The three tickets running for Saint Mary’s student body president and vice president presented their platforms in the dining hall Wednesday night.
Juniors Nicole O’Toole and Marissa Pie’, who are running for president and vice president, respectively, shared a platform based on increasing communication and voicing students’ concerns.
O’Toole, who is currently the junior class president, said she was inspired to run in the election after she heard the quote “honor tradition and pioneer change.” She said her ticket seeks to serve as a liaison between the students and College administration.
“I firmly believe that my experience has prepared me to take on this role,” O’Toole said. “We will work hard to improve communication. We promise [that] students’ voices are heard.”
Pie’ currently serves as market research and media committee co-chair for the Student Government Association (SGA). She said placing a suggestion box in the dining hall could benefit communication between SGA and students.
Juniors McKenna Schuster and Sam Moorhead, who are running for president and vice president, also spoke about their platform. Schuster, currently the vice president of internal affairs for SGA, said she aims to emphasize the College’s mission statement.
Moorhead, currently the Social Concerns Committee chair for SGA, said her ticket also plans to explore administrative transparency, an increased role for Senate, improved communication and the use of Dalloway’s Coffeehouse as a study space or café. She said Senate meetings enable students to provide input on major decisions.
“Our priority is to promote meetings and ensure students have a way to make their voices heard,” she said.
Moorhead said she and Schuster also want to enhance the Saint Mary’s community by increasing attendance at sporting events.
“It’s important to support each other in endeavors outside of the classroom,” she said.
Junior presidential and vice presidential candidates Anna Ulliman and Elizabeth Kenney presented a platform focused on the legacy of each Belle. They have no prior SGA experience, but they said one of their goals is to foster a more connected community.
Ulliman said her ticket plans to implement Belle Legacy Days for students to engage in service one day per semester. Ulliman and Kenney said they also plan to host a dinner symposium during the school year that includes a weekend of alumnae visits as a networking experience for current and past Belles.
Kenney said another of her ticket’s priorities is placing a physical calendar of campus events in the lobby of each residence hall.
Ulliman said each student should be able to make the College her home.
“We hope we can make [Saint Mary’s] a place that is great for the next four years, but also far into the future,” she said.
Voting opens Monday morning and ends at 11:45 p.m. Students can submit their vote on Belle Tower through OrgSync.
