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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS • FOUNDED 1922 VOL.
103 I S S UE 1 0
reflector.uindy.edu
MARCH 26, 2025
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION YOUR 2025-2026 SGA CANDIDATES Greyhounds to cast votes to determine who will represent student body in '25-'26
Photos by Luke Cooper
CHESHIER & HAMMER
Chris Hammer & Jose Cheshier
media presence, they felt now is the time to run and change that. “We picked each other as running mates because our skills complement each other,” By Luke Cooper Hammer said. “Jose is really good at designing graphics ONLINE EDITOR and doing a lot of the technical Sophomore political science work. I'm really good at doing and communic ation major a lot of the public speaking, a Chris Hammer is running for lot of the shaking hands, you SGA president with sophomore know, kissing babies, that stuff.” The main goal of Hammer business administration and m a n a g e m e n t m a j o r J o s e and Cheshier’s campaign is Cheshier as vice president. to give “everybody a louder H a m m e r a n d C h e s h i e r voice on campus,” according are known for running the to Hammer. Citing general “ U I n d y S H ” s o c i a l m e d i a complaints at UIndy such as a c c o u n t s a c r o s s v a r i o u s the quality of the pool table in platforms, leading the campaign Schwitzer and raising tuition, and coining the slogan “from Hammer would like to find solutions to those issues. your feed to “I think your future.” there's a “I have disconnect a histor y of We feel like we right now with being involved the current represent a lot of in school board, how government in students ...." they just walk high school, around in suits, I was class go to events,” president my senior year,” Hammer said. Cheshier said. “I mean, I've “ We saw that the student never seen them before and government was getting its feet I feel like students feel like back together. We felt that we there's a disconnect — like have a pretty big following on they're basically the university our social media account. We and extension of the university. feel like we represent a lot of So instead of that, we want a students, so we thought, ‘Hey, direct line ….” If elected, Hammer plans let's take this to the student on choosing his cabinet on a government.’” Cheshier added that, from “case by case basis,” and that he his perspective, he has seen already has a couple people in negative feedback pertaining mind. Hammer wants to avoid t o t h e c u r r e n t s t u d e n t just giving his friends positions, government. With Hammer’s adding that he is looking for the previous experience in student most qualified people to fill the government and their social cabinet positions.
JOHNSON & EL-SHAHAT
Jo'Tan Johnson & Johara ElShahat
MCGEE & SEYMOUR
“We want to empower students, because I know that there's been a lot of low morale with maybe going to classes,”she said.“Not necessarily pride in school, but just being, like, actively into RSOs or sporting events.” El-Shahatsaidshewantstobuild“a By Pete Roeger face of,not that like we love school,but DISTRIBUTION MANAGER wereallydoloveUIndyandbeinghere.” “Let’s make our campus vibrant,” Johnson added. Jo’Tan Johnson and Johara ElJohnson also said he wants to Shahat, who are running for Student continue to build on the foundation Government Association president laid by Thompson’s board.When and vice president, respectively, want selecting his and El-Shahat’s cabinet, to continue the growth of SGA. Johnson said he plans to use a process Johnson is a junior criminal similar to Thompson’s. Johnson justice major, with pre-law and law described it as like a hiring process, enforcement concentrations and where candidates apply and interview minors in sociology and race and for specific roles in SGA. Johnson ethnicstudies;hecurrentlyservesasthe said he would look at different vice president of SGA in the cabinet strengths applicants bring to potential of Mallory Thompson. El-Shahat roles, including is a sophomore potentially social work major, recommending with an honors someone to a role concentration Let's make our other than what and minors in campus vibrant." they applied to if psychology and he thinks it suits criminal justice. them well. ElEl-Shahat also Shahat said that serves in SGA as while not everyone who applies will the college representative for the get a role,she still wants students to be College of Education and Behavioral involved.Johnson said SGA meetings Sciences. Johnson said he and Elwould be open to all students. Shahat met in SGA. El-Shahat said she and Johnson Johnson said his campaign has will try to address every concern three specific initiatives: dedication, broughttothembystudents,makingas transparency and empowerment. Elmany changes as they can themselves, Shahat said she wants to show that but also being unafraid to ask other SGA members are, in her opinion, departments if needed. dedicated and actively understand El-Shahat said that if she thinks student concerns. El-Shahat said her someone is not the best person for a focus on transparency is both to alert role, she is not afraid to let someone students when changes are made and else take it on. However, she said it give updates on actions taken if a was important for SGA to listen change can not be made quickly. Elto student concerns and work to Shahat wants to empower students to address the issues as best they can. be more involved on campus.
Griffin McGee & Colin Seymour By Ella Shelburn STAFF WRITER
Second year business major Griffin McGee is running for student body president,and third year psychology student Colin Seymour is running as his vice president.McGee and Seymour met as teammates on the UIndy football team and soon became friends. “We've been buddies for two or three years,” Seymour saidSeymour said. “We compete with each other every day. I think we're a very great fit for each other.” McGee said that their goals are to improve UIndy’s overall community engagement,attendance at extracurricular events and diversity on the SGA board.He said that he hopes these changes will create a more positive community at UIndy. He said these three things all go into providing a better student experience. “If we can improve aspects of each of those regards, our student life will be much more upbeat and positive, and especially with the community engagement that not only affects the university, but it affects our society,” McGee said. To improve community engagement, McGee and Seymour said they want to plan more events similar to the annual Pack the House night.According to UIndy Athletics, Pack the House includes giveaways, music and celebrations to encourage students to support the UIndy basketball teams. Seymour said he and McGee hope to plan similar > See SGA on Page 3