Voting for the new Student Government Association (SGA) president and vice president opened Monday, March 6 and will close Wednesday, March 8. There are two candidates running for president as well as two candidates for vice president.

In lieu of a formal, in-person debate, The Panther sent over the following questions to all four candidates. Students can vote online here.

The candidates’ answers have been lightly edited for clarity and stylistic standards. 

Meet the candidates for vice president here.

Sydney Pfeifer-Picard

Sophomore, current Atallah College Senator

Q: Some students/club leaders are unsatisfied with SGA regarding event hosting and funding. What will SGA do to help these clubs that don't feel heard or feel like they are not getting the timely response/funding they need for events?

A: In addition to providing opportunities for clubs to voice their concerns — like the open meeting we held on March 3rd — I would propose further solutions for the future. At the beginning of each semester the Director of Finance, Chair of Allocations and the Leisure Student Organizations Senator would host a meeting with either the President of each club or a representative to give a presentation on the funding process.

This would create more transparency to how SGA funding works as well as foster an initial connection between SGA and student clubs. I believe it would be beneficial to include a “Frequently Asked Questions” page to the SGA website in order to provide more streamlined, specific and detailed information to the student body. I believe this would get rid of any mysteries of the funding process and foster greater trust between the student body and SGA.

Q: What initiatives are you planning to increase diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts on campus?

A: The DEI Committee for SGA, which I currently sit on, has been working on an initiative for the past year to create an inventory of current and planned DEI efforts across campus. This would keep the university accountable for both strengthening and adding DEI on campus. If elected for this position, I would prioritize continuing both this project and SGA’s relationship with the Office of DEI. As for a new initiative that I am interested in pursuing, I want to increase support for the LGBTQ+ community on campus. My ideas are in the very early stages of development, but with the help of the Office of DEI, I believe that we can create a more welcoming and academically supportive environment for this community.

Q: What is one thing that you would want to change about Chapman and how SGA is running currently? How would you go about this?

A: One thing that I want to change about how SGA is running currently is the communication and presence of SGA in relation to the student body. I feel that there is a large disconnect and students are not aware of how SGA has and is supporting the Chapman community. One way that I would go about changing this is by making current and past initiatives more known to the student body. While they are provided on the SGA website, I think it would be beneficial to provide monthly updates to the student body about what initiatives are being worked on so everyone can stay informed.

Another addition that I think would be beneficial would be to have a form on the SGA website that students could fill out. This would allow for student voices to be better heard in terms of what kind of initiatives or changes they want to see on campus.

Q: Since the topic of mental health is so prevalent across campus, what mental health initiatives would you want to put into place if you are elected to your position?

A: A mental health initiative that I would want to put into place is providing free journals for students that are geared toward mental health. I would find journals that either have writing prompts in them or will be supplemented with writing prompts to help students begin their journaling and have guided thoughts. Journaling is found to be effective in coping with mental stressors/symptoms and improving mood.

Another initiative that I would be interested in looking more into and pursuing, if it does not already exist, would be to create a mental health module for professors so they can be more knowledgeable about the mental health crisis that college students are facing. This would foster greater empathy and understanding between students and faculty and hopefully improve communication for when a student's mental health impacts their academic performance.

Q: What is the one overarching goal you hope to accomplish if elected into your position?

A: One overarching goal that I hope to accomplish if elected is that of enhancing sustainability at Chapman. While the university has made efforts to improve its sustainability efforts, I believe there is still more to be done. Being located in a state that is a growing leader in sustainability, I believe that we have not only the opportunity but the responsibility to follow suit and establish sustainability as one of Chapman’s core values. Currently sitting on the Sustainability Committee, which works closely with the Office of Sustainability, I have the resources and knowledge to know what needs to be done, and if elected, I would work to strengthen these current departments and further the work they have been doing.

Rachel Berns

Junior, current Crean College Senator & Speaker of Senate

Q: Some students/club leaders are unsatisfied with SGA regarding event hosting and funding. What will SGA do to help these clubs that don't feel heard or feel like they are not getting the timely response/funding they need for events?

A: SGA finance is an area within our operations that has immense potential but needs some extra hands on deck to ensure it functions as it should for the optimal support of student organizations. One of the first and easiest things we can do is work with our team of allocations/finance/student organization senators to start an open dialogue with any and all club representatives who wish to take part and loop them into a deep evaluation of our allocations operating documents to see where necessary changes should be made that all are in agreement on.

From there, I believe the structuring of the funding application itself can be altered to reduce redundancy and ensure that all information SGA may need to make an informed funding decision is accounted for, to reduce waiting time post-submitting application where we must chase after documents, ask clarifying questions and do things that extend the time for a group to hear back from us. There is often a disconnect between senators sitting on the Allocations Committee and senators who are not, in terms of knowledge of our financial procedures, to which I feel everyone should go through the same thorough training and be as knowledgeable as the next about our funding policies as to mitigate the spread of misinformation and allow additional senators to step into Allocations meetings if necessary to improve efficiency.

In addition, we can definitely communicate where our role ends and where Financial Services’ (non-SGA) begins, as there is some misunderstanding as to what we are and are not in charge of that leads to misguided frustrations at times. But more than anything, there needs to be a better line of consistent communication between SGA and individual student organizations about the state of their funding requests, rationales for why things are done a certain way and a space for concerns to be brought up and addressed immediately.

Q: What initiatives are the candidates most interested in funding and/or creating in order to improve a positive campus atmosphere?

