Here are a few updates to my previous post.
Richard Hendrix's campaign has stepped up more, too, including the addition of a campaign pamphlet about the candidate, uploaded on Facebook. (I'm even featured on it... sort of.) Two parts - here and here.
Zi Yang's site was improved, including the addition of a platform. I'll do some analysis on each candidate's platform later, but Zi's three main points are to: 1. "Create a safer and more inclusive campus for students to live, learn, and thrive", 2. "Provide students with the sufficient resources to pursue their interests and innovative ideas", 3. "Further improve the College-Town collaborations as well as support communications between Davidson and neighboring higher institutions." Read it here.
---
Now to the new stuff. I sent a quick questionnaire to each candidate in order to gauge specifics of their views on a few different areas of campus and the SGA, as well as a couple of questions about their campaign. In order to less unfair, I'm going to reverse the order of the students' names (reverse alphabetical by first name), instead of the previous alphabetical by first name.
Zi Yang
3 words to summarize the campaign/himself: Experience, trust, service
Yang started his interview with a Chinese proverb, "If one wishes to do their job well, they have to first sharpen the tools." This seems to be Zi's mantra, as he appears to be very methodological about setting the groundwork for his agenda as I write. Part of this groundwork has included his "Tea with Zi" event, for which he has spent the majority of his campaign budget on, given that it "has been a very integral part of [his] campaign ever since [his] freshman year."
Yang stated he wants to continue along the paths set forth by both Billy Hackenson and Chris Ragsdale, who have both established and innovated great things like the Social Cultural Task Force. He seems to be optimistic, and often talked about sharing and balancing across lines in Davidson, leaning on his own experience in SGA with organizations from CFO to Campus Police to Auxiliary Services.
Wade Leach
3 words to summarize the campaign/himself: Honesty, integrity, commitment
Leach's approach to first initiatives seems to be unique from his opponents. He wants to increase publicity of events at Davidson ranging from art exhibits to athletic events, in order to show the community why Davidson has the best school spirit around. Wade is a local guy and knows the impact that the college has on the surrounding area and wants to improve the "positive externality" that Davidson creates.
When asked about the debate, Leach said he feels "cautiously optimistic" and is excited to debate his peers. He praises Chris Ragsdale and his administration, urging commendation for their work.
He will be using his campaign funds on a meet-and-greet this Saturday (Feb 01) at 12:30 in the New Dorm Lounge. The event is called "Lemonade with Wade".
Richard Hendrix
3 words to summarize the campaign/himself: Ambition, inclusivity, cooperation
Hendrix's approach to the presidency is an interesting one. He praises Dr. Carol Quillen on her approach to learning Davidson, where she took the time to survey the school and encourage the school's values of inclusive practices and diversity. Citing Quillen's Huffington Post article and the flag controversy on campus, Hendrix says that he agrees with Quillen's approach to the leadership, and that the fact that the controversy over flags has gotten to this point is problematic because everyone needs to feel included in Davidson. He has stated he will continue to press on the religious bylaw should Davidson students still feel strongly about it. In this regard (and many others), Hendrix has positive comments about Ragsdale and his administration. Hendrix also cited party culture, sexual assault problems, and the up-the-hill/down-the-hill divide present at Davidson as issues he looks to explore while in office.
Hendrix says he has nothing negative to say of his competitors, and he is looking forward to the debate. This is an area which Hendrix shines in, and he seems excited for the chance to voice his thoughts. His involvement across campus is impressive and he seems to have a finger in most every area of club interest, which he believes gives him a better scope of the Davidson experience.
When asked about campaign expenditures, Hendrix said he was spending his on posters (rather than candy) in order to assure Davidson students that he is serious, not trying to win a popularity contest. He has no website or campaign page because he wants to "bring the campaign to you, not bring you to the campaign", which seems to also be a unique view. He has no campaign staff/committee, but has encouraged me to reach out to any friends of his, about whom he seemed confident would vouch for his own abilities.
Parker Murphy
3 words to summarize the campaign/himself: Experienced, dependable, honest
Murphy takes another unique approach to issues on campus - stress and mental health in a rigorous environment. This is an interesting platform which I haven't seen much of from other candidates, and he seems to have put a fair amount of thought into how to go about amending a culture of rigor into one which doesn't lead to more problems related to stress and mental health than necessary. Murphy is the only candidate to serve 3 terms as SGA senator, and says this sets him apart from his competitors because he understands how ensure the SGA works most effectively for the student body.
Murphy praises Chris and Nick for their work to "make the SGA more transparent, bring Summit onto campus, put a convenience store in the Union, and improve the WeCar program." Parker intends to build off of what they succeeded in during his term.
Parker continues to encourage anyone to contact him via his email or at Hart 103, where he resides.
Pablo Zevallos
3 words to summarize the campaign/himself: (Slogan: "Our Time is Now.")
Zevallos aims to institute his Four Point Agenda and sent me some more specifics about some portions of this agenda, which I will release in a later post. A message he wishes to push to the student body: "We at
Davidson can no longer afford to ignore this campus’s problems. We can no
longer afford to blind ourselves to the present reality of two Davidsons
divided on gender, socioeconomic status, housing type, and sexual orientation.
Let’s take ownership of our community and bring people together to bridge these
divides. Our time is now."
On the topic of debate, Zevallos sees this as a chance for discussion, something he sees as an advantage to him by letting the student body better understand his own connections and experience on campus as well as his forth-put policy. He references friendships across the Davidson community which has allowed him to have the perspective to speak with authority about the Davidson student body. His language is all about bridging gaps in campus, and his Four Point Agenda seems indicative of this, too. He praises the previous administration for setting specific targets and hitting them, a model he wishes to replicate during his term.
Pablo has been biding his time with campaign funds, and has only spent cash on basic supplies like tape so far. He wants to let everyone know that the race is not about him and what he can do but about what the campus can do together.
No comments:
Post a Comment