Written by Sarah Kyle and Kylie Akins
he student body officially elected junior Bruce McMullen as the 2011-2012 Student Association president yesterday.McMullen ran against junior Stephen McBride, winning with 53.3 percent of votes; 982 students voted in the SA presidential election.Joining McMullen in office next year will be vice president Amanda Herren, secretary Claire Walker and treasurer Amy Littleton.”When I saw that I had won the position, I was filled with emotion and my stomach started turning, and a deep breath was needed,” McMullen said. “I soon followed with a humble and appreciative moment, giving thanks to God and those who are a huge encouragement and blessing in my life. I’m excited to serve the Harding student body this next year.”McMullen said he had thought about running for the presidency earlier in the year but thought his status as an international student might make him ineligible to hold office. McMullen is from Cape Town, South Africa, on the west coast.After being approached by several students about running, he interviewed current SA President Steven Ramsey and some faculty members and discovered that he was eligible.McMullen said he has been active in student groups since high school, continuing into his time at Harding; he is currently the president of men’s social club Sub T-16.”I don’t like the term social butterfly, but I really am a people person,” McMullen said. McMullen ran on the platform of becoming the “middle man” between the student body and elected officials and faculty.”All I want to do is please people and be an approachable guy, and I think that’s what the SA needs: a good connection between the student body and the leaders of it who can make changes and bring unity to campus,”McMullen said. “It’s not actually about my ideas; it’s about me just being the middle man to get everyone else’s ideas on campus put in place.”However, McMullen does have some ideas of his own, including a more cooperative effort of brainstorming with the previous SA officers to bring more activities to the student body.McMullen said he also hopes to promote unity between different clubs, as well as between clubs and non-club students,with a project he has termed “Monthly Memories.””It would be a monthly project together, whether it’s going on a float trip together or doing a big service project between clubs, and also with students who aren’t in clubs,” McMullen said. “I’m all about just getting everyone involved and feeling like they’re getting the best experience they can while they’re here.”
