Staff Writers: Lilly Casolaro, Destiny Hosmer, Franchesca Perez, Kat Rogers, Priyanka Sharma and Madina Seytmuradova.
Troy students will have the opportunity to elect the next group of leaders who will represent their voices and advocate on their behalf. Student Government Association executive elections will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The nominees spoke with the Tropolitan staff writers to discuss what makes them best suited to be SGA officers.
Olivia Melton, a junior economics and mathematics double major from Orange Beach, has set her sights on the president position.
Currently serving as the SGA director of representation, Melton has SGA experience that includes serving as the president of Freshman Forum her freshman year and as its director her sophomore year.
Running on the three-word platform of “Expand, Excel, and Excite,” Melton expressed her passion for serving Troy University and said that her overall goal is to continue to push the university to its fullest potential.
“My platform is to expand the value of ‘Trojan pride,’ help students to excel in academics, and excite students about being at Troy University,” she said.
Under this platform, Melton hopes to keep the university growing, extend dining hours and dining options, extend library hours, improve study areas and increase the communication between the students and the university.
“I want SGA to be a little more big-picture,” Melton said. “I think there is a lot of stuff that we can do and that we have the power to change what we really have not focused on.”
Melton is involved in a variety of organizations on campus including SGA, the Math Club, the Economics Club and Chi Omega and also assists as a youth basketball coach at First Baptist Church of Troy. Additionally, Melton created the Backpack for Kids Program for Headstart, the local government-run pre-school in Troy.
Patrick Rodgers, a junior global business major from Dothan, will be running for the presidential seat.
Patrick serves in a variety of campus organizations including SGA, Sigma Chi, Impact leaders and College Republicans.
During Rodgers’ freshman year he served as the treasurer of Freshman Forum, and he became its director the following year. Currently, he serves as the vice president of campus activities.
Rodgers is running on a fourfold platform with hopes to improve relationships with the athletic department, connections with the city of Troy, campus renovations and student involvement.
“I believe that I am really fit to serve as the president because I have seen the hard work that it takes to put in,” he said. “I have determination and an admiration for Troy.”
“I know exactly what it’s like to deal with the pressure of having people come to you with their ideas and oftentimes their complaints and implement changes based off of what students see as needed.”
Rodgers believes his experience working with the administration and athletics department sets him apart.
“The university is moving in a good direction,” Rodgers said. “Our athletic programs and university enrollment are improving and I want to continue moving forward to continue to strive to be the best university that we can be.”
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