2008 Woodie Awards
Hambrick and McGinnis file for office of SGA President
Nathan Wright
Issue date: 4/1/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Southwest Baptist University's version of President Bush versus John Kerry, senior Phillip "Tree" Hambrick and junior Marilyn McGinnis have filed to run for the office of Student Government Association President.
"Tree," as Hambrick prefers to be called is a political science and history major from Leslie, Ark. The 2003-2004 school year is his second on the Bolivar campus. After spending his freshman year at SBU in 1999-2000, Hambrick moved back to Arkansas to attend school and be closer to his family.
"God opened the doors for me to come back," Hambrick said. "It was God's will that I be here."
At just 22 years of age, Hambrick already has political experience. At the age of 20, he was elected to his local school board becoming the youngest school board member in Arkansas history. In 2002 Hambrick persued, but failed to gain, the Democratic nomination for state representative in Arkansas' 14th district. Hambrick has served as an SGA class representative for four semesters.
According to Hambrick's campaign pamphlet, the central tenet of his campaign is diversity. If elected, some of Hambrick's plans include hosting a world culture festival, encouraging the recruitment of more minority students and pushing for weekend visitation in dorms.
"Certain groups at SBU, like minorities, are not represented," Hambrick said. "I would work hard to see that they are represented."
Hambrick feels many SBU students have grown too accustomed to accepting the status quo.
"Anything I'm involved in I shake up," Hambrick said. "I tend to see different sides of issues. When there is another side of an issue, I like to voice that side."
McGinnis is a communications major from Kansas City. She has served as an SGA class representative since coming to Bolivar in the fall of 2001. McGinnis' extracurricular activites include being a resident assistant for Beasley Hall's fourth east wing, singing in the SBU Gospel Choir and leading a Bible study.
Since joining SGA McGinnis has been prodded to run for class office, but always felt she had too many other responsibilities.
"The Lord has really given me a passion to see some things change," McGinnis said. "I really just love people, and I want SBU to be a great school."
If elected, McGinnis will emphasize student input. She plans to use the office of President to push for change in several areas. She would like to have more students on the committee that oversees chapel. She would also use surveys to gauge how students would like to spend the money SGA allocates annually.
"I want people, students and teachers to take ownership of SBU," McGinnis said. "I don't want this to just be a place where people go to school."
Both Hambrick and McGinnis have been actively campaigning since filing their petitions to run last week. As of Wednesday, March 31 they are the only two candidates to express formal interest in the office, but filing will remain open until 5 p.m. Friday, April 2. The election will take place Wednesday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hambrick's filing has been met with mixed reviews.
"A lot of people I talk to are glad I'm running, several have given me their endorsement," Hambrick said. "I am the most misunderstood person on campus and not everyone is receptive to my candidacy."
McGinnis says she has been met by totally positive comments on her run for SGA's top position.
Although McGinnis and sophomore vice-presidential candidate Tim Scego appear on some campaign literature together, she insists the two are not running as a team.
"Tim and I have similar ideas about what SGA should do, especially when it comes to student surveys," McGinnis said.
Hambrick wants this election to be about the issues, and has thus made distribution of his "Why Vote For TREE?" brochures his campaign's main focus.
"I don't want the election to be a personality contest," Hambrick said. "If people will look at substantive issues I think I have a great chance of being elected."
McGinnis, who will give up her RA position at Beasley next semester, believes she is currently in a good position to assume the duties of SGA President.
"I think because I'm not associated with one group of people I would be qualified to make decisions for the whole student body," McGinnis said. "A lot of people know me, and I think I am approachable."
"Tree," as Hambrick prefers to be called is a political science and history major from Leslie, Ark. The 2003-2004 school year is his second on the Bolivar campus. After spending his freshman year at SBU in 1999-2000, Hambrick moved back to Arkansas to attend school and be closer to his family.
"God opened the doors for me to come back," Hambrick said. "It was God's will that I be here."
At just 22 years of age, Hambrick already has political experience. At the age of 20, he was elected to his local school board becoming the youngest school board member in Arkansas history. In 2002 Hambrick persued, but failed to gain, the Democratic nomination for state representative in Arkansas' 14th district. Hambrick has served as an SGA class representative for four semesters.
According to Hambrick's campaign pamphlet, the central tenet of his campaign is diversity. If elected, some of Hambrick's plans include hosting a world culture festival, encouraging the recruitment of more minority students and pushing for weekend visitation in dorms.
"Certain groups at SBU, like minorities, are not represented," Hambrick said. "I would work hard to see that they are represented."
Hambrick feels many SBU students have grown too accustomed to accepting the status quo.
"Anything I'm involved in I shake up," Hambrick said. "I tend to see different sides of issues. When there is another side of an issue, I like to voice that side."
McGinnis is a communications major from Kansas City. She has served as an SGA class representative since coming to Bolivar in the fall of 2001. McGinnis' extracurricular activites include being a resident assistant for Beasley Hall's fourth east wing, singing in the SBU Gospel Choir and leading a Bible study.
Since joining SGA McGinnis has been prodded to run for class office, but always felt she had too many other responsibilities.
"The Lord has really given me a passion to see some things change," McGinnis said. "I really just love people, and I want SBU to be a great school."
If elected, McGinnis will emphasize student input. She plans to use the office of President to push for change in several areas. She would like to have more students on the committee that oversees chapel. She would also use surveys to gauge how students would like to spend the money SGA allocates annually.
"I want people, students and teachers to take ownership of SBU," McGinnis said. "I don't want this to just be a place where people go to school."
Both Hambrick and McGinnis have been actively campaigning since filing their petitions to run last week. As of Wednesday, March 31 they are the only two candidates to express formal interest in the office, but filing will remain open until 5 p.m. Friday, April 2. The election will take place Wednesday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hambrick's filing has been met with mixed reviews.
"A lot of people I talk to are glad I'm running, several have given me their endorsement," Hambrick said. "I am the most misunderstood person on campus and not everyone is receptive to my candidacy."
McGinnis says she has been met by totally positive comments on her run for SGA's top position.
Although McGinnis and sophomore vice-presidential candidate Tim Scego appear on some campaign literature together, she insists the two are not running as a team.
"Tim and I have similar ideas about what SGA should do, especially when it comes to student surveys," McGinnis said.
Hambrick wants this election to be about the issues, and has thus made distribution of his "Why Vote For TREE?" brochures his campaign's main focus.
"I don't want the election to be a personality contest," Hambrick said. "If people will look at substantive issues I think I have a great chance of being elected."
McGinnis, who will give up her RA position at Beasley next semester, believes she is currently in a good position to assume the duties of SGA President.
"I think because I'm not associated with one group of people I would be qualified to make decisions for the whole student body," McGinnis said. "A lot of people know me, and I think I am approachable."
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