The Student Government Association conducted elections for executive leadership from Tuesday to Thursday, with Tamil Adele and Zeke Whisenhunt running unopposed for president and vice president.

SGA had organized a Q&A session March 19, for the new executive branch candidates. The session was live-streamed on SGA’s Instagram and open to all students to join and ask questions.

Adele, junior criminal justice major from Midland, and Whisenhunt, junior engineering major from Greenbrier, Arkansas, discussed their campaign and answered questions about their goals. Adele and Whisenhunt say their campaign focuses on “assistance, intentionality and dedication.”

Adele has been part of SGA since her freshman year and served on the executive board this year as director of student engagement and recruitment.

“The reason I’ve stuck with SGA for this long is because of what I know SGA can do,” she said. “We don’t want students to feel neglected, which is something that happens rather often. I would like to be in this leadership role to make sure that administration sees that the students care about ACU just as much as they do.”

Whisenhunt has served as part of the Senate for the past two years. He said he hopes to use this leadership role to make improvements across campus.

“This past year, my eyes have been opened to things that can be improved,” he said. “Everything can be improved always. And so that’s what I’ve kind of taken on this year, and so I want to continue that throughout next year.”

Adele and Whisenhunt’s Campaign Plans

Despite running unopposed, Adele and Whisenhunt said they are approaching their campaign with full dedication. As candidates for student body president and vice president, they have developed a platform focused on campus safety, financial responsibility and student engagement.

Adele said she wants to improve campus lighting to enhance student safety. She also hopes to promote energy conservation by evaluating energy usage, particularly with large electronic displays and stadium lights, to ensure resources are used efficiently.

Adele and Whisenhunt also want to address concerns about the speed bumps around campus, particularly those that could cause damage to smaller cars.

“What happens, especially with the ones over by the stadium, is people just drive around them,” Whisenhunt said. “And so that’s way more dangerous because you have people going faster and going around.”

Although they are running unopposed, Adele and Whisenhunt said they take their campaign seriously.

“This is something that we’re not taking lightly,” Adele said. “We didn’t wake up one morning and decide to do it. It’s something that has been in the works for a long time.”

As the election has approached, Adele and Whisenhunt encouraged students to stay engaged and reach out with their concerns.

“Our goal is to assist the student body,” Adele said. “So we are here to help, and we’re very excited to do so.”

To learn more about Adele and Whisenhunt’s campaign visit their Instagram @tamilandzekeforthepeople

Transition of Leadership

Josh Springer, SGA president, advised incoming leaders to focus on serving the student body rather than pursuing personal agendas.

“This is a role that has a lot less to do with you than you would like it to,” said Springer, senior financial management major from Helotes. “You have to listen to what the students want.”

Athena Triantopoulos, SGA vice president, encouraged candidates to step out of their comfort zones and focus on team building.

“I’ve learned that you are going to always have people who are going to uplift you if you give that back,” said Triantopoulos, senior advertising and public relations major from Las Vegas.

Springer said legislation passed by the Senate carries over into the next administration, ensuring that progress continues.

The transition of power culminates in an event known as the “Changing of the Guard,” marking the official handover of responsibilities between outgoing and incoming SGA administrations.

During the event, the President’s Bible, a tradition dating back to 1995, is passed down, along with other items such as the Senate mallet. The event typically includes speeches, superlatives and awards such as “Senator of the Year.”