This year’s Student Government Association election season was undeniably one for the books. Last Wednesday, the candidates faced the student body in the traditional Miss SU Revue and SGA Debates.
The night was an opportunity for candidates to woo their peers through a series of songs, and dances including the Gold N Blues, striking outfits, and rounds of passionate debate.
The F.G. Clark Activity center was transformed into a beautiful catwalk that welcomed four SGA presidential candidates, four Miss Southern University candidates, and several other class and AWS representatives.
The ladies took the stage in an opening number to Beyonce’s “Deja Vu,” a fitting title seeing that many of the candidates were bred for that moment.
Candidates then introduced themselves to the audience and six panelists, preaching and making promises to which the crowd responded with cheers and cries of support.
“Panelists,” the host started, “get your questions ready. In order to qualify, all candidates” were required to pass a constitution exam, ensuring that they are familiar with codes and laws.
Between pageant rounds, candidates were questioned about how they would apply that knowledge, their qualifications and experience, their intentions for the university, and how they would use their platforms to best represent the students.
Candidates were given 90 seconds to answer each question and Vice Presidential candidate, Kelvin Wells fielded the first question effortlessly. “Say the same thing, Lela,” an audience member yelled, easing some of the tension.
The night was certainly filled with comic relief through quality entertainment and technical difficulties in the following Miss SU talent portion.
However, tension returned when the SGA Presidential candidates took their seats for debate. Although not as physically demanding as the performances the ladies put on, the debate was undoubtedly intense for the young men — and they were ready for it.
Panelist, Bria Gremillion, asked the candidates about a highly disputed bill on the latest referendum requiring a one year minimum requirement for elected or appointed positions before being allowed to run for SGA President, Vice President, Chief Justice, and Miss Southern.
With quick wit and solid stance, Carldrick Slaughter opened his answer with, “Thank you for your question. I’ve actually been waiting on it,” to which the crowd erupted with laughter.
It was the hard hitting topics like those on the referendum that helped the crowd make their final decisions for election day on March 16.
Sophomore Biology major, Gabrielle Thomas, supported her favorites from the audience, recalling, “I loved the entrance for the candidates for Miss SU and the debate! Overall it was a well put together program, but I knew I wanted to vote for Darby before I attended.”
Her enthusiasm was shared by 41.4 percent of voters, as her fellow Shreveport, Louisiana native, Darby Smith, took the crown.
Newly-elected SGA President Anthony Kenney’s efforts also proved fruitful at the end of it all.
“We had to put our minds to it. Other teams were campaigning hard, but we had to go harder,” freshman Music Education major of Winnsboro, Louisiana, Cameron Garrett shared about helping Kenney to the top.
Kenney’s campaign team consisted of about 80 students who showed up and showed out, front and center in the audience Wednesday night.
Southern University sophomore and Mechanical Engineering major, Jordan Piper was just as proud, saying, “We shot multiple promotion videos, held a lot of late night and early morning meetings, and prayed together. A team that prays together stays together and we did it for A. Kenney.”
Micheal Bingham, candidate for Student Government Association President, gives his speech to the student body during the ‘Miss Southern Revue’ in The F.G. Clark Activity Center on Friday March 15, 2018.
