Q&A with Elevate party president and vice president candidates

Ashton Toone - president candidate

Junior communications major, journalism minor

From Memphis, Tennessee

1. Why are you running for student government?

I am a current senator, and I have seen some real structural issues with SGA.  In the past three years, I have been working to impact campus. SGA has been something I have grown to like in a short amount of time, and I would really like to serve the university in its capacity.

2. What is the most important campus issue to you?

Accountability — We do not have a lot of people doing what they say they will do or what they are supposed to do. It hinders the students’ campus experience. It cheats them out of what they are paying for — not only their education but also their general time here at the U of M.

3. What do you think about the pedestrian bridge?

I am really excited about it. It is going to be a really good project that would enhance the university. That is a good example of the university doing things to make the university look good and not necessarily thinking about the students. The project is very involved, and I don’t think students exactly know what that is going to mean for them. I think we are not doing very well with transparency right now and making sure that the students know things like this. It is going to a take a long time. It is going to be a huge inconvenience to the campus, but the end product is going to be absolutely amazing. And, I think it is going to enhance the student experience.

4. What do you think about the new recreation center?

I think it is also going to be awesome for the students. It is currently out of SGA hands and a lot people do not understand that. It has actually been taken back up to a state level to get finished. It is going to be about making sure we are being as transparent as possible with the students and holding President Rudd accountable. We need to make sure he is coming through on the promises he made.

5. What do you want to accomplish during your time in student government?

I would like to get some campus-wide initiative started. One part of our platform is student engagement. We have no university-wide initiative for the entire student body that is tailored specifically to minority groups. We do not have any university-wide first generation programs. We just have the First Scholars program. The only diversity program we have is the Critical Conversations Committee. So, we will make sure to really support our students, and we are going to collaborate with administration to get some of those things started.

6. Do you do any volunteer work?

I volunteer with SoulsVille Charter School Tutoring Program, Life Church and middle school students.

7. Organizations you are involved with and what role you serve:

Student Activities Council — ideas and issues event coordinator

Women’s History Month committee — student co-chair and intern

SGA senator

Omicron Delta Kappa ODK Honors Society

Helen Hardin Honors Program

Frosh Camp — counselor

Three fun facts about yourself:

1. I was at the Super Bowl when Beyoncé performed.

2. I am left-handed.

3. I don’t eat wings at Ching’s. I only eat chicken tenders.

Mitchell King - vice president candidate

Junior accounting major

From Lakeland, Tennessee 

1. Why are you running for student government?

I have been involved quite a bit on campus, and I want to be the voice of the students.   I have seen and heard what the students want and need to get a higher quality education. So, I am passionate about the university, and I am passionate about what the students want.

2. What is the most important campus issue to you?

Campus pride and engagement — The University of Memphis does not a have a lot of pride for athletics, for example. We could implement some initiative programs that reward students for going to those games. We could give them better seats at games, t-shirts, money at the Tiger Bookstore or things like that. We should just have some initiatives to get students out to enjoy off-campus events and supporting the university.

3. What do you think about the pedestrian bridge?

It is going to be a pain, but the end result is going to make the campus look better, which I truly believe we need. The end product is what I am looking at, and I think it is going to be great.

4. What do you think about the new recreation center?

I am going to hold the administration accountable. President Rudd said it would be done within 18 months, so I am going hold him accountable to that. And, I am going to go from there.

5. What do you want to accomplish during your time in student government?

A lot of the buildings on campus are not American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Students with disabilities cannot live in South or Rawls Hall because they are not compliant, and there are not any ramps for disabled students to get in. 

6. Do you do any volunteer work?

I volunteer with Meals on Wheels. I also do mission work in the summer in Guatemala and Haiti. 

7. Organizations you are involved with and what role you serve:

Lambda Chi Alpha — Treasurer

Interfraternal Council (IFC) — Executive Vice President

Memphis Institute of Leadership Mentoring Program (MILE)

Helen Hardin Honors Program

Tiger Elite — Ambassador

Campus Tour Guide

Three fun facts about yourself:

1. My family raises cattle.

2.  I won “most swag†as my high school superlative.

3. I eat at Newk’s five times a week. I get a pimento cheese sandwich, a half Caesar salad and a sweet tea.