Loyola freshmen will head back to the polls Monday and Tuesday to recast their votes for their Student Government Association representatives. Candidates from both the College of Arts and Science and the College of Business Administration went into a runoff after this week’s elections for five positions: four for arts and sciences and one for the business school. None of the candidates received enough votes outright to win a spot on SGA. Sean Kilroy, music education, ran unopposed for the College of Music’s freshman representative.
Running from Arts and Sciences are James Burleson-Porras, english writing; Candice Darce, political science; Lee Daugherty, chemistry pre-med; Quinn Dennehy, drama; Greg Floyd, communications; Shawntiah Jones, biology; Ricky Palmerola, biology; and Will Schneider, biology. International business freshmen Samuel Cabrera and Matt Meyers vied for the position of business representative. The A&S candidates needed 87 votes to secure a spot, and a business candidate needed 28 votes to win.
Walls and walkways all around campus are covered with the posters and flyers that always result after an SGA campaign. The candidates made a fierce effort to make their names stand out, using everything from slogans to high-school headshots to catch the voter’s eye.
The candidates have made a strong impression on the current SGA members with their willingness to get involved and their positive attitudes, according to political science sophomore and commissioner of elections Renee Bou-Waked.
“Freshman candidates are optimistic, head-strong and heart-strong, which is why SGA feels that they can make a positive difference,” Bou-Waked said.
Representatives must attend weekly SGA Congress meetings to voice the concerns of their colleges through formal addresses and documents.
“The chosen representatives are responsible for working with their constituents and meeting their needs,” Bou-Waked said.
The candidates have their own individual concerns about Loyola. Some are familiar from past campaign platforms, but some issues and ideas are new.
Darce said that the Orleans Room has much room for improvement.
“People can only eat so many salads and hamburgers,” she said.
Bou-Waked said she believes that the freshmen elections will be successful because of the positive attitude many freshmen have about involvement in organizations.
“In high school, running for student government is like being in a popularity contest,” Jones said. “I thought I’d have a fresh start here.”
For candidates who do not win, SGA is offering a chance to take part in their freshmen counsel or internship program. The counsel helps organize freshman events, and the internship program offers freshmen an opportunity to work with the SGA Executive Board.
With turnout for the first election hovering around 30 percent, Jones has a few words of advice for the freshman who choose not to take part in the school’s democratic process: “If you don’t vote, don’t complain.”
