Following the Shippensburg University Student Government Association (SGA) meeting held on Thursday, Sept. 19, four prospective SGA senators gave their speeches in McFeely’s in the CUB at 5 p.m.

Three of the senator candidates are running to represent the Class of 2028. The fourth is running to represent the Class of 2025. Students can vote via a link sent to students' emails on Sept. 23.

Before the candidates addressed the audience, SGA President Lillian Sellers gave opening remarks, thanking the speakers for coming and asked each of them what they want to do for Shippensburg’s campus.

For the freshman candidates, who are new to Shippensburg and SGA, the goal was to learn about as many different campus communities as they could so that they could provide whatever help necessary.

Chase Garrison, a freshman political science major, was the first candidate to speak. Garrison, a member of the DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship on campus, recalled his own Christian upbringing and learning the values of love and tolerance for the community.

“Love is what unites us … love is not just an emotion but a choice we make every day,” Garrison said. His mission is to promote love and diversity across Shippensburg’s student body. From his perspective, “diversity fuels the backbone of society.”

Political science major Matt Jones, who is also running for the freshman senate seats, was next to speak. Jones, who served as student council president in high school, spoke on his background in organizing school spirit activities that were well-received by his peers. As senator, Jones promised to value all student groups equally and hear the perspective of as many of these groups as possible.

The audience also heard from early childhood education major Anthony Schiech, who had a similar perspective as the other two candidates. While Schiech had not yet come up with a plan for the Shippensburg campus as senator, he promised to be adaptable and flexible. “I will listen to feedback; I will take everyone’s criticism … I will try to resolve any problems,” Schiech said.

Finally, 2025 senator candidate Abigail Reasoner, also a political science major, outlined her focus on being open-minded and helping as many students as possible. She drew from her experiences in the Model Organization of American States (MOAS), an international student organization similar to Model UN that seeks to find solutions to the political issues of the modern world.

Through her time with MOAS, Reasoner learned how she best works with others to find compromise in dealing with issues that face the Shippensburg student body.

While each senator candidate promised a mission of respect and tolerance for all student groups, SGA Vice President of External Affairs Natalie Nichols asked each candidate how they would avoid the paradox of intolerance. That paradox suggests that if a society is tolerant of the intolerant, that society could over time become intolerant by giving those voices influence.

Each of the four candidates reflected on what it means to find compromise. According to Jones, who expressed belief in the power of compromise, there is no middle ground to be found on issues like racism or sexism.

On the issue of intolerance, Schiech said he believes in setting strong boundaries “as long as they aren’t being harmful to others.” Garrison and Reasoner agreed that setting boundaries on what is acceptable would be the best way of preventing intolerance toward others.

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