A: Something I have worked on for the past few semesters that I hope to really expand is addressing the lack of physical accessibility around campus, as well as how we communicate the accessibility features of different spaces to students. Many buildings on and off of main campus (Crean Hall, Smith Hall, Hashinger Science Center, etc.) lack robust accessibility features, and some even have unnecessary barriers to entrances that make the space inaccessible to many.

Working with Campus Planning to address these concerns in upcoming campus renovations is a top priority, in addition to revamping our current practices for making sure the features of every building are known, from more transparent mapping, to better visibility of accessible parking spaces, to clarified building details during the room reservation process.

Another pillar that is of importance to me is reviving a previous SGA’s climate action plan, which has been idle for some time, and working with the Office of Sustainability to continue finding ways to reduce our environmental impact. Lastly, I am eager to explore ways to improve the academic experience for undergraduates, as this is the number one thing we are all at Chapman for. From finding solutions for growing class sizes, to implementing tools/materials to support the academic advising process and transition to college for first-year students, there is much to be done to ensure that our experience in the classroom is just as good as our experiences outside of it.

Q: What initiatives are you planning to increase diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts on campus?

A: I want to preface by saying that I hold firmly that DEI initiatives across campus should not be regarded as a completely exclusive category of work but rather something that is integrated into everything we do as an SGA, constantly ensuring that our actions are in the best interests of expanding the presence of DEI on campus. Firstly, with the current search underway for a director of LGBTQIA+ achievement within the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, SGA has a very exciting opportunity to support the hired individual’s transition to campus and establish a connection from day one to see what their needs and visions are for the Chapman community and where we can step in and be of service to help carry out these goals.

Something that has been ongoing that I really hope to continue flourishing is ensuring Sodexo’s policies equitably support all students (providing exemptions for off-campus food for ethnic/cultural based meals and events, expanding food access to accommodate individuals during times of religious fasts, etc.). There are a plethora of areas of growth to look into and a lot of that can stem from better internal addressing of DEI-related matters within SGA, whether that be examining whether our election policies and procedures are inclusive of as many students as possible, or better training senators on how to view their own roles through a lens of equity and inclusion.

From there, we must also look at how staff/faculty play into this equation and advocate for more comprehensive and consistent DEI and safe space training across campus, so as to not put the responsibility of the entire state of DEI in the hands of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, but rather invest the entire campus in its advancement.

Q: What is one thing that you would want to change about Chapman and how SGA is running currently? How would you go about this?

A: I see one of SGA’s biggest challenges in terms of internal operations to be adequate training of new senators and supporting the transition between senators leaving office and those stepping in. We historically have had a few summer meetings to overview SGA as a whole and what our role is as general student advocates and representatives, however, position-specific training has been overlooked. I’d like to implement mandated transition meetings between outgoing and incoming senators, as well as more senator-specific workshops regarding topics such as helpful campus contacts for specific senate seats, tips and tricks to starting a successful initiative, and anything else that would help acclimate students to their new jobs.

I also feel there has been an assumption in years past that the senator training process is the job of the Vice President, however I feel strongly that it is an all-hands-on-deck mission and requires the full investment of the Executive Council. I hope to start weekly executive council ‘office hours,’ in which senators have an additional space to chat with anyone on exec about projects they may be working on, brainstorm ideas and get guidance and assistance from any of our members.

This way we are also able to advise students when an idea they have is something that is already being worked on or has been exhausted in the past, as to streamline efficiency and save time/efforts being put into projects that may not make it off the ground. Bridging this disconnect between senate and exec will greatly uplift our capacity to carry out meaningful work for the student body, and starts with a more intentional investment in the way we support senators stepping into their roles.

Q: Since the topic of mental health is so prevalent across campus, what mental health initiatives would you want to put into place if you are elected to your position?

A: Something I am excited to explore is advocating for the expansion of our current Student Psychological Counseling Services (SPCS) to adopt a telemental health supplement. Our SPCS staff can be spread thin at times, making it difficult for students to access the necessary support, especially during peak times that may bring about additional challenges (holidays, finals, etc.). There are a number of telemental health services available at this time, so whether it be an advocacy initiative or a financial investment on SGA’s end, I think bringing comprehensive telemental health to Chapman will not only serve more students but also allow for students to be connected with a more diverse profile of mental health professionals better equipped to support individuals of varying identities.

On a smaller scale, while SGA is not an organization focused on event planning (in which there are a number of ways Chapman can organize spaces to better our mental well-being), I hope to take a look at current university policies practices regarding where mental health meets academics and work to ensure that our procedures are in the best interests of the mental wellness of students.

Q: What is the one overarching goal you hope to accomplish if elected into your position?

A: Though more ideological in nature and less tangible than some of the other pillars of my campaign, I have a strong desire to drastically increase transparency and accountability within SGA, both externally and internally. So much of the time, the student body only learns of SGA’s endeavors when they are very wide-scale projects or through word of mouth, leaving the smaller initiatives and accomplishments unseen, and causing confusion as to why we have the roles and budget we do and what we are doing with it.

We can, and should, do a better job communicating our active lines of work and advocacy to keep the student body in the know and reassure that we are not throwing our elected positions to waste. This also comes with financial transparency and finding creative ways to inform the student body of the funds that are available to them, where they go, and why they go to certain places. Within SGA itself, there is often a lack of communication regarding who is working on what, allowing senators to fall into states of complacency and not serve their constituency to the degree they should.

All SGA members (senatorial, executive, etc.) should be held to higher standards of sharing their progress, actively seeking new ways to serve, and being held accountable when they are not upholding the commitment they made to their constituency. I hope to create a Student Government Association that is honest and proactive, that the Chapman community feels connected to and proud of, and that gets back to our roots of uplifting and enhancing the undergraduate experience to the best of our abilities.