Three pairs of students attended Vanderbilt Student Government’s information session for presidential candidates Sunday night, unofficially presenting themselves as contenders to be the next leaders of the student body.
Current Speaker of the Senate Aysha Malik and Executive Adviser Theo Samets, Engineering Senator Andrew Morse and Programming Director Susan Gleiser, and Vice President Lori Murphy and Treasurer Lee Pedinoff were present at the meeting to hear the official rules and deadlines as they prepared for their campaigns as presidents and vice presidents, respectively. Attorney General Tyler Boyd moderated the session, which was also attended by other members of the VSG executive board, including President Wyatt Smith.
“It’s an exciting time … to start looking for new leadership,” said Smith, who advised potential candidates to “keep in mind the best interests of the student body” and keep a “high level of integrity” throughout their campaigns in order to live up to the expectations of students.
Campaigns will officially begin on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. A primary to narrow down the race to two tickets will run from Jan. 27 at 8 a.m. to Jan. 28 at noon, with the final election beginning on Feb. 3 at 8 a.m. and ending on Feb. 4 at noon.
Many of the potential candidates described their ticket as providing a unique position. Morse and Gleiser said their distance from the executive board gave them a “bird’s-eye view” of how VSG works and what the student body needs.
“(VSG) has great strengths and weaknesses,” Gleiser said. “Our ability to see it from a step back is a great strength.” She also expressed her and Morse’s passion for VSG and their hope to “utilize every student’s voice.”
“We want VSG to be an advocacy group,” she said.
Murphy and Pedinoff, on the other hand, said their combined six years of experience is the element that gives them a “unique perspective” on student government.
“We’re running for president and vice president because we believe we are best suited to provide services and support for students and lobby for them,” Murphy said. “We see what makes students tick and know how to successfully represent the student body.”
Murphy also noted her plans to continue the work she and Smith started over the past year.
“We want to expand on that success and improve the organization each day we’re in office,” she said.
Malik said the roles she and Samets have held over their time at Vanderbilt have given them insight into students’ needs, both now and in the future.
“I love this university, and I only want to be able to give back,” Malik said, a thought Samets echoed.
“We want to commit to provide services that students want and need,” Samets said. “That will be our focus.”
