Elections for the Student Government Association will be held April 18 and 19. For the next three days, The Daily Helmsman will profile the presidential candidates and their parties.
"Your voice, your choice, your vote." This is the slogan of The Fresh Air party being led by Drew Pritt and Nestor "Ito" Rodriguez.
Pritt, 25, an Air Force ROTC cadet and political science major, said he feels the job of the president of SGA is to work for the student body.
"Our president needs to be someone who listens to the student body," Pritt said, "who will make decisive and effective decisions and who always remembers they serve the entire student body."
Pritt said he has three years SGA experience, has served as a national officer for College Democrats of America and is an officer in the Anglican/Episcopal Student Ministry Organization at The University of Memphis. Pritt said he is proud of the diversity on The Fresh Air party ticket. "We have Christians, Muslims, Jewish, Hindu and non-faith students on our ticket -- and yet we agree on the same issues."
Pritt said he has talked to various other organizations on campus and said students feel they are not currently being represented by the SGA. Pritt said students either were frustrated by the lack of support or were unaware of the power the SGA has.
"I want to fight the apathy of the student body," Pritt said. He also said he wanted to change the SGA through the three R's: Reevaluation of the aims of the SGA, reflecting the view of the entire student body and reforming the structure of the SGA.
Pritt said he plans to bring the monthly SGA meeting to a different dorm on campus. He also said he wants to have meetings at other locations for the non-residential students.
"I will also have a 'town hall' style meeting that will be open to anyone who comes to speak their mind -- I will listen," Pritt said.
Pritt said he has received a promise of support from Governor Don Sundquist in making the Southern Avenue railroad tracks crossing safer for students. Pritt said there is at least one death a year that occurs at the location and wants to have a tunnel built for pedestrians. Pritt said this is in line with Sundquist's efforts to keep every railroad crossing in Tennessee safe.
Inspired by recent events, Pritt said, "I would like to work with the administration to see if we can get a more comprehensive shuttle system around campus."
Pritt also said he wants to get more ATM locations around campus and has already talked to a local bank about putting these plans into action. He said this idea came from talking to students who complained about the lack of ATM locations.
"I believe we will win this election," Pritt said. "This won't be a victory for Drew Pritt but it will be a victory of all students."
Pritt said he was really surprised and pleased by the support he has seen so far.
Pritt also said he has been pushing for a debate with the other two candidates and hopes to set a date soon.
