I always encourage feedback and discussion and can also bring new ideas to the table,” said Gills.
“I am very hardworking and dedicated to SGA, and as president, I would work extremely hard to make sure the Senate has every means necessary to accomplish our goals.” He continued.
Gills has a unique platform, as he would like to improve communication not only between students and the university, but students and the Town of Farmville as well.
He believes he has the tools to better this relationship because he has lived in Farmville his entire life.
“The SGA has an obligation to make sure that every student has equal representation and opportunities on campus and in the town,” said Gills. “The SGA also has an opportunity to unite and work on issues at large in higher education.”
Gills recognizes that the responsibilities of being president include voicing students’ opinions on controversial topics and feels prepared to do so when needed.
Sophomore Adam Fletcher, an executive senator, is running for vice president.
The sophomore secondary education major with a concentration in history has been part of the SGA for two years.
Fletcher said he would bring “further order to the position [of vice president] and help expand its duties and power, while at the same time keeping the concerns of the student body as my top concern.”
He believes the role of the SGA is to “voice the student opinion of how campus is functioning and overall here to be their representative to the administration.”
Jacob Harvey, the secretarial candidate, is sophomore business major with a concentration in information systems and cyber security.
While Harvey has served as a senator for the past year, he said he has been involved in student government throughout his academic career.
“From elementary school, middle school and high school, it has always been a goal of mine to give back to my institution by serving on SGA and really voicing the opinions of my peers,” said Harvey.
Harvey mentioned that he “ran for class president back in the sixth grade with the amazing campaign slogan: ‘Wake up with Jacob!’ My campaign manager was my mom, and needless to say, I lost. That defeat did not deter me from trying again, and I pride myself in my commitment as time continued.”
Regarding the improvements he could bring to the SGA as secretary, Harvey said, “Commitment is what this campus needs, and through my diligence and devotion to this university, I feel that my voice on the [SGA] executive council will be highly beneficial.”
Ellen Kensy is running for historian, and her goal is to “give students an opportunity to find organizations where they can grow as leaders, and I know that this position will bring about the opportunity to make this happen for all students on campus.”
Kensy is a sophomore liberal studies major who aspires to “bring my passion for involvement to this position and will use that to help all new clubs and organizations to have the opportunity to become recognized and gain new members that will be able to find common interests and bring out the best in their organization for their members and for Longwood.”
Kensy believes the SGA is essential to the campus because “we take a role in fixing problems that students may have with anything on campus and help make Longwood better for all students.”
Jessica Darst, an executive senator, is a sophomore communication studies major with a concentration in mass media who is running for treasurer.
Darst feels she has seen “both the good and bad aspects” of the Student Finance Committee as an executive senator.
“Through this past year, I have seen what needs to change and what is working well,” she said.
Darst added, “The candidates for the executive board are all absolutely amazing and it will be a great year for everyone on campus through their leadership!”
