KJ4SGA Campaign
In my junior year at Abilene Christian University, I recognized a growing need for strong leadership amid significant university expansion and a shifting student demographic. Believing I could make a positive impact, I decided to run for Student Body President. Inspired by past leaders, I was committed to addressing both large and small issues within the Student Government Association (SGA). I partnered with Rachel Jones, an exceptionally talented student leader who shared my vision for uniting the student body.
- Unite the Student Body: Create a deliberate, exciting, and substantive campaign that brings together students from all classifications.
- Effective Communication: Clearly convey our campaign vision to the student body and engage students from diverse backgrounds to support and participate in the campaign.
- Secure the Presidency: Win the Student Body President position at Abilene Christian University.
- Assemble a Dedicated Team: Recruit a driven team of individuals to serve as cabinet members and assist in executing our campaign platform.
- Fulfill Campaign Promises: Execute all goals and promises made during the campaign to the best of our ability.
Turning vision into action, I assembled a committed campaign team. My first priority was finding a competent and passionate running mate, which led me to collaborate with Rachel Jones for the Vice President role. We developed a campaign website, kj4sga.com, to communicate our vision and launched multiple social media accounts to promote our message. Engaging with students both online and in person, we gathered insights into the issues they cared about most.
Despite facing the incumbent Vice President and having less experience in SGA, our campaign gained significant momentum. We received endorsements from peers and the campus newspaper, The Optimist. Advancing to a runoff election, we continued our efforts, overcoming obstacles—including a misinformation campaign—to ultimately secure the presidency.
Challenges
- Limited Experience: Overcame the disadvantage of having less SGA experience compared to the incumbent.
- Misinformation Campaign: Addressed and countered false information circulated during the election.
- Uniting Diverse Groups: Worked to bring together students from various classifications and demographics.
- Resource Management: Balanced academic responsibilities with the demands of an intensive campaign.
Our administration was widely regarded as productive and effective. The Optimist editorial board praised our unity and noted that we exceeded the expectations set by our campaign platform. We successfully enhanced campus unity, increased student engagement, and improved the efficiency and impact of the Student Government Association.
- Successful Campaign Execution: Ran a compelling campaign that resonated with a wide range of students, leading to electoral victory.
- Effective Team Building: Assembled an Executive Cabinet to help achieve SGA’s goals and initiatives.
- Fulfilled Promises: Delivered on nearly all campaign promises through hard work and collaborative efforts.
- Advocacy: Ensured student voices were heard on controversial issues, including university policies affecting same-sex relationships.
- Organizational Improvements:
- Constitutional Overhaul: Rewrote the SGA constitution and bylaws, hosting a constitutional convention for significant amendments.
- SGA Week: Launched a major marketing initiative to boost student interest and involvement in SGA and promote congress elections.
- Judicial Branch Addition: Established a judicial branch to oversee legislation and student disciplinary matters.
- Budget Allocation Tool: Developed an automated spreadsheet to fairly calculate funding for student organizations.
- Congressional Seats Filled: Nearly all congressional seats were filled—a first in over four years.
- Campus Enhancements:
- Bird Scooters Partnership: Introduced Bird Scooters to campus, the company’s first university partnership, generating external revenue for SGA.
- Accessibility Improvements: Upgraded doors in high-traffic areas to enhance accessibility and efficiency.
- Community Building:
- “LitMas” Tradition: Initiated a new campus event uniting students before the holiday break.
- March Madness Watch Party: Celebrated the men’s and women’s basketball teams’ NCAA tournament appearances with a campus-wide event.
- Collaboration with Campus Organizations: Partnered with the Campus Activities Board and New Student Programs to host events that brought together diverse student groups.
- “Join Week” Program: Encouraged students to get involved with campus organizations through a new initiative at the start of the fall semester.
- Athletics Support:
- Tailgating and Contests: Supported social clubs in participating in athletic events.
- Scholarships and Prizes: Distributed $3,000 in scholarships and other incentives to boost attendance at on-campus sporting events.
- Discounted Game Tickets: Provided 200 discounted tickets to the football season opener against Baylor University.
Through dedicated leadership and a commitment to our campaign promises, we made a significant positive impact on campus life at Abilene Christian University. This experience honed my skills in leadership, teamwork, and project management, reinforcing the importance of uniting diverse groups to achieve common goals.
Quote from The Optimist editorial board:
View ProjectWe applauded their unity as a team and believe they lived up to expectations this year, and exceeded what their platform a year ago had to offer.
