The next Student Government Association executive board made its first appearance together last night. The question is which of the two slates nominated will take the position.
Two executive slates were announced during the SGA nomination convention Tuesday night. Senators for the off-campus and at-large caucuses were also nominated.
The first slate announced, Campus Voice, is composed of presidential candidate Kevin Thurman, vice presidential candidate Beau Browning, candidate for secretary Kelly Quarles and candidate for treasurer Natalie Olivo.
"I think our slate will benefit SGA from the aspect that we are here for the students," Thurman said. "We listen to their voice[s] and we are going to take their ideas, their thoughts, all of their voices and bring that to SGA. Whatever they want done to help make this place better, that is what we are here for, that is our goal, that is our mission."
The Campus Voice slate was fined $30 for a violation. Olivo declared her intent to run for the SGA tresurer position in a class on Feb. 8. Devin Hillsdon-Smith, election board chair, said Olivo's action was in direct violation of the election code.
Four out of the seven people at the hearing voted to call the action a violation at a hearing that took place after the nomination convention.
"The election code states any public statement of intent before [nomination convention] is not allowed," Hillsdon-Smith said.
The second slate nominated, Catalyst, is made up of presidential candidate Kayla Pickersgill, vice presidential candidate Chris Buck, candidate for secretary Mary Karner and candidate for treasurer Megan Gish.
"We are actually focusing our entire campaign based on our mission statement which is that we are working to build a better Ball State community by empowering students and recognizing the way the student body is the heart of the university and students need that push," Pickersgill said. "Students need to know that the power is in their hands. As their government, we represent them and their views."
The executive slates will campaign through the end of February. Voting on the slates begins Feb. 28.
Because the amount of senators did not exceed the amount of seats for each caucus available, senators will not be required to campaign. Senators will be approved by the current senate only.
Marwin Strong, a senior sociology and criminal justice major a candidate for city council, made an appearance to give all of the nominees a pep talk before the nomination convention began.
His advice hit home for the executive slates that were not yet announced. He said all candidates need to have trustworthy people on their team, take into account their opponent and know what they believe in.
"You have a voice, not just over Ball State but over the city of Muncie," he said.
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