The Scout’s editorial board – composed of the editor, managing editor news editor and head copy editor – interviewed all candidates for student body president and vice president. A majority vote was taken, and the winner of that vote was endorsed.
We did not endorse in the treasurer or secretary positions, as those campaigns are unopposed.
Making a presidential endorsement is rarely an easy task.
This year was particularly difficult. Four candidates have thrown their hats into the ring, and each brings his or her own ideas that may very well transform this campus.
That said, you, as voters, must choose one. So we chose one.
Tricia Anklan has served two years as student body vice president. She sat before the editorial board two years ago, as a nervous freshman loaded with ideas. Some of those ideas were valid, some were not. Some of those ideas have come to fruition, some have not – and that’s OK. She brought a certain naivete to the interview and to the campaign.
She did not, however, bring that naivete to the job itself after she won it.
For two years we watched as she pulled no punches with other student body officers and the administration to better the student body.
So when she sat before the editorial board earlier this week, we saw a very changed person. Gone was the nervous freshman, the one with the shaky ideas. The person who replaced her was proven in her ability to fight for students.
It is with that experience in mind when we confidentially say she is the best person for the job and we choose to endorse Anklan.
That said, we are pleased with the quality of the other candidates, especially sophomore Zach Lattmann.
Lattmann has been on Senate since October, and in that time he’s sat on the most politically charged committee in the assembly: the Internal Affairs Committee.
He’s waded through that muck extremely well. He said nary a negative word about anyone he’s dealt with, and there are plenty of negative words to go around.
Anklan’s experience dealing with administrators and Senate was the main issue that tipped the scales in her favor.
Lattmann has enough experience to do the job well. But he brings his own brand of naivete to the campaign.
He wants to get food chains in the student center, but it’s been tried before. And it’s failed. So he may be able to do it, we just think there are greater priorities.
So our message to Lattmann is this: Stay involved with Senate if you lose, whether that may be obtaining a chairmanship position or being a member of Senate. Do something. And at this time next year, file to run for president.
He’s got the exact right attitude and drive to get great things done, but he’s lacking the experience. That said, we think odds are good that we’d be pleased with a Lattmann presidency.
Junior Ivan Gonzalez-Giminez is equally motivated. He would bring a fiery passion to the job unmatched by most.
He presents something of a conundrum in being both short- and long-sighted. He’s got good ideas, but he doesn’t seem to have the research to back them up.
Sophomore Andrew Engelbrecht brings the least amount of experience to the campaign. He’s a sociology major hell bent on changing the world, starting with Bradley.
That’s a noble goal, and it’s one we wish him the best with.
But he hasn’t been all that actively involved on campus before now. We get his reasoning, we’re just afraid he’s not completely aware of what he’d be getting in to should he win.
Here’s a disclaimer: We’re not rallying against lack of experience. Plenty of amazing politicians haven’t had any. In fact, we’ve seen candidates with plenty of experience do poorly.
That said, Anklan’s experience is going to be key to her success should she win. She knows what is possible and attainable, but she’s also proven herself willing to work for the things that seemingly aren’t.
If you looked at campus recycling just two years ago, anyone in their right mind would have called it a joke. An absolute joke, actually. That’s no longer the case.
Her experience means the administration respects her, but – just as importantly – it kind of fears her.
Those are the aspects we value in a student body president.
