Presidential Candidates Campaign Interview Ft. Ford & Brent
An interview with presidential candidates Paul Ford and Hadassah Brent regarding their time in SGA and their campaign for the upcoming election.
Grace Reynolds | greynolds@butler.edu
Paul Ford and Hadassah Brent are eager to be running in this year’s presidential election for Student Government Association. Ford is a junior at Butler and Brent is a sophomore; the pair both became involved with SGA during their freshman year. Ford started his time with SGA by serving as the Lacy School of Business Senator and working on the Finance Board. He has since parted to move on to serve as the President of the Diversity Program Council (DPC). Brent started her SGA career by serving as the Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator and working on the Academics Affair committee. She is now on the DEI committee.
In addition to their positions, Ford and Brent have much to be proud of within their other initiatives. Ford has facilitated partnerships with SGA through the DPC, worked with SGA to build publicity for DEI initiatives, and helped foster communication channels that allowed student advocates to connect across campus. However, he says that he is most proud of “the encouragement I’ve given to young leaders on campus regarding joining SGA… it has been one of the most gratifying experiences I've had on this campus. They remind me of why I joined SGA, why I came to Butler, and have inspired me to be courageous so that I can advocate for all of us.”
Brent has also taken part in many influential projects. She has helped coordinate multiple outreach events, such as a post-finals week holiday hangout and a Crumbl giveaway where students could write to campus staff and employees. She has also worked on projects to build a mentorship program for LAS, to create a scholarship DEI position within SGA, and to connect with the administration to foster ways to progress DEI.
When asked what SGA means to them, Ford started by saying, “Advocacy. SGA is a representation of student power on campus, so we must utilize its resources to uplift our peers.” Brent reiterated that to her SGA means “a voice. It gives a great platform to people who have great ideas and great passions… it gives people the voice to speak up for others.”
The pair also agreed that community is a large factor in SGA. Brent explained how SGA unites people together, creating a competitive, yet fun environment, where the members push and support one another to fulfill their potential and strive for excellence. Ford added that the community has allowed him to develop as a leader and learn how to better understand others.
During their time in SGA, Ford, and Brent have come to deeply value the importance of the organization, while enjoying their time and involvement. They are optimistic about the upcoming election and eager to continue to serve and advocate for the student body at Butler University. “Ultimately, we all just want a campus that is reflective of our values and experiences. We want a community that we can embrace, while it embraces us back… We all deserve an amazing campus experience, and I can provide that for every student,” Ford confidently stated. Brent followed this by offering some advice for everyone who will vote in this election: “Vote for who you feel is an extension of yourself. It really does matter, so educate yourself on the candidates, and vote for who you truly feel aligns with your values.”
Voting takes place this Tuesday, March 28th, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Election results will be posted the following day at noon. You will receive a link from Butler via email once voting opens!