Meet the Candidates: Part II

Southwestern’s interview with the candidates for this year’s Student Association election continues with nine more students running for a variety of SA positions. (Questions and interview by Victory Rigdon; editing by Andrew Austin)

Alondra Zavala

Alondra Clarissa Zavala 

Candidate for Status Editor 

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

The first SA event that I would like to see happen next semester is outreach at a hospital or even at a shelter! I would like for there to be more SA outreach events in order to get everyone involved in the service of others to start the year.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

I would like to be ugly and live forever. This way I could depend more on God rather than myself and then hopefully lead my life dedicated to help and serve others forever.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

In my spare time I like to read spiritual books, google random informative stuff like psychology facts, watch movies, workout and until recently attempt to play racquetball!

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

I have learned to study in advance! I tend to feel stressed and pressured by assignments that creep up on me so I decide to tackle them beforehand.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

The top priority of the position that I am running for as Status editor is that of continuing to uphold the medium of communication that the Status magazine is by focusing on the content and style.

Benjamin Saint-Jean 

Candidate for Executive Vice-President 

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

The first SA event that I would like to see happen next semester is a meet and greet event to liven up the campus and to get the freshman excited about Southwestern. We will be able to accomplish this by focusing on raising school spirit to ensure that freshmen are comfortable on campus and to let them know that they will not only leave with a degree, but with an unforgettable experience.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

I would rather be ugly and live forever. I am a Biology major on the pre-med track, and I am aspiring to become a physician in order to study the human body in depth. My goal is to make an impact on this world, and the longer I live the wiser I will get, and the more advances I can make in the fields of biology and medicine.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

In my spare time I love to play piano, basketball, workout and read.

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

I definitely study in advance. Between working as a TA, promoting events for the PR committee and completing assignments as Men’s Dormitory Senator, I cannot afford to wait until the last minute to study.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

There are many priorities that are important. However, of the many, bringing a new sense of school spirit and passion to each and every one of my Senators so that they can be fired up to reach out to all of the students so that we can make positive changes and positive advances for this university.

Xyza Balansag

Xyza Balansag 

Candidate for Financial Vice-President 

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

Can a cultural potluck be a thing? That should be a thing.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

I would rather be not as attractive and live through technological advances and witness history happen before me rather than dwell on ephemeral aesthetics.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

Eat breakfast tacos and watch ‘Jane the Virgin’.

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

I like telling myself that I “work better under pressure.”

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

The Student Association’s entire purpose is to serve the students of Southwestern. As Financial Vice-President I would serve the student body by ensuring events are worth the money that’s been invested into them.

Kczerne Maypa

Kczerne Maypa 

Candidate for Mizpah Editor 

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

Handshake.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

I’d rather be ugly and live forever. I still have a lot of things I want to do and places to visit.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

I watch TV or sleep, but mostly watch TV.

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

I usually do a combination of both, depending on how much I have to do.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

I would like to actually be able to publish Mizpah, but it should be more than just that. It should be more than just publishing a book, it should hold the memories of the year together.

 Luis Soria 

Candidate for Public Relations Director  

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

A sort of handshake event on a Sunday that will be followed by a class clash with the different classes playing for spirit points or some other sort of reward. It would be a good way for the freshmen and new students to socialize with the school and staff.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

Ugly and live forever. I would still be perfect in God’s eyes and there is so much more to live for.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

Eat, play soccer and watch an unnecessary amount of Netflix.

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

It depends. If I know the material, I’ll study the night before just to remember. But if it’s something I have no clue in, I study a couple of days before.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

I think that the top priority of Public Relations Director would be engaging with the students. A lot of times students feel left out during social events or that any ideas they have are shut down and rejected for no reason. I want to give students a voice and I want their ideas to be heard. They are SWAU.

Mario Pena

Mario Pena 

Candidate for Financial Vice-President 

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

Any event that gathers the student body as a family, would be an SA event I would like to see happen.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

I’d rather be ugly and live forever so that I get to experience all the things God created. Since God created us in His image, and all the things He created are beautiful, that would mean that there is no such thing as an ugly person.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

On my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, do some studying, and take naps.

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

I don’t wait ’til the very last minute to turn in my assignments. If I have the chance to turn in assignments before they are due, I’ll do such a thing.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

As the financial vice-president, satisfying the student body in the events that occur throughout the school year, is my top priority.

Matthew Hanson

Matthew Hanson 

Candidate for Ministries Vice-President 

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

As the Ministries Vice-President I would love to see an event that brings our school together as a family and connects us with our local community. Too many people in the area do not know enough about SWAU and what we are doing here and it’s a shame. I’d push for a day where we show our community that as a school we care about them. It could possibly a day where we pass out water bottles with our school’s name on them and an encouraging Bible verse and give it to community members when its hot outside.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

I would rather be ugly and live forever because we are all beautiful in God’s eyes and if I lived forever I could use that time to help other people and make an impact in the world.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

In my spare time I enjoy practicing and playing any and all sports, especially gymnastics and soccer. Also, I enjoy acting and listening to music as well.

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

While I would like to say I always study in advance it honestly depends on the class. For some classes I commit a lot of time to studying while there are others that sneak up on me.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

For the position of Ministries Vice President I believe that the top priority is to make decisions that will benefit our school spiritually and make it a better campus. If God is on your side, then nothing can stop you!

Patricia Majano 

Candidate for Social Vice-President 

1. What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

I think one of the first things I’d like to see is something along the lines of a field day over by the pond so that all of the new students get a chance to meet each other. Maybe a few sports, some water slides, and maybe a few booths with delicious food, because who doesn’t like good food, right?

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

Is attractive and live forever an option?

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

Over the summer I worked in Arizona and playing the ukulele was a really popular thing so recently I’ve been trying to learn how to play in my free time. I really enjoy being able to play along to songs that a lot of people know.

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

I guess it just depends on the class. Not to dish on a subject in particular, but if there is a class I know I’m going to have trouble with then I do study way in advance. If it’s a subject I like, then I do study for it, but I don’t worry about it as much.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

I think when an event is planned and finally put into motion, it’s important for people to have a really good time in a safe way.

Annabella Lopez

Candidate for Social Vice President

What is the first SA event that you would like to see happen next semester? 

I like to either play paintball or laser tag.

2. Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year? 

 I would rather be ugly and live forever.

3. What do you do in your spare time? 

I spend time with God, study, play soccer, spend time with family and friends, workout and spend time outdoors. 

4. Do you study in advance or wait until the last minute to do your assignments? 

I would rather do things in advance.

5. What do you view as the top priority of the position you are running for? 

To me it is important to make sure that the students and faculty make fun memories while at Southwestern.

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