The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Cari Johns Students First [Click to enlarge]

Andrew Chappelle Making It Happen [Click to enlarge]

Chris Wipke I.D.E.A. [Click to enlarge]

There can be no jubilant endorsement of this year's most acceptable presidential candidate. Doubtless, Senator Cari Johns now stands at the forefront of the strongest, most complete ticket in the race. But it is clear that those candidates allied themselves with her-at least initially-not because of her strengths, but because of another candidate's misdeeds.

Voters should not be fooled into thinking that Johns is as strong a presidential candidate as the student body thought Andrew Chappelle to be at the beginning of this semester.

However, we now believe Andrew Chappelle should not be entrusted with any position of authority at the University.

So at this point, Johns is the best we've got.

Johns' businesslike approach, commitment to accountability, knowledge of the inner workings of SGA and experience as a strong leader make her the best candidate for the presidency. At both debates, Johns said she would stand firmly as a student voice if she were faced with making an unpopular decision. She has proved the strength of her leadership, whether for better or for worse, through her service on the committee that created the legislation that recommended that all students be required to purchase a meal plan.

While it is true that upperclassmen scholarships have become a hollow talking point, Johns' ticket provides the most concrete and feasible plan for setting the foundation for future scholarships, though it may be a while before students see any actual results.

As for renovations to the Simon Recreation Center, Johns' ticket also seems to have a better idea of how to approach the administration: by presenting the renovations as something students need rather than something they merely want.

Johns' style of leadership and the feasibility of her ticket's plans to actualize their goals give Johns the edge over her opponents.

Chris Wipke does have some good ideas. His vision to integrate freshmen with upperclassmen in order to better acclimate new students to campus, his desire to hold senators accountable by demanding regular reports and his push to get SGA senators, especially residence hall senators, involved in their hall councils-these are some of his best.

But Wipke would not make a good president with only this small handful of ideas to offer. The job requires much more.

The SGA president does more than inspire legislation on the senate floor; he or she must also inspire an entire body of students, lead them, represent their concerns and answer their questions. Wipke doesn't seem to have the capacity to do this.

During debates, Wipke often neglected to answer the questions directed at him, but rather waddled around them, careful not to step on anybody's toes. When he did answer a question, his response almost always involved "Residence Life" and the line "In my experience as an RA..."And while Residence Life has been the focus of his experience on campus, it seems to be his only focus, and the only aspect of campus that he knows. We think this looks like tunnel vision.

The SGA president must also motivate and push through initiatives with senators, other students and faculty. While Wipke spoke frequently to the audience of working to improve response times within the Department of Public Safety, he has never spoken with DPS about his concerns. The SGA president should know to pick up the phone and call, for instance, the director of DPS, Jack Titone-it's really not that difficult. The SGA president must realize that University faculty and staff members are accessible. And the SGA president must do what it takes to accomplish his or her goals.

Aside from a narrow scope of ideas, Wipke's only other strength is his lack of involvement in SGA in the past four years. With a third-person perspective, he stands removed from politics per usual; he can perhaps see from the outside the bigger, all-encompassing picture. Wipke pointed out that he has the advantage of not having personal SGA motivations and connections, staying out of what he called "dirty loyalty."

While Wipke seems as if he has something valuable, while small, to offer SGA, his good ideas are better suited to a position other than student government president.

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