The 97th Student Government session included the filing of an impeachment bill, the removal of Student Media from a Government Relations and Oversight Committee hearing and complications filling the Board of Elections chair position. It illustrated the need for a new brand of leadership that centers on responsibility and discipline. After an enlightening Student Government debate Tuesday evening, a pair of candidates appeared to take the lead and demonstrate motivated initiative.
We, as an editorial staff, have chosen to endorse Jess Errico and Meredith Spence Beaulieu for student body president and student body vice president. Jess and Meredith’s platform, campaign and presence at the debate welcomed a refreshing sense of transparency and maturity.
As candidates who come from the judicial and executive branches of Student Government, they offer new insight into the student body president and vice president positions that are rarely sought out by members outside of the legislative branch.
Jess Errico has been a member of the judicial branch for the past four years and currently serves as the student body chief justice. Having dealt primarily with the Office of Student Conduct this past session, Jess understands the importance of connecting with all students and advocating for them.
While Meredith has entered into the race as a Ph.D. student, her experience in Student Government over the past year has shown her dedication to the organization. She has served in the joint role of Graduate Student Association vice president of Student Government relations and Student Government director of graduate student relations in President Jackie Gonzalez’s executive cabinet.
Both Jess and Meredith presented themselves as knowledgeable, well-informed candidates at the Student Media debate on Tuesday evening. Taking advantage of the new debate format implemented this year, Jess continually engaged in rebuttals in order to set her campaign apart from her opposing candidates’.
During the vice presidential debate, Meredith excelled and outshined her opponents on stage. She displayed extensive knowledge on broad topics such as House Bill 527 — a recent bill regarding free speech on UNC-System campuses — and provided informed counterarguments to both of her opponents’ responses.
As running mates, these two individuals have created a platform that we believe reasonably addresses issues such as affordability, sustainability, student health and campus life. Their promises and expectations of themselves if elected into office illustrate their awareness of the difficulties these two positions can face with only a year in office. While other candidates’ platforms may promise elaborate and extensive work in all areas of student life, Jess and Meredith address important issues in simple and attainable ways.
The office of student body president is an advocate for all students and a representative for NC State. A student body president should at all times be thinking about how to better our campus, our student life and Student Government as an organization. After the actions of some current Student Government representatives during the 97th session, we believe that Jess and Meredith would bring a sense of professionalism and accountability to the organization.
Both Jess and Meredith have established their individual accomplishments during their time in Student Government, while still maintaining a crucial characteristic that a student body president and vice president should have: humility. We believe this pair of candidates is the strongest ticket to maintain fair representation and communicate the needs of not only the university, but also of the individual student.
With a platform promising to advocate for students instead of seeking personal gain, we have faith that Jess and Meredith will give these positions a much-needed fresh perspective for not only Student Government, but also the student body.
This unsigned editorial is the opinion of the majority of Technician’s editorial board, and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief.
