Karah-Leigh Hancock
Editor-in-Chief
kphancoc@valdosta.edu

Today, VSU students will go to the polls to vote for the new Student Government Association president.

Students originally voted for next year’s executive branch on April 2, but due to narrow victory margin, a re-vote was planned.

By SGA constitutional law, the president position must be won by 50 percent plus one.

Kelli Cody and Ernesto Prencke beat out current SGA president Lauren Davis and Micah Ian Holliman.

According to Monday’s SGA Meeting, the link to vote will not be listed on the main VSU Web site.

To vote, you must go to the SGA page, located at: http://www.valdosta.edu/sga/ or head to the Spectator Web site at http://vsuspectator.com to find a link.

Below is your chance to meet VSU’s SGA presidential candidates, Cody and Prencke and find out who they are, what they like and most importantly, what they stand for.

Meet the candidates:

Kelli Cody: Kelli Cody, 20, is a sophomore Environmental  Geoscience major. She is originally from Woodstock, Ga. and plans to go to grad school at Oregon State after graduating from VSU. After grad school she would like to join the Peace Corps.

Ernesto Prencke: Ernesto Prencke, 23, is a senior, double majoring in finance and management. He is originally from Baranquilla, Columbia. After graduating from VSU, he plans to attend grad school and get his MPA, MBA and then go to law school for business law.

1. What experience do you have that would make you the perfect choice for SGA president?

Cody: I have many past experiences that I believe have given me the knowledge and know-how to be Valdosta State’s next SGA President. I attended the America Legion’s prestigious Girls State and Girls Nation programs. There I learned how to run a senate, how to write bills, parliamentary procedure, proper decorum, learned about all levels of the government and even got to meet with congressmen and the former President of the United States. I also intern with my hometown City of Woodstock in the Department of Public Relations for two years and was the Chairman of the Woodstock City Youth Council. I am also a member of the Existing Leaders program here on campus. This program has taught me many valuable leadership skills and how to deal with different people in different ways. Through this program I have also been able to meet and work with many different kinds of people and authority figures on campus. I have good relations with many of the upper authority figures on campus that I, as President, will have to work with on a daily basis.

Prencke: I have served in the executive board of several student organizaitions on campus, such as the Society of International Students, Geo-society, Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and have occupied a crucial role with SIFE, as part of the current presenting team and former manager of Business Bites, the single student-run and operated business in the whole state.

I have been at VSU since 2005 (yes, I know) and have become involved in the campus since day one. I have come in contact with many different students, organizations and offices. I have figured out how the system works and how to get things done at our school.

Being from a different country, I have a broader pool of experiences I can bring to the table in order to run our student government in an efficient and satisfactory manner to benefit all the students at VSU.

2. What do you think the biggest problem with VSU is right now and how do you plan to help solve it?

Cody: I believe the biggest problem at VSU depends on who you talk to. Different people have different problems and that is why SGA is here, to listen to those problems and take action to fix them. I personally think the biggest problem right now is the extreme lack of communication and one-on-one action between SGA and the student body.

SGA is supposed to be a representation of the student body’s needs and wants. I believe SGA could do so much more to get more people involved in student government and get excited about the school they go to. I believe with better communication and involvement SGA and the students of VSU can work together to achieve common goals effectively and efficiently.

Prencke: VSU, just like any organization will always have issues. Students will always have issues with one department or another in our campus. Some of these problems are out of the scope of the Student Government Association and all we can do is recommend ways to improve circumstances to provide a better college experience for all students affected. I plan to help change the focus of our Student Government from a programming body to a lobbying body. This way SGA will have a greater opportunity to generate an impact in the student body as a whole and help foster a more close-knit community where students work together to point out what needs to be done and provide solutions rather than just whine about isolated incidents.

3. What do you think will be the biggest challenge you’ll face if you’re elected president?

Cody: I believe the biggest challenge I’ll face as VSU’s next SGA President will be realizing that I as a leader may not always be able to do what a particular person or group of people wants depending on by-laws, rules and such set forth by Valdosta State University. I as President will work my very hardest to hear the students out and find a solution to the problem that works, however, I believe it may be a challenge for me, someone who likes everything to be right and perfect, to realize that not everything may work out the way I’d like.

Prencke – The biggest challenge will be by far, to put the senate together and working as one. I want to build a cohesive organization with a focus for the community rather than particular and isolated interest groups. We are elected to represent the student body, not our personal interests. We should conduct ourselves that way.

4. What is your philosophy of government, especially student government?

Cody: My philosophy on student government is that I as a leader am essentially here to represent my constituents (that being the student body) and effectively help them achieve their needs, wants, and goals for our school. I do believe however that you need to find a happy medium between doing what your constituents want you to do and want you as an individual thinks is the right direction to lead your
constituents.

Prencke: I believe that government should serve the people it represents rather than becoming an exclusive and elitist group that treats its constituents as a source of income. Government should remain open to new ideas, suggestions, comments and especially criticism. I believe our student government is doing a stellar job for the most part, but needs new ideas, and new guidance in order for it to become all that it can be, and provide a greater benefit for all students at VSU.

5. How do you plan to use that philosophy if you’re elected?

Cody: - I will use this philosophy to try and do what is in the best interest of the students here at VSU. I will always listen with an open ear and an open mind. I will take into consideration all the needs, wants, and ideas of the student body and then pass them along to the senate. I will encourage and guide the senate the way in which is best for our school and her students. To me being VSU’s next SGA President is not about my personal agenda or being given a title to put on a resume. It is about our school and us as students. I am just like everyone else here on campus, a student who loves Valdosta State and wants only the very best for it. As President I am here only to listen and guide, not to be a dictator.

Prencke: If the student body decides I should be its representative for the 2009-2010 academic year, I will make sure that our student representatives actually serve the needs of the VSU students rather than working towards their personal interests. I plan on encouraging criticism of our own ideas, reach out and talk to students on a one-on-one basis, encourage participation, gain approval and support from the student body for activities.

6. If you had a million dollars to spend for VSU, what would you do?

Cody: – I would first make sure that every faculty and staff member here on campus gets a raise in his or her salary and not a pay cut, which seems to be happening now. I would also make sure that all the departments have the supplies they need to operate effectively and efficiently.

Valdosta State’s number one goal is to provide its student with a great education. How can the school effectively do this if the teachers are under paid and under supplied? The faculty and staff here at VSU are some of the hardest working people I’ve ever met. They deserve more than a pat on the back and a pay cut.

Prencke: I would by far invest that money in projects that would generate a large benefit for the student body as a whole. Such as increased security measures for our campus, more surveilance hardware and staff to actually supervise it. I would also like to improve the VSU Blazer Shuttle Service, in order to make it more reliable and friendly to our students. In addition to improving infrastructure, I would like to put part of this money towards a scholarship fund for students that wish to study abroad but cannot afford to do so, since traveling is one of the best ways to create more mature, well-rounded individuals that can make a difference in our campus community.

7. What do you think is the biggest misconception about SGA is?

Cody: I believe the biggest misconception about SGA is that we sit around doing nothing every Monday night at our meetings. SGA really does work very hard for the students here at Valdosta State. I do believe however that SGA can always do more. As President I will make sure that SGA is better visible and represented around campus by doing more activities for the student body. SGA receives a budget every year, a budget that comes directly out of the student’s pocket through fees. This money needs to be used on the students, not sit in a bank account to accumulate over the year. I understand being careful with the money SGA is given. It will make sure the senate does not spend it frivolously, but make sure that money is being given make to the students in one way or another.

Prencke: There are many different views about SGA. Right now, we are fighting to get people to at least have AN IDEA of what SGA is, what it does, and what it has to offer the students. I plan to focus on public relations and increase awareness of our Student Government Association within our student body.

8. Are you a member of any other student organizations?

Cody: Emerging/Existing Leaders, Catholic Student Center, and former member of Blazer Pride.

Prencke: Yes, I am an active member in Students In Free Enterprise, Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, Geo-Society, and the Society for International Students.

9. What do you do in your free time?

Cody: I love to be outdoors camping, hiking, climbing or just exploring. I also enjoy singing, listening to classic rock (oldies) and classical music, watching CNN and watching my favorite baseball team the Chicago Cubs!

Prencke: – I particularly enjoy spending time with my awesome girlfriend, who constantly supports, encourages me to keep working hard for my dreams and puts up with my hectic schedule. Hanging out with my friends, who I consider as important as my family and going to the ropeswing off of i-75 Exit 11 (if you haven’t been there, you have got to go check it out, it is by far one of the coolest places in town)

10. What was the last TV show you watched?

Cody: The Office

Prencke: – Closing Bell on CNBC.

11. What was the last movie you saw in theaters?

Cody: Twilight

Prencke: I am legend. Theaters are not as fun as watching movies at home. I can have as many bathroom breaks as I want at my place and not miss a beat.

12. Pick one or the other:

– Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Cody: Smooth, crunchy gets stuck in my teeth
Prencke: Crunchy.

- Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan or Jessica Simpson?
Cody: Probably Britney Spears because her new album is great.
Prencke: I thought Britney was bald, Lindsey Lohan a convict and Jessica who?

– The Daily Show or The Colbert Report?
Cody: Ummm…That’s a hard choice, I watch both. I’d probably say The Daily Show though.
Prencke: Both, I love my TiVo

– McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or Burger King?
Cody: I’m not a big fan of fast food so I’ll say Wendy’s because they have pretty good salads, but I love Burger King’s Coke Ices too!
Prencke: Whatever Chase’s enormous bag o’ dollar menu stuff can produce.