The Maroon asked the candidates these questions:
1. How will you represent students during the Danna Center renovations and ensure that their opinions are heard? 2. How do you hope to incorporate Jesuit and social justice ideals into student and academic life? 3. How will you keep students informed and promote SGA transparency? 4. What, do you believe, is the purpose of SGA? 5. If elected, what will your SGA look like?
1. The process of allocating student organizational space is a top priority in my presidency. I believe the process, which is currently being developed, should include effective management and equitable consideration for all organizations. Through the channels of SGA, such as the Senate and the new House of Representatives, students’ voices will be heard.
It is also a priority in my campaign to create a more inclusive and exciting atmosphere in the SGA, which will make students want to come and be involved. This new climate will also effectively garner student input.
2. Through my experience with the Ignacio Volunteers, Christian Life Communities, and co-chairing the 2006 Wolves on the Prowl, I believe I am the best candidate to incorporate Jesuit ideals into student and academic life.
I want to actualize more service learning opportunities for our students through any means possible, whether by adding a service-learning component to an existing common curriculum course or creating a center for service learning that is distinct from academic work. Service learning would engage students in the community and increase retention rates for students. I will also urge Father Wildes to sign the President’s Climate Commitment, a movement to make all universities around the U.S. climate-neutral within two years.
3. I plan to maintain SGA’s Web site and its bulletin board. I also believe that through my involvement in eight different organizations or communities along with SGA, I can facilitate a better line of communication between SGA and other student organizations.
As my granddad likes to say, “The best way to build good relations with people is by personal contact, and the next step is personal contact twice.” In my presidency, SGA will reach out to the students instead of waiting for students to come to the association for help.
4. The purpose of SGA is to enable students to succeed. In order to do this, we must create a friendly, inviting atmosphere that makes students feel welcome. SGA should be made up of a diverse student action team that is dedicated to improvements in student life.
It is also SGA’s responsibility to be the strongest voice for student advocacy. It should be an ever-changing body that brings together what students need and want and how to obtain it from the administration.
Since SGA has recently absorbed the `Pack Pride committee, I believe it’s SGA’s job to encourage school spirit. To achieve this goal, I will create a specific student section for students at athletic events, and name the section after a particular team member for each game. For example, for a women’s volleyball game, we could name the section “Kristie’s Corner” for volleyball player Kristie Hadley.
5. My SGA will be a dedicated group of well-informed, hard-working students, who are passionate about Loyola. It will be an effective and efficient organization who seeks out student participation and encourages maximal student development. I will achieve this by collaborating with the Office of Co-Curricular Programs in its Student Leader Initiative, an initiative which will bring all student leaders together to maximize student organization potential. Under my direction, the SGA will be a center for student services and advocacy, and an organization that creates a greater sense of ‘Pack Pride.
Finally, my SGA will be what the students want. I am open to new ideas, innovative approaches, and challenging expectations from students for next year, and I’m ready to take on the privilege and responsibility of being your SGA President.
Fontenot at a glanceYear and major: Senior, finance, pre-medHometown: Lafayette, La.SGA Experience: College of Business representative, College of Business PresidentCampaign motto: “Purpose. Passion. Pride.”
