The University of Memphis Student Government Association candidates talked about diversity, involvement, discrimination and their parties’ platforms at a candidate forum hosted by the SGA Election Committee on Wednesday.
Both parties aim to make campus more accepting and promote dialogue between people of different backgrounds. The Lighthouse party plans to do this by connecting activites of different departments, while the Echo party wants to get students more involved.
“It takes a special breed of student to sit through lectures all day then come down and listen to more people talk,” said Matthew Moore, Echo’s vice presidential candidate. “I kind of wish some of y’all would have brought some more friends with you.”
Both Moore and his running mate Taylor Shennett of the Echo party debated the Lighthouse party candidates, Kevyanna Rawls and Antonio Scott.
Scott said he thinks there is a fracture between student groups that needs to be repaired, citing an event when a fraternity member said a racial slur at Pi Phi Karaoke Night last Friday.
“I think one of the things that is lacking on campus is a sense of togetherness and unity between organizations that are funneled out of SLI (Student Leadership and Involvement) and Multicultural Affairs,” Scott said. “There is a divide, not only between the organizations, but their student leaders as well.”
Rawls, being the current vice president of SGA, worked with the current administration to host a town hall where students could voice their concerns. The Lighthouse party plans to continue hosting similar events to allow students to communicate directly with members of SGA.
“As the president, if elected, I would like to ensure that they (students) do feel welcome here at the university and feel like, regardless of their viewpoints and perceptions on anything, here at the university, they are heard and represented,” Rawls said.
Rawls cites the Lighthouse party’s experience within SGA and other student organizations as a reason to vote for them.
“Currently, I do serve as the SGA vice president,” Rawls said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside administration and students to make some ideas into realities. This past year, I have had the opportunity to sit and listen to the actual concerns of students.”
Both parties want to make sure all students have a voice in SGA.
“I think we often overlook so many different groups ethnically, socioeconomic and other backgrounds,” Shennett said. “My senators will represent our students to the best of our ability, and for those that don’t feel their voices being heard, we are going to be there.”
Echo also wants to create a safe place for students who have been offended by incidents similar to the one that happened Friday.
“If elected president, I would open my office to you, so you could speak directly to me and figure out what happened and offer support,” Shennett said.
Shennett cited the Echo party’s authenticity and passion as a reason to vote for them.
“We’re not here throwing big words around to confuse you,” Shennett said. “We’re here just being ourselves, students just like everyone else.”
The 2018 SGA Election Candidate Forum hosted Lighthouse Party presidential candidate Kevyanna Rawls (middle left) and vice presidential candidate Antonio Scott (far left) and Echo Party presidential candidate Taylor Shennett (middle right) and vice presidential candidate Matthew Moore (far right). Both parties talked about the diversity on the U of M campus and how they want to engage all students.
