Hey Look, More Fliers!
19 of them will represent over a thousand students next school year. Who are the rest of the candidates for SVSA?
By Tristram Kenworthy
Updated April 12, 2018
With a new Executive Council in place, Southern Virginia’s student body has another choice to make this Friday: who will fill the other 14 open seats in the Southern Virginia Student Association (SVSA)?
To help you decide on the right vote, The Herald reached out to the candidates of this week’s election.
An asterisk (*) next to a candidate’s name indicates that she or he was contacted and unavailable to comment.
SENATORS
The senate is comprised of eight representatives. Each representative presents the needs, concerns, and desires of certain divisions of campus life.
Activities — Kjersti Breen or LaRee Crockett
Breen, ’19, is from Las Vegas, Nevada and is passionate about activities. Breen came to SVU so she could participate in sports, music, and art.
Her message to voters: “I want to bring students ideas from all parts of campus to the activities department by having a really strong committee to pull ideas from. I would also like to include the students voice by making polls for ideas about dances or events, as well as, finding more creative ways to advertise for events to increase student participation.”
Crockett, ’20, from Willcox, AZ, plays on the woman’s volleyball team, and manages the men’s volleyball team.
Her message to voters: “I plan on bringing different perspectives to our activities to target an even bigger portion of the SVU student body. It is my goal to provide activities that are fun and uplifting, that will give all students more opportunities to de-stress and create meaningful relationships.”
Clubs — Jeremiah Fly or Alec Johnson
Fly, ’19, is from Wakefield, Virginia, and the founder and president of the Nintendo Club, I am a Fate of the Creative Writing Club.
His message to voters: “I want to create a stronger and more expansive club community. Which will be accomplished with the creation of a fundraising system for Clubs to raise money, holding meetings with all club presidents to encourage Club collaborations, and releasing a bi-weekly informational podcast to inform the student body of current student government issues, accomplishments, and events.”
Johnson, ’19, starting guard on the men’s basketball team, and co-president of the newly founded Latin club, also founded and operates a charity called ‘For the Warmth of the Children’ for children in need during winter months.
His message to voters: “I know each club has something to offer to keep this university growing and unified. I want each club to do an activity once a school year that involves the whole student body.” Johnson believes that, “doing so will create awareness for every club, as well as bring diversity to each student on campus.”
Honor — Tyler Murdock or Bailey Pfunder*
Murdock, ’20, sings bass for Southern Virginia’s premier a cappella group Accolade, enjoys writing for the Herald and taking part in Church Activities.
His message to voters: “I believe that we can do more to promote living the honor code in a way that inspires not just requires students to live our standard of honorable living,” said Murdock. He continued, “I plan on us doing this through reaching out to students of influence and building a team devoted to help promoting a culture of living the honor code.”
Art — Amy Johnson or Ryan Dubinsky*
Johnson, ’19, is from Heber City, Utah, and the concertmaster of the Southern Virginia University Orchestra.
Her message to voters: Johnson hopes that, “through the visual and performing arts, [she can] empower students to reach their goals by cultivating a rich and edifying experience.”
SENATORS (uncontested)
Academics — Olivia Ekberg
Ekberg, ’20, is a self-described “avid people watcher, solo movie goer, chocolate chip cookie eater, and Diet Coke enthusiast. I aspire to one day be a combination of Blake Lively and Kate Hudson.”
Her message to voters: “Academics is the foundation of the college experience… While we may come to SVU to pursue sports, clubs, theater, or music, our academics will follow us throughout our whole lives. Let’s make that experience meaningful.”
Athletics — Aubrey Jorgensen
Jorgenson, ’19, the current junior class vice president, has spent time on the athletics and activities committees for the last 3 years, and worked as an athletic promotions intern. “I’m pretty awesome… I do my own stunts,” she added.
Her message to voters: “I will create a better environment allowing everyone to be apart of athletics. This includes having the best student section, more tailgates/pep rallies, and better halftimes.”
Communications — Caleb Rich*
Service — Jessica Robbins
Robbins, ‘19, hails from Farmington, Utah and is majoring in Family and Child Development.
Her message to voters: “Service brings meaning, purpose and joy and I want every student at Southern Virginia University to take part in it.”
CLASS OFFICERS
Each class has two representatives in SVSA: a president and vice president. Sophomore, junior, and senior officers are elected each spring semester, and freshmen officers are elected each fall.
Junior Class President — Blake Tebbs or Jacob Lamb*
Tebbs, from the small town of Smithville, Missouri, is a dancer and current SVSA member.
Her message to voters: “I want to help get the junior class more involved. To do that, I want to make a junior class committee where our class can get their ideas out easier and more effectively.”
Junior Class Vice-President — Ben Kabzinski or Kaipo Tagaloa
Kabzinski, ’20, is an athlete and current member of SVSA.
His message to voters: Kabzinski hopes to “take the Junior Class to new heights.” He added, “it all starts with your vote.”
Tagaloa, ’20, is a member of the men’s volleyball team, and current Athletics Senator, known for his cheerful character and quick wit.
His message to voters: Tagaloa believes that a stronger and more fun community is tied directly to strength in leadership. “I am a powerful leader, like a lion,” he said.
Senior Class President — Aaron Vinson or Emma Schroeder*
Vinson,‘19, from St. Louis, Missouri, served an LDS mission in Jamaica, plays on the football and men’s golf teams, is the current junior class president, and is a teacher’s assistant for biology.
His message to voters: “My platform is to first and foremost bring diversity to each and every class while being able to strengthen and unify them at the same time. I would also like to have more senior class actives and senior sponsored actives.” He also stated that if elected, Vinson will “represent the senior class with a great senior gift like never before.”
CLASS OFFICERS (uncontested)
Freshman Class President — To be announced in Fall 2018
Freshman Class Vice-President — To be announced in Fall 2018
Sophomore Class President — Alexandra Vacanti
Vacanti is self-described as a “Nebraska girl raised to give all she’s got or nothing at all.”
“My goal as sophomore class president would be to organize activities that my specific class would enjoy and want to participate in. I’m here to help the students in my class in any way I can.”
Sophomore Class Vice-President — Kali Davis
Davis, from Redmond, Oregon, plays on the women’s volleyball team and enjoys attending Southern Virginia.
“I want to bring a new perspective to SVU’s student government,” Davis stated. “I want to create an environment that is welcoming to all and make sure that all students love SVU.”
Senior Class Vice-President — Bailey Rusick*
