Candidates for Student Senate filled the Red Zone of the CUB Thursday, April 10, to give their speeches and answer questions from the audience.

Student Senate president-elect Michelle Bradley started the event at 7:30 p.m. and helped guide the question-and-answer portion.

The first to speak was Amanda Kemmering, who is running for Residence Hall Association (RHA) senator. Kemmering is a member of Mowrey Hall’s hall council, which works in conjunction with RHA to plan activities for residents. As a student senator, Kemmering hopes to bridge the gap between Student Senate and RHA.

Nicholas Johnson and Morgan Craig-Williams were next in the lineup of speakers. They were running for the Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) senator. Johnson and Craig-Williams elaborated the importance of campus diversity in their speeches and through answering questions.

“The most important thing senate does is give a voice,” Johnson said. As one of the current senators for MSA, Johnson hopes to continue serving the community in which he is involved.

Craig-Williams shared similar opinions with Johnson, hoping to be a voice for students in MSA that might not speak out or know who to come to with concerns.

After a long Q&A session, the MSA senator candidates took a seat to allow Abigail Brumback and Evan Raimist to approach the podium.

The candidates for athletics senator are passionate about their teams as well as creating a bond between students and student athletes.

Raimist, a member of the men’s soccer team, wants to try bringing the campus together through sports. He sees the benefits the athletes receive from SU and feels like athletes should be as enthusiastic in the classroom as they are on the field, Raimist said.

Brumback, the incumbent, swims for SU and is the head of the class council and diversity committees in Student Senate.

Brumback spoke of uniting students and student athletes in order to remove any misconceptions the two groups might have about one another.

“Every sports team wears the Shippensburg logo,” Brumback said, “Shippensburg is a team.”
Running for the College of Arts and Sciences senator position, Edward Phillips hopes to devote himself to the betterment of others.

Collin Crawford, a criminal justice major, seeks to represent the College of Education and Human Services. As a member of several clubs, Crawford understands some of the difficulties clubs face when filling out paperwork for Student Senate. If elected, Crawford would like to help those organizations, in addition to serving the College of Education and Human Services.

Justin Schneider, a candidate for the College of Business senator, wants to reach out to students to make them aware of Student Senate.

Three students are running for the two spots to represent the class of 2015.

Ryan Spangler is a biology major and member of the cross-country and track teams. If elected, Spangler hopes to create a sense of unity within the class of 2015.

Nicholas McClure, a political science major, is a current senator for the class of 2015. He has served on the student group and activities committee as well as the budget and finance committee of Student Senate.

Darius Howard is a communication/journalism and a psychology major. Howard uses his public relations skills to contribute to the six clubs he is a member of, while pursuing an internship in marketing at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center.

The class of 2017 senator proves to be another competitive position, with three candidates in the running for two positions.

Samantha Hartey is a biology major and a member of Presidents Hall’s hall council.
As some of the youngest members of Student Senate, the class of 2017 senators have to be able to hold their own against the older and possibly more experienced student senators. When asked how she would handle this possible challenge, Hartey replied, “Just because I’m an underclassman or a freshman doesn’t mean I don’t have a backbone.”

Sean Hennessey is an accounting major with a love for politics. If elected, he hopes to lighten any grievances that SU students might have.

Dominic Giovanniello, a political science major, is one of the current senators for the class of 2017. Serving on Student Senate, Giovanniello learned how to compromise with his peers.
“You have to put your personal opinions aside when you step in that caucus room,” Giovanniello said.

Collin Brackin is running for the class of 2016 senator position. Corene Tate is also running for College of Business senator. Alyssa Hicks and Mackenzie Wilhide are running for Greek life senator. All four were unable to attend the speeches.

All absent candidates were excused by Student Senate.

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