Collegiettes™, I am pleased to introduce you to Wake Forest’s three candidates for student body president. We’re doing a 3-part Q&A with each presidential nominee, so check out each of the three candidates and where they stand on the big issues before you head to the polls ( . . . or WIN) on Tuesday! Now, meet Russell Lyons:
HC: Why are you the best candidate for SGA President?
RL: I am the best candidate for “Student Government” president because I believe the position is more about being president of the student body. Too often we see people become elected and just fall into the rhythm of what has been done before, despite whatever campaign promises might have gotten them elected. My focus as a candidate is that I want to reject the status quo and re-establish the president as an active voice between the student body and the administration. This involves not merely answering questions when asked. It requires the president to frequently visit chapters, clubs and teams in order to answer questions and solicit problems and solutions. Student Government needs to be held accountable to its constituents, which would be the focus of my term.
HC: What’s the biggest issue on the Wake campus that you’d like to change?
RL: The biggest issue on campus that I would like to change is the lack of a voice that the student body has with the administration. If President Hatch only ventures into Starbucks once every month for 30 minutes, he doesn’t learn too much about what we think. While the president, provost, and deans all have their advisors, it is still necessary for these figures, having such great influence over our college experience, to actually show up at our meetings. It would be empty promises for me to say that I can build more parking or construct new dining facilities, but by increasing communication from “the top” to those who should be the top priority, boundless problems can be resolved through establishing a middle ground.
HC: What’s your favorite thing about Wake Forest?
RL: My favorite thing about Wake Forest, besides its beautiful campus, is the level of engagement most students have with an organization on campus. You can talk to most any person and they will tell you multiple different groups of which they are an active part. It is great going to a school that has such a productive student body in both academics and extracurricular responsibilities.
HC: What are 3 things you’d most like to accomplish as SGA President?
RL: 1. Reduce the viciousness of ticketing from the Office of Parking Management, and establish a fair, simple system of rules and regulations about how and where to park, and clear signs which designate them.
2. Streamline the food services on campus. We can’t add any more space, but we can have faster service in Shorty’s, Mag Room dinners 5 nights a week, and faster and healthier eating options in Benson.
3. Promote a safe, easy, and fun social scene. With the introduction of the Party Barn next semester, all student organizations will have the opportunity to have an excellent venue for social events. We need to work to maintain a safe but accommodating party scene on campus and deregulate the red tape that makes it difficult and expensive for groups to have events with alcohol on campus. This includes concerts, parties, and date functions. We should not have to pay for over-priced catering from Aramark when it comes to providing alcohol.
HC: What has prepared you for being SGA President?
RL: I have been a legislator for three years in Student Government, where I have served on both the Judiciary Committee and Physical Planning Committee. I have not been an executive officer, and I feel this makes me a better candidate because I have seen less of what has been done before and can focus on what should be done in the future to be an effective, communicative President. Around campus, I am also actively involved in College Republicans as vice-chair, a co-chair for the Junior class 1834 Student Giving Campaign, and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha.