Auburn's Student Government Association begins its kickoff for campaign week for spring 2021 elections today through Monday, Feb. 1. Campaign kickoff begins at 3 p.m. today via Zoom, and SGA will hold a candidate debate tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 28 viewable on Zoom at 6 p.m. Links to these events may be found in the "Elections" section on SGA's website.
Students will be able to vote for their candidates of choice on Feb. 2 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and callouts will be held that night at 10 p.m.
Below is a brief summary of this year's candidates for president, vice president and treasurer as well as the candidates for Miss Auburn and their platforms.
Candidates for President
Rett Waggoner, junior in finance, is campaigning for “student empowerment, SGA usefulness and the individual student experience,” according to his platform. He plans to reform election week and add another executive position to SGA: executive vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. He also aims to increase funding for student veterans.
Tyler Ward, junior in political science, plans to institute an SGA initiative tracker “to further increase our transparency and accountability with the student body,” according to his platform. He also plans to advocate for more printers and phone chargers in the Melton Student Center and for free menstrual products in on-campus restrooms.
Sloen Zieverink, junior in public relations, wants to combine Tiger Cards and Ignited Cards into a single card. She plans to either create or strengthen SGA Senate liaison positions for student organizations and, like Ward, plans to create an initiative tracker for SGA.
Candidates for Vice President
This year's candidates for SGA 2021-2022 vice president are Cole Callahan (left) and Andrew Dismukes (right).
Cole Callahan, junior in biomedical sciences, aims to reform SGA office hours to be more accessible, according to his platform. Another initiative of his would advocate for a counselor on campus specialized in sexual assault and expand the Green Dot sexual assault awareness program from Greek life to being mandatory for all students.
Andrew Dismukes, junior in finance, wants to increase the number of student senate seats to represent not only schools but student organizations, according to his platform. Dismukes, like Waggoner, wants to reform election week, citing in his platform that he wrote and passed legislation to do so already this semester.
Candidates for Treasurer
This year's candidates for SGA 2021-2022 treasurer are Stephen Sadie (left) and Hannah Streitman (right).
Stephen Sadie, junior in finance, is hoping to harness SGA reserve fund and student activity fee money “so that any group can apply to have their event or initiative financially sponsored by SGA,” according to his platform. Another of his goals is to expand Auburn’s current financial literacy program — a partnership with Regions — into the classroom.
Hannah Streitman, junior in finance, also plans to expand financial literacy programs with seminars and other events, as well as a budgeting app. Streitman wants to advocate for student loan assistance and promote AU10, a 10% discount provided by local businesses to Auburn students who show student ID.
Candidates for Miss Auburn
This year's candidates for Miss Auburn are Mary Collins (top left), Caroline Keim (top middle), Elaine Shankute (top right), Abby Smith (bottom left) and Kathleen Sullivan (bottom right).
Mary Collins, junior in global studies, stated in her platform that she wants to promote the use of “the positive implications of using inclusive language” and not just speaking, but listening, in “critical conversations.” She also encouraged students to vote.
Caroline Keim, junior in public relations, wants to promote Auburn’s counseling services and “break the stigma of counseling and cultivate honest conversations,” according to her platform. Her slogan, “Make Time with Kiem,” refers to her encouragement of students to look after their mental health.
Elaine Shankute, junior in psychology, aims to “make campus involvement a more equitable process,” according to her platform. She also advocates for accommodations for students with anxiety disorders within recruitment processes of campus organizations.
Abby Smith, junior in nutrition wellness, plans to use her Miss Auburn platform to raise awareness for the EAGLES program. One of her goals is to encourage student organizations to include EAGLES students, including with EAGLES-specific positions in organization leadership.
Kathleen Sullivan, junior in supply chain management, plans to promote both a “sound mind” and a “sound body” by initiating conversations about mental health and advertising opportunities to be active on campus, according to her platform. She hopes to advocate for “those who need their voices heard” by partnering with campus organizations to understand student needs.
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Emma Kirkemier, junior in English literature with a minor in journalism, is the campus reporter for The Auburn Plainsman.
