To the Editor,

I feel honored and privileged to call both men running for president dear friends. Working with them inside and outside of Vanderbilt Student Government has allowed me to see there are few people on this campus more genuinely passionate about Vanderbilt and its students than these two candidates. Each candidate’s work since they stepped on campus as freshmen should be commended. But because I believe one candidate’s leadership experience in meeting difficult challenges to achieve real results makes him the best candidate to move VSG forward and make the Vanderbilt undergraduate experience the most enriching, I am endorsing Wyatt Smith for VSG president.

Since the first day I met Wyatt as a freshman in the Campus Crusade for Christ Bible Study I led, I knew I was in the presence of a man who had the potential to impact Vanderbilt like very few others could. Wyatt daily shows his commitment to all of Vanderbilt; he is as likely to be found at a baseball game as a Blair concert, as often at a Chancellor's lecture series event as at a service site. Wyatt does all of these things because he understands the value of both a diverse education and supporting the good work of all his fellow students.

This fervor and work ethic united us as we became VSG president and vice president. Wyatt took the lead on many initiatives, from $250,000 for summer study abroad financial aid to elimination of room reservation fees for student organizations and worked right alongside me in getting Gmail for students, improving card access policies and so much more. But more than a litany of tangible results, Wyatt has the skill set needed to be a president who makes VSG the most effective, empowered and efficient organization possible, ensuring student interests will always be on the minds of all stakeholders in the Vanderbilt community.

Your vote in this election should be for what is best to ensure the student voice is heard loud and clear. Wyatt Smith has spent his entire time at Vanderbilt, whether it has been as a service leader, senator or vice president, to make Vanderbilt better. I have sat with him on more meetings than anyone else, and I have seen the fire within that drives him to give back to his community, bring everyone to the table to be heard, get the results that students want and make sure all students are proud to call Vanderbilt their home. A vote for Wyatt Smith is a vote to ensure the Vanderbilt student experience gets better every day.

Joseph Williams

VSG Student Body President