The Omnibus

Issue date: 2/17/10 Section: News

Evan Johnson

Brian Verslues

For four of the last seven years, the role of Student Body President at Southwest Baptist has gone uncontested. The faint interest students show toward leadership positions in the Student Government Association was rekindled last week when juniors Brian Verslues and Evan Johnson both created Facebook fan pages announcing their candidacies.
Verslues served in the Marine Corps from 2001-2005, is happily married to his wife Ashley, and majors in both political and social science education. After SBU, he plans on pursuing a masters degree in political science at UMKC.
Johnson is a political science major, speech and debate team member, and wants to pursue a law degree after SBU at the University of Texas. He has two years experience in SGA and is the current Secretary.

Why do you think you are qualified for this job?

BV: I have a great deal of drive and ambition. The Marine Corps has taught me a great deal about being a leader, which includes taking the initiative and actually getting things done. I have only been involved in SGA for about one semester, but I have accomplished many things. If I have the privilege of serving as the next student body president, I will have the opportunity to accomplish even more.
EJ: The most applicable reason is that I've been on executive cabinet. So I know how that works. I've worked with Becca Koe the current President and all members. I've worked with the previous cabinet too. I've seen a lot of the different ways SGA has gone about things and the methods they try to use. My being there for all of that, I have a bit of broader picture for what works and what doesn't for SGA.

What have you done to make SBU a better place?

BV: I am responsible for bringing the Collegiate Readership program ("USA Today" and "NY Times") to SBU. I also wrote a bill to get new ping-pong paddles and pool sticks for the Rec. room. I have also led the charge to bring a nationally recognized speaker to SBU, and am currently putting together a plan to start a $100,000.00 endowment to bring major speakers to SBU on a more permanent basis. I came up with the idea of an SGA TV too (coming soon), which will run announcements of clubs and make ad revenue that will be used by the student body. I am currently working with the Rotary club to bring the Marine Corps Silent Drill team to campus, an organization that tours the country and performs a unique precision drill exhibition using the M-1 Garand rifle with fixed bayonets.
EJ: The thing I've done most is to try to make sure SGA is working efficiently, serving the interests of students instead of pleasing ourselves. A lot of times people in SGA get caught up in SGA for the sake of SGA. Working on the Constitution like I did, and being the communications director of SGA for the Omnibus… I feel like my efforts have been to make SGA accessible for average students, not just SGA insiders.

If elected, what would you like to see happen during your term?

BV: Too much to list in the paper. But for starters, I would work very hard to improve visitation at SBU. I will also put on more tournaments like Madden (which I did last year and will do again in March), Halo,Call of Duty, ping-pong, etc. I also put on a Super Bowl party in the Rec. room in which we served over 200 wings from Buffalo Wild Wings.
EJ: I would like to see a lot of the SGA process simplified. I want it to be easier for students to come in as an average student and become involved.
Right now we are in a transition period with the new Constitution and its getting complex to pass new legislation. I would like to work to simply that. I would like to make sure we have a process that's easy to grasp and not too hard to get involved in.


Do you think the election will be decided by how many fans you have on Facebook?

BV: Not really. It can be a strong indicator of your fan base, but the difficulty in elections always lie in getting people out to vote.
EJ: No, I don't think so. Its great to have fans and everything but I'll be honest, half the time I join a Facebook group or fan page I don't do anything about it. So I think its going to be more who can get people out on election day and get people out to vote.

If you still want to run for President, students have until March 1st to complete a 50-signature petition, and the election will be held the last week of March.

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