Story co-written with Natalie Ballard
After much hard work and stress, the official results for the WCU SGA were released earlier in April with the results revealing David Rhode as the winner for President and Dawson Spencer for Vice President.
Rhode won the election with 392 votes; David Benoit was close behind him with 372 votes. Spencer’s win consisted of 807 votes while opponent Fiona Buchanan received 480.
We interviewed both of the candidates after their win and see what they had to say on SGA role on campus and what they will do during their mandate.
David Rhode- President
Dawson Spencer – Vice President
Photo Courtesy of Dawson Spencer.
WCJ: How would you define SGA and how does it affect students on campus?
Spencer: The Student Government Association (SGA) is an organization of elected or appointed students which serves as the primary governing body representing student interests, addressing student needs, and works with the administration to improve campus life. Since I have been in SGA my freshman year we have passed resolutions to allow Cat Trans to operate on the weekends, we got a Food Truck for campus dining, we started the initiative to get a student union on campus, we encouraged course syllabi to be accessible when searching for classes, we supported the construction of a rain shelter for the Cat Tran stop at the village, we are pushing for licensed ASL classes, employed Facilities and Maintenance to install LED and more lighting around campus, and we have word diligently to get gender inclusive restrooms on campus.
WCJ: What will you do to spread awareness of SGA to the student body?
Spencer: I think the most crucial responsibility of SGA is to show the student body specifically what we do for them and spread awareness. I want to host student senate meetings live, host “Ask a Senator” sessions on the UC Lawn, create an Organization Outreach Committee, host weekly Instagram live videos for updates, having SGA Saturday Shootouts of those in SGA for the student body knows who we are if you ever need us, have having Organization of the week for we can learn about them and they can learn about their SGA.
WCJ: How would you distinguish yourself from the past Vice President?
Spencer: I think that the most significant difference between the past Vice President and myself is our leadership style. I fully believe that it is my job to encourage them, give them resources, and lead them to success and what better to do that than being their helping hand.
WCJ: How will you work with the Senators to create meaningful outcomes that affect the student body?
Spencer: I want to have met with the senators at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester so I can get to know them and vice versa but also understand what they want out of the organizations and help them reach their goals with their resolutions.
WCJ: How have you seen WCU and SGA adapt to the growing population campus and how do you think they will continue to?
Spencer: Two years ago, the Student Senate was made up of only 13 students that were all like-minded. This year as Pro Tempore I help the Vice Present Webb hire senate positions that were vacant after elections. At the end of the interviews, we had a total of 40+ senators from different colleges, backgrounds, cultures, and communities. The growth of the Student Senate has helped us hear the voice of students that was never heard before in SGA.
