Meet the candidates for the Student Senate election
Isioma Akwanamnye – president
Why did you decide to run for president?
“I’ve been involved in student government since my freshman year, and it has been a privilege to serve the students at Chadron State College in my different positions. I decided to run for Student Senate President because of the same reason I joined Student Senate 3 years ago, which is to continue serving the students I represent and ensure that their voices are always heard. To ensure that all students are fully represented, and their needs and ideas are met in whatever capacity that we can.”
Is there anything you would like to see changed about Student Senate?
“I hope to improve on the student senate communication with students. I would like to see students come to the meetings or email their senators to talk about things they would love to see or what we could better to ensure they get the full college experience. I would like to see more diversity and representation on student senate to push issues of substance that affect the lives of students and find lasting solutions to them.”
What are some of the things you would like to see the Student Senate do in the future?
“I would like to see a senate initiative (like suggestion boxes) where students get to know their senators and encourage open communication between the senators and their constituents. I would also like the student senate to bring back activities like spring days to encourage student engagement especially coming out of a pandemic this past year. Activities to boost student morale and address the needs of students next year would be a welcome development for the future.”
Why should students vote for you?
“I think students should vote for me because of the experience I bring to the job. Asides from being a current student senator, I’ve also held different leadership positions on campus as the Vice President of the International club and Recruitment coordinator for The Big Event. My passion to serve a community that has become home for the past three years has always been my motive in all these roles I’ve had the privilege of holding and I think that’s why students should vote for me.”
What would you say to students that might be hesitant in voting in the election?
“I would say that you have the power to affect the changes you want to see by voting. How you chose to vote would determine what your student representation would look like for the next year. So please go out and vote for the candidate you feel would represent your voice and have your best interest at heart.”
Sullivan Jones – president
Why did you decide to run for president?
“I decided to run for Student Senate President when I saw how our current members apathetically distributed student money in ways not directly beneficial to all students and clubs. With that in mind, I want to change the attitude senate has regarding conducting business by and for the students.”
Is there anything you would like to see changed about Student Senate?
“When I am elected to senate, I want to see my colleagues become more excited and involved with the important work they do helping students and clubs on CSC’s campus – I want energy and debate among members. Senate needs to get more student involvement and perception; everyone on campus should have an idea of the projects senate works on; transparency is key.”
What are some of the things you would like to see Student Senate do in the future?
“In the future, senate must connect better with students, and everyone should be encouraged to attend senate meetings. I want to see senate take student consideration into its decisions rather than make assumptions about what students will like; we have a diverse campus demographic, so we cannot pretend every student’s perception matches that found within the Student Senate bubble.”
Why should students vote for you?
“Students should vote for me rather than my opponent because I want to overhaul our student government; that includes changing how senate conducts business and returning it to working for every student’s interest. The current senate establishment has adopted a policy of complacency and sheep-voting away student money; I want that to stop so student’s may rest easy knowing their student fees aren’t tossed away to nonsense.”
What would you say to students that might be hesitant in voting in the election?
“The burden of voting is minimal thanks to Chief Justice Cronin’s use of SurveyMonkey online; however, the burden of not voting will plague every student who cares about getting some of their student fee money back in the form of fun and exciting campus and club activities.”
Colton Brienza – vice president
Why did you decide to run for vice president?
“I decided to run for Vice President because I care about the campus, and everyone that attends this campus, especially the other students.”
Is there anything you would like to see changed about Student Senate?
“One thing I would like to see changed is to have the President run the meetings instead of the Vice President, and I would also really encourage the other Senators to bring problems or concerns, or anything at all to our meetings so that we can address them and get working on a solution.”
What are some of the things you would like to see the Student Senate do in the future?
“I would like to see the Student Senate be a little more active in terms of informing the students on campus as to what we are doing, especially when we are talking about long term projects that would be added to campus. I would also like to see the Senate become larger, and for the Senators to encourage their constituents to attend our meetings if they have a problem, or concern, especially if it is about a project we have proposed.”
Why should students vote for you?
“I think students should vote for me because I am here to represent them, and to be their voice on the Senate. I also care about what the students that are not on Senate think about the different things that are talked about in our meetings, and I want what is best for the student body as a whole and not as an individual.”
What would you say to students that might be hesitant in voting in the election?
“I would tell them to get out and vote, and let their voices be heard as to who they think would run the Senate the best, and who they think will be interested more in what the students think rather than who is doing it for themselves or their resume.”
Abigail Klammer – vice president
(The Eagle sent a questionnaire to all four candidates. Three of the four replied and answered our questions. The Eagle contacted Klammer requesting her responses. She agreed to submit answers by noon Wednesday. By 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, she had not replied.)