This year, two candidates are in the running for Student Government Association (SGA) president. Election week kicks off on Feb. 3 at 3 p.m., with each candidate campaigning until Feb. 6. Voting will take place on Feb. 6 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the winner will be announced on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. on the Cater Hall steps.
Willis Orr
Headshot of Willis Orr, who is running against Landen Childress in the SGA president election on Feb. 6. Photo contributed by Willis Orr.
Willis Orr is a junior majoring in business analytics. Orr has served in the SGA Freshman Forum and as the SGA cabinet’s assistant vice president of university operation and the assistant director of organizational seating program.
Orr’s platform, "FORRWARD with Orr," prioritizes quality, opportunity and distinction. His goal is to move Auburn into the future while preserving Auburn’s identity as the “Loveliest Village on the Plains.”
“My campaign, 'FORRWARD with Orr,' is all about moving Auburn forward with intention, making sure every decision we make today strengthens this university for the students,” Orr said.
The first pillar of his campaign, quality, focuses on students’ quality of experience before enrollment growth, which Orr believes has strained the University’s parking, housing and transportation. He advocates for sustainable enrollment targets, student input in enrollment growth and immediate improvements to parking and transportation. In the classroom, Orr also hopes to maintain quality through enhanced academic resources and student-faculty ratios that foster meaningful engagement.
The next pillar, opportunity, aims to enhance students’ academic experiences. Orr advocates to expand merit-based scholarships to ease financial burdens, use alumni networks to help students’ careers and recruit faculty to improve Auburn’s academics.
Orr’s last pillar focuses on Auburn’s identity. He is particularly concerned with the University’s architecture and traditions and wants to strengthen design guidelines to ensure new buildings reflect Auburn’s architectural heritage. Orr wishes to create a distinction between the academic and athletic brands, specifically in making Samford Hall’s tower as the university’s primary academic logo. Although he wants to create this distinction, he still hopes to unite Auburn Athletics and students by making sports more accessible and community centered. He also advocates to create new traditions and to launch a campus-wide holiday decorations initiative, especially at Christmas.
“Auburn is already amazing,” Orr said. “FORRWARD is all about making it even better.”
Landen Childress
Headshot of Landen Childress, who is running against Willis Orr in the SGA president election on Feb. 6. Photo contributed by Landen Childress
Landen Childress is a junior majoring in finance. Childress has served as a student recruiter, Camp War Eagle orientation counselor and student firefighter for the City of Auburn. He is also a member of the Harbert College of Business Executive Society and SGA Lobby Board.
His platform slogan is “Lead with Landen,” and his goal is to serve others with purpose, honor Auburn’s values and to lead through action. For Childress, his Christian belief is central to his platform, relationships and actions.
“The theme of my campaign, 'Lead with Landen,' comes from the people in my life that have led me to where I am today,” Childress said.
Childress’ first pillar is to lead by example. He hopes to expand Hey Day into the city of Auburn and creates a community-wide Hey Day after dark event. Childress also wants to establish “AUemploys” to create more student work and incentivize student employment. He also advocates for increased SGA transparency through social media recaps and coffee with SGA events.
His second pillar, lead with action, focuses on student quality-of-life. Childress aims to implement new parking guidelines, including a drop-off grace period and an updated Recreation and Wellness parking system. He also wants to redesign the ETA Spot app, implement a housing solution for Panhellenic recruitment and educate students on leases. Childress advocates to expand the Rec by adding a sauna, Pilates studio and free Pilates classes.
Lead the legacy is Childress’ third campaign pillar. He plans to promote freshmen engagement through social media, expand SGA mentoring and implement a freshman involvement placement quiz. Childress also aims to establish a student-alumni mentorship program and to improve transfer students’ experiences through increasing involvement, improving the SOS experience and developing a transfer student focused brand in SGA.
Childress’s final platform pillar revolves around his Christian faith.
“Faith has always been the foundation of my life,” Childress said. “Every relationship, every experience and every calling I step into, including this one, is guided first by the Lord’s will.”
Voting will be open to all Auburn students on Friday, Feb. 6 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m at aub.ie/sgavote.
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