Voting begins for freshmen class president

Election season starts early for the freshmen class as four students run for the Student Government Association’s freshmen class president.

Voting is open to freshmen students outside of the SGA office today through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Responsibilities of class presidents include attending meetings, organizing events and participating in a committee of their choice.

SGA Executive Secretary Landon Hester said the goal of a class president is to try to get people involved with school activities and to make sure everyone is having a good experience.

There are four candidates running for freshman president this year: Jacob Doberenz, Christian Reyes, Tyler Clark and Wes Cruse.

Doberenz has committed to wearing a yellow sombrero to make him stand out for students to approach him and start conversations.

“My campaign is centered around being approachable,” Doberenz said. “It’s not centered around funny slogans; it’s about any member of our class being able to come up to me and talk to me about the ways they think they can improve the school.”

Doberenz said he hopes the freshman class is interested in building a beneficial class community. In order to achieve this vision, Doberenz would like to have various activities that require teamwork, including a campus-wide laser tag battle and a comedy night performed by students.

Reyes said he plans on connecting all students through Oklahoma Christian’s first public art project, in which each student would sign their name to add it to a mural of the Oklahoma Christian shield.

“Through these simple but effective public art projects, I want to see our class working together to create a community in which no one feels out of place,” Reyes said. “I want to take this opportunity to grow closer as a class and a Christian community as a whole.”

Reyes said he also has ideas in mind that would allow more introverted students to express themselves.

Clark said he wants the class of 2019 to recognize their potential and revolutionize Oklahoma Christian through some unconventional activities.

“This can be done by bringing the class together with fun events such as food fights, bonfires, international potlucks, kidnap a professor day and much more,” Clark said. “A close community combined with a desire to serve opens so many doors to serve our God and that is where hearts are opened and lives are changed.”

Cruse’s theme is “Unity in Community,” reflecting the strong bond of unity he sees in the students.

“I truly believe that OC is special because its students aren’t afraid to get out of themselves and meet new people,” Cruse said. “I’m genuinely interested in getting to know people, to hear their stories, their struggles and their concerns. I’m seeking first to listen and to serve the class. This means that I plan to pursue students and their ideas that could be used to make OC a better place to call home.”

Cruse said he would work towards keeping community at the center of campus life.

A candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the votes to be president, otherwise there will be a runoff election on Friday.