SGA elections today

Candidates speak of platforms; parking, communication, safety among concerns

Irene Wazgowska / staff photographer Junior Hunter Hanger, one of three canidates for student representative to the Board of Visitors, speaks at Tuesday's forum about his platform. SGA elections are being held today online and at several places around campus.

With major elections being held today, the Student Government Association conducted a candidate forum Tuesday evening. Students and senators gathered in the College Center Highlands room to hear most of the candidates running in today's election speak.

For the SGA Executive Council positions, the candidate must receive 50 percent of the student vote. If they do not meet the quota, there will be another election held between the top two candidates April 1.

Student body president, vice president of academic affairs, vice president of student affairs and executive treasurer are the positions within the Executive Council.

Candidates for student body president are junior Tom Culligan, sophomore Milo Dwyer and sophomore Wesli Spencer.

At the forum, Culligan said, "If SGA doesn't address problems, it's failing the students."

Culligan, the current SGA chief of staff, listed parking, campus safety and student services as top priorities. "This is our home and our community, and we have a right to feel safe," he said.

Dwyer said a key point of his platform was "accountability and accessibility" of the student body president to students. He added that "more funding of the Sports Club Council" and "making everyone feel that they are part of our community" are vital platform positions.

Spencer, current Sophomore Class Council president, said he would focus on the five key points of "community service, leadership, education, visibility and unification.

"Person-to-person relationships are important," he said.

Junior John Alexander Golden and sophomore Alston Gabrielle Wilkins are running for vice president of administrative affairs.

Golden said he would address parking issues by creating a night commuter pass for commuting after 4 p.m. and stagger class times between east and west campuses. As president of Harmony, JMU's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered club, Golden added that he would "keep minority and diversity issues at the forefront [of university business]."

Wilkins also made parking a campaign issue, and said that she would open student parking to all lots by 6 p.m. — instead of the current staggered times of 7 and 8 p.m.

Wilkins added that she will work to eliminate the communication "block" between SGA, the administration, and the student body.

Some of the Executive Council positions are running uncontested.

Junior Class Council President Alka Franceschi, running uncontested for vice president of student affairs, said she will increase the number of Purple Out T-shirts to meet growing demand.

"Increasing recognition of Mr. and Ms. Madison finalists" and not just winners is important as well, Franceschi said.

Running uncontested for executive treasurer is sophomore Gina Maurone. Listing budgeting reform as a priority, Maurone said the SGA should work to increase awareness about how funds are distributed.

Besides Executive Council, there are other positions for which students are running.

Three candidates are vying for the position of student representative to the Board of Visitors, which is the governing group that determines such university policies as budget appropriations and tuition increases.

Sophomore Amanda Bellistri said her main goal as student representative to the board would be to "educate students on what the Board of Visitors is, what they can do and what the student representative is."

However, junior Hunter Hanger has a different agenda if elected.

"My primary agenda is to promote fiscal responsibility among JMU's Board of Visitors," Hanger said.

Hanger said he is willing to petition the Virginia state legislature. "We must stand up for our education … instead of pouring millions into a failing football team," he said.

Junior Mandy Woodfield also is running for this position.

"I really want to connect the Board of Visitors to students," Woodfield said. Part of her platform includes the creation of a student advisory committee to the board and hosting student/board luncheons to foster communication.

Junior Andrew Boryan, running uncontested for the position of Honor Council president, did not speak.

Junior Kelli Baker and freshman Nicole Eickhoff are running for the position of Honor Council vice president. Neither candidate spoke at the forum.

SGA also will hold Class Council elections Thursday April 1. Representatives from the senior, junior and sophomore classes will be elected that day.

For more information on today's elections, complete candidate profiles and the April 1 Class Council elections, visit the SGA Web site.