Written by Watkins Kelly // Photo by Madison Meyer
Student Association (SA) elections provided an opportunity for members of the student body to make their voices heard and to support peers who shared similar positions on how to improve campus life.
The majority of SA offices were elected in the final weeks of the spring semester. However, as in previous fall semesters, the freshman representatives were chosen by their class within their first few weeks on campus. SA President Meg Sledge said adding freshmen to the organization brings energy and excitement for the upcoming year.
“Freshmen representatives step onto campus, and they see lots of possibilities,” Sledge said. “In addition to representing their class, they can bring in their own fresh ideas, and that is really exciting.”
In chapel on Sept. 1, it was announced that Grayson Hume had won the race for freshman male representative and that a runoff would take place for freshman female representative. After the runoff vote Sept. 3, it was decided that Elizabeth Brown would serve as the freshman female representative.
Hume said he decided to run for the position because he saw an opportunity to utilize his spiritual gifts of leadership and communication. He views the experience as a time to walk alongside his peers in service, as well as an opportunity to grow.
“I’ve only been here a few weeks on campus,” Hume said. “Joining the SA is an opportunity to be influenced and poured into by upperclassmen, and I think that will change my whole perspective.”
In addition to the freshmen representatives, students from all classes voted for a second international representative. Previously, only one international representative served in the SA. However, a second was added this year to increase the voice of international students, Sledge said.
“With an additional representative, we also have the incredible opportunity to add an international students committee,” Sledge said. “The new representative will be able to look to this group and directly address their wants and needs.”
Sophomore Hector Tabora was chosen as the second international representative and will serve alongside junior Emeth Camano. Tabora said though he and Camano are both international students, they bring unique experiences that will help them during their time in the SA. Ultimately, he hopes to be a part of bringing together the Harding community.
“Being an international student, sometimes it is hard to connect with people,” Tabora said. “I was very lucky because I was able to meet and connect with other international students early on, and I want other people to have a similar experience.”
Sledge said she is excited for the new additions to the SA and feels that now that the group is complete, they can fully tackle their goals for this year.
“Working out of our theme this year and the umbrella of ‘Telling the Story,’ the representatives go out on campus and make decisions based on student voice and the administration,” Sledge said. “It wouldn’t be possible to have the Student Association we have without the representatives that we have.”