The first-year senator election continues as the run-off candidates finish campaigning after the announcements last Wednesday. The run-off candidates are Cole Schwartz, a health sciences pre-med major from Forest City, Iowa; and Mollie Wheeler an international business major from Des Moines. Voting will be open to first-year students until 11:59 p.m. tonight. Results will be announced at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Times-Delphic: What was your reaction to finding out you were in the run-off?
Mollie Wheeler: “I was really excited. They said my name first, so I did not even have to wait. My heart was beating so fast when they were about to announce it, and it was really exciting. It is stressful because I have to campaign all over again, but it is good to get another chance to get more votes and hopefully win.”
Cole Schwartz: “I was excited. I had put in a lot of hard work throughout the week. A lot of people told me it would go to a run-off just based on the way the voting was set up, so that was the goal. Just kind of relief and excitement.”
TD: Why did you decide to run?
CS: “Initially, my interest before coming to college, student government at my school was not a big deal — all they did was plan dances. Coming to college, I knew I would have a lot more opportunity to actually influence for the people I was representing … Coming here, I just met a lot of really cool people and became really excited at the prospect of representing them. What better excuse to go and meet all of these people than running for elected office? I guess part of (it) was just the perks of getting to know a lot of people, whether or not I won. At the same time, I feel like I could bring a lot to the table because I am good with communicating with people and getting their ideas across.”
MW: “It was kind of a last minute thing. I got the forms the night before they were due. I had gone to the first senate meeting, and it looked really fun. I had already been on a committee, so I thought it would definitely be something I would be interested in. I really want to make a difference on campus, and this would be a really easy way to get involved and get started right away.”
TD: What is the first you thing you would work on if elected?
MW: “I have already started talking to people about this mentoring program I want to set up in local high schools. Because I am from here, it is a really big passion of mine. I talked to the Service-Learning Coordinator Mandi McReynolds about it, and she mentioned to me that we already have one program in the place at Roosevelt, but there are four other area schools that I think would really benefit from the mentoring program. It would be really cool to start first-years with freshmen in high school, grow that relationship for four years and help them make a difference in those kid’s lives. So, if I was elected, that is the first thing I would do, but my other platform is school spirit. They have the Spike’s Army, so if we could add a section to that — my idea was that we could have a person go out with a scanner once a week at a random time, and if you are wearing Drake clothing that you get scanned and get points, you get rewarded just for dressing in Drake clothing and representing your school . . . I want to have to more incentives and get the word out to the community more, too. Growing up here, I do not think I ever went to a Drake game and my dad went to Drake. I really want to get the Des Moines community more involved and behind our teams. ”
CS: “As far as a goal that directly affects the first-years, I would really like to look at printing in the residence halls, because I know Student Senate has money this year for making improvements. If that got enough support that is something I would really like to see happen, in terms of being the voice of the students. That is something I have heard a lot since a have come to campus as something people (would be) interested in. That would be the first order of business.”
TD: Honestly, what do you think your chances are?
CS: “I think my chances are good. I have been trying to get my name out and meeting a lot of people. I do not know if I am one to do the door-to-door campaigning, but I have been meeting as many people as I can, because it has been a good opportunity to meet my classmates. I like to believe my chances are good.”
MW: “In the first election, he had 36 percent and I had 28 (The writer will have to be contacted about who ‘he’ is. Is it Cole Schwartz?)) and that was a little threatening at first. I was like “oh that is intimidating,” but my campaign manager calculated it, and said it was only 30 votes. So, it is not that big of a difference . . . I want to get to people who did not vote the first time, who did not know about the candidates, who did not know about the election . . . I know I want to get to people who voted the first time . . . I am confident about it, but not over-confident.”
TD: If you could tell all of your classmates one thing, what would you tell them?
MW: “Not only would I remind them to look at my platform and to look at the plans I have, but also if anyone has a problem, a question or something they want to change on campus I am really open to hear about anything. I will do a really good job of taking that where it needs to go and seeing that something gets done about it.”
CS: “I would love to be your friend, but I mean business as well. I would love to get the chance to meet anyone who would want to meet me, but the reason I am joining Student Senate is not just to meet people. I really do think I could make good decisions for our class.”
