VP of Member Education at Kappa Delta Carlie Higgins, a third-year transfer student in political science and communication, and College of Engineering Senator Powell Braddock, a first-year in the college of engineering, are running for student body president and vice president this year. The two are running on a platform of transparency and improved communication between students and Student Government.
“Our main thing is really just focusing on students,” Higgins said. “That’s why our slogan is ‘students not politics.’ We believe that Student Government should really be about representing students.”
Higgins said their platform has two main pillars.
“We want to focus on depolarization and transparency,” Higgins said. “With 2020 being an election year, we think it is really important that the campus does not get too politicized.”
In the context of the controversial Culture War event and No Hate at NC State protest, Higgins said the campaign’s aim is to maintain peace and encourage open communication.
“Our goal is to make sure that [students] know what Student Government does for them,” Higgins said. “We want them to be aware that it’s a resource, and that if they have a problem they want to address, the doors are open.”
Outreach will play into this goal, Higgins said.
“Our goal is to be proactive in visiting student organizations to really find out what NC State students want to see changed in government and what they really like about it,” Higgins said.
Braddock and Higgins have already made an effort to reach out to students and learn more about the changes they’d like to see. The lack of blue lights in certain areas of Centennial Campus has been brought to Higgins’ attention by a friend studying computer science.
“I never go to Centennial because I’m a CHASS major, but had I not gone out and talked to other NC State students, how would any of us know?” Higgins said. “I think it’s really important for senators, and for someone who is seeking an officer position, just to be proactive in talking to students and actually finding out what our real causes and concerns are.”
The goal is to increase communication between student senators and their constituents, Higgins said.
“I think to be effective, you have to keep up communication,” Higgins said. “We want to encourage senators to also be proactive and go out into their communities, making sure that once we’re in there, [communication] doesn’t end, that we’re continuously following up with organizations.”
Along with being involved with the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta, Braddock is currently a senator for the College of Engineering. Higgins has never been involved in Student Government, but has held leadership positions for NC State College Republicans, serving as director of recruitment for the past two years and as vice chair this year.
Braddock and Higgins feel they are on the same page regarding their stances. Their aim is to receive regular input from students and make sure each unique perspective is heard on campus.
Students will be able to vote all day Monday and Tuesday, March 2-3 through the GetInvolved website.
