Samantha Simmons is a junior majoring in political science and currently serves as the vice president of academic affairs. She is running for SGA president.
Q: Why is it that you’re running for president?
A: The University of Alabama is progressing at a rapid pace, driven by a clear vision from new leadership. Now, more than ever, I believe that the student body needs a champion. And I want to be that champion. I spent countless nights serving as a focus group lead on the University’s Advisory Council on wellness, where I’ve listened to student concerns from all walks of life across campus. Those voices have convicted me and they’ve shaped my platform. SGA has been the most fulfilling part of my time on campus, and I want to leverage the relationships I’ve created, the projects I’ve executed and my institutional knowledge to deliver for UA’s student body.
Q: Why do you think you are the best candidate for the position?
A: I’ve spent many afternoons at Hoole Special Collections Library learning about the history of our 500+ member organization. I’ve seen where we’ve done well and I’ve seen where we failed. I believe that my deep institutional knowledge will allow me to deliver real results for the student body. I’ve served on multiple University committees and am close with community leaders across the city of Tuscaloosa. I believe that my friendships with student leaders across campus, my relationships with faculty and staff and my experience in track record as this year’s vice president for academic affairs, will allow me to provide for students and ensure that they have the resources they need to succeed.
Q: What are your campaign’s key platforms?
A: That’s a great question. I hope to meet students where they are and help them take the next step forward. My big goal is to lower financial barriers, ensure that students are prepared for life after graduation, enhance academic resources and improve everyday life on campus. Most importantly, with me, students are going to have a strong voice and a seat at the table.
Q: What two specific initiatives you want to accomplish, and what time frames do you hope to accomplish them in?
A: I am so proud of the friendships that we’ve created with SGAs across the University of Alabama System. I hope to leverage those friendships to provide holistic resources for students across the state of Alabama. I’m a Canva fan, and I’m really excited at the prospect of advocating for free Canva for students at UA, UAB and UAH. I’m also proud of my partnerships and friendships with the Division of Student Life. This year, I was able to partner with the division to create something called the UA Engagement Stipend, which makes sure that students never have to choose between paying for their rent or groceries, and academic and professional development opportunities.
If elected SGA president, my goal will be to increase that stipend so that students can receive financial support for LSAT and MCAT prep, professional development conferences, research and everything under the sun that they need to succeed after graduation.
Q: How do you plan to adapt if your initial plan for achieving