Three run unopposed for SGA Exec. Board

The Committee on Student Elections (CSE) hosted a debate among the candidates for the Student Government Association (SGA) Executive Board positions on Monday in Mudd Auditorium. Fewer than 10 students attended the debate. Of the four Executive Board positions, only one was contested.

Junior Jason Plush is running uncontested for executive president, junior Jack Bartholet and freshman Sarah Zappone are vying for executive vice president, sophomore Matthew Bee is running uncontested for executive treasurer and sophomore John Stanton is running uncontested for executive secretary. On Monday, junior Jahan Mirchandani removed his name from the running after deciding to graduate early, leaving the race for president unopposed.

Plush, Zappone, Bee and Stanton ran together on a combined ticket.

Voting begins on Friday at 4 p.m. and lasts until midnight on Sunday.

Current Executive President Janice Bonsu said that she was worried about the lack of competition, but stressed that the candidates are well qualified.

“It’s troubling to see that there aren’t many candidates out there. However, the ones that came are phenomenal, and I think that if there were extra candidates on the ballot, I might be voting for these people who are on the stage anyway. Just because there aren’t a lot, doesn’t mean the quality is not here,” Bonsu said.

Bonsu described the format of the debate in an email to the student body.

“Candidates will give a brief overview of their campaign platform, answer questions on subjects ranging from alcohol policy to Spring Fair and take questions from the audience,” Bonsu wrote.

Each candidate began by making his or her opening statement, which was followed by a moderated period of questions and answers.

“I still think there’s room for improvement. Last year, I led one of the three SGA branches as Chief Justice of the Judiciary,” Bartholet said in his opening statement.

Zappone described her idea of creating a policy that would grant amnesty to anyone who reports dangerous drinking or rape.

“An amnesty policy would protect any individual who calls on behalf of another and protect them from jurisdiction from the administration. To move campus safety [forward], I really think that we have the ability to create a safe campus for ourselves given the opportunity,” Zappone said.

Plush focused on the importance of strengthening school pride.

“Something that lacks at Hopkins is student unity. I want to see more programming events like Commemoration Ball,” he said. “I believe it is imperative that SGA start a marketing agency. Above all, I’m really excited to develop a positive experience among Hopkins students.”

Stanton discussed his previous experiences and qualifications.

“As secretary, I believe that leadership is very important, as well as personal skills. My organizational skills have been shown at my internships at Drivewell [a start-up company] in social media skills,” he said. “We want to be able to support the entirety of all Hopkins-related websites and hold executive office hours, hopefully on Wednesdays and Thursdays.”

Bee emphasized his role on the Student Activities Commission (SAC) and his support for student-run business initiatives.

“There are a lot of flaws in the SAC commission, so I believe that educating clubs and group leaders on how to write grants [is] beneficial for the treasurer and the student groups to secure funding.”

Bonsu asked Bee how he would increase support and awareness for minorities if he was elected.

“I think that goes back to looking at clubs and groups. It comes back to creating that better bond between SAC commissioners and the groups themselves,” Bee said.

Plush was asked about administrative accountability.

“[A solution is] potentially having the Executive President becoming a non-voting member on the Board of Trustees. There is a huge disconnect between what the students want and what administrators and officers of the school actually do,” Plush said. “[There needs to be] more student input through anonymous surveys or direct input to those commissions themselves.”

Bonsu asked the vice presidential candidates how they would ensure that they act as impartial adjudicators in the SGA senate.

“It’s essential to be governed entirely by the rule of law. When you have to run the senate, you have to run it in a mannerism that respects everyone’s beliefs. Making sure minority voices are heard is the best way to do that,” Bartholet said.

“I would ensure the efficiency of the senate,” Zappone said. “I would study very much the Robert’s Rules of Order [parliamentary rules of procedure].”

The vice presidential candidates were also asked what SGA’s greatest strength and weakness were.

“The SGA has always had the best intentions but hasn’t always gone about doing things in the right way,” Bartholet said. “When you’re on SGA, the senate is speaking for the entire student body of Johns Hopkins. We should be much more involved in a policy role.”

Zappone focused on the structure of SGA and subcommittees, both of which she said needed reform.

The candidates were asked what they would say if they were given the opportunity for a one-on-one lunch with University President Ronald J. Daniels.

“There’s a lot of kids who just are not truly happy here. It feels like the administration are stiff-arming us a lot,” Bee said. “I’d try to be as honest and frank with him as possible.”

Bartholet emphasized the importance of student involvement in making decisions affecting Greek life.

“The policy I’d really talk about is Greek life, and I think a lot of people under [Daniels] are misguided about Greek life,” he said.

“I know [Daniels’] son very well... I would ask what one change he could make to help improve this school,” Stanton said.

When asked who the ideal commencement speaker would be, Bartholet chose Hillary Clinton because she would share her political insight.

“What we need at Hopkins more than anything is civic involvement. Students need to ask questions, hold the government accountable,” he said.

Zappone said FFC staff member Gladys Burrell.

“She unites people on this campus and is a light and inspiration.”

Bee also had a hypothetical commencement speaker in mind.

“Gandhi, because he’s also about peacefulness and cooperation. We need cooperation and coordination between students and the administration,” Bee said.

“Dave Grohl, the lead singer of the Foo Fighters,” Plush said, “because he cares so much about giving back to the communities that helped him. That all starts with having a positive experience.”

Stanton said he would bring Hakeem Olajuwon, a former NBA player, to speak at commencement.

“He’s from the Congo and has brought so much light to Africa itself. He’s spoke at the UN and other NGOs, advocating for the rights of African civilians and some of the problems they’re facing now,” he said.

Lastly, the candidates were asked to describe a policy that they would try to implement.

Zappone explained a project that she spearheaded which will involve the placement of massage chairs in Levering. Bee discussed bringing in locally sourced grain to increase campus sustainability.

Stanton focused on marketing student ideas and encouraging student businesses. Bartholet discussed increasing student engagement and creating a process through which students could petition departments to suggest new majors or minors.

After the program, senior Maxwell Dickey, who currently has four pending bills in SGA, condemned the lack of competition in the executive board election.

“I think apathy is SGA’s biggest weakness,” Dickey said. “Last year’s election had a 35 percent decline in votership, but there’s even fewer candidates. The fact is that students don’t see SGA as a worthwhile vector of change. It’s turned into an exclusive club.”

Dickey was one of fewer than five students, not including current SGA members, in attendance at the debate.

Editor’s Note: Editor-in-Chief Jack Bartholet is a candidate for executive vice president. He was not involved in the writing or editing of this article in any capacity.