Elliot Nelson (he/him) is a junior majoring in public relations, marketing and international relations. 

What do you believe the role of the Student Body President is?

I believe the Student Body President is the representative of the student body in administrative and community spaces, sharing the concerns and thoughts of Drake students. Because of this, I also believe the role of the SBP must be centered around facilitating open and eager conversations with students on campus to truly advocate for Drake students in these settings.

What are your goals for this position? Are there specific issues you hope to address through initiatives or projects in this position?

In this role, I plan to firstly institutionalize transparency to ensure that Senate activities and initiatives are routinely shared to the student body. Using existing channels like the Senate Instagram, personal social media, as well as underutilized/unexplored avenues, I hope to build a more positive relationship between Senate and the wider student body. Issue-wise, I have three large overarching goals: campus life/connection, finances, and sustainability. Breaking those down:

• Campus life is of paramount importance to me. I intend to be present at student organizations’ events, meetings, and forums, as should be the expectation for an elected representative of the student body. I also want to revive a President Council in convening student leaders to facilitate campus-wide collaborations on events.
• Financially, I want to work with the Student Body Treasurer to synthesize finances students see reflected in their tuition, student organization funding, scholarships and more to make it more digestible for students. I hope this streamlining assists in building students’ financial comprehension and confidence.
• Sustainability runs in two tangents. While I plan to lean on my experience as the Community Engaged Peer for Sprout Garden Youth Education, I also want to partner with sustainability groups on campus to codify sustainable practices in administrative rules and settings. At the same time, I want to ensure the Senate is set up for long-term success by strengthening the internal policies, expectations, and rules that guide its work.

What experience has prepared you for this position? Why are you the best person for this role?

Having served as the First Year Senator and then the Academic Affairs Senator, where I served as the President Pro Tempore, I have extensive Senate experience that will help in getting Senate off the ground immediately. Outside of Senate, I’ve valued other organizational opportunities to step into leadership, such as being the President of the Nonprofit Consulting Club or the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for the Student Alumni Association. In each of these roles, as well as through more informal involvement, I’ve gotten to know Drake’s network of passionate students more deeply, giving me real insights I intend to share as student body president.

How will you ensure that you and the Student Senate will represent the interests of the student body? 

 For me, it’s centered around agency, specifically in how Student Senate approaches its communication. I firmly believe that Senate should be taking the first steps through community conversations/office hours, social media, and face-to-face meetings to create lines of communication with the student body. With the bridge made by Senate members, I see the interests of the student body being heard more, taken more seriously, and action being taken more often.

How would you make sure you are aware of the needs of the student body?

Given the level of external engagement the position requires, the student body president should be held to the highest standard of accountability. With that, I intend to rely on the Drake network I’ve built, but I also want to expand dialogue across the university by making community spaces, office hours, and settings to engage in real conversations about the student body’s needs, whether they’re individual or communal.

Why should the student body vote for you?

I think I deserve students’ votes, because while I do have the Senate experience, my first priority as student body president would be to prioritize relationships on campus. Through my experience as a PMAC and Orientation Leader, I’ve seen how Drake students can empower one another to do great things, and I would actively seek to cultivate that same environment in this role.

How do you plan to balance this role with your other commitments?

I intend to prioritize the responsibilities of this role and ensure it receives the time and attention it deserves. If needed, I am willing to step back from my other commitments so I can fully dedicate myself to serving the student body.