It’s out with the old and in with the new as students compete for the chance to hold positions in the Student Government Association (SGA). This year, three teams of candidates are hoping to capture your vote for SGA Student Body President and Vice President.

Ronda Jackson and Michael Croal are running for Student Body President and Vice President, respectively. Their platform includes being able to earn an A+ in courses, cheaper textbooks, offering more online courses, making SPOT evaluations available for students, providing Scantron sheets and Blue Books free of charge to students, a better class cancellation policy, more support for athletics, providing more water bottle refill stations and having Fisher Student Center open 24 hours during exams.

With experience as Junior Class President, combined with having worked on projects such as Paint the Town Teal, Jackson says if voted President, “The one platform that I would really like to see happen is the cheaper textbooks. Also, online courses are very important and I feel like they need to be used more, especially with the budget increasing and classes filling up too quickly.”

Running against Jackson and Croal are Jessie Jenkins and Jessica Gage. Their platforms include promoting school spirit, keeping the Fisher Student Center open 24 hours during exam week, expanding the availability of rental textbooks and e-textbooks, better parking, installing a “Flex Dollar” program that will allow students to use Seahawk Bucks off-campus, providing more on-campus jobs for students by creating a UNCW-owned bus system, and reassessing the 25-foot smoking rule.

As an At-Large Senator this past year and a chairperson of the Academic Affairs Committee, Jenkins wants to bring transparency to the position of Student Body President by working with student media.

“This will bring a new sight to how SGA collaborates with the Student Body. In this way, the student population will have constant communication with my decisions and actions,” Jenkins said. “I was thinking a weekly newsletter or a blog, something that students will have the chance to get to know me better, as well as know the direction I am heading in when making decisions.”

Finally, Sammy Pisano and Brooke Britt are running on the platforms of increasing the visibility of SGA, transitioning the new Chancellor, lowering textbook prices, increasing water bottle refill stations, supporting athletics, providing bike rental programs, offering more dining options, and better parking.

As current Student Body Vice-President, Pisano has hands-on experience working with administration.

“Much of the Student Body President’s job requires constant interaction between staff and administration. In order for anything to be accomplished next year, maintaining a good relationship with these individuals is critical.  If elected, I would make it a priority to work closely with our new chancellor and transition him or her into the culture of UNCW.”

More information about the candidates can be found at https://www.uncw.edu/sga.

There are, in addition, nine other elected positions: Senior class president, Junior class president, Sophomore class president, Senior class senator, Junior class senator, sophomore class senator, College of Arts and Sciences Senator, Cameron School of Business Senator, and At-Large Senator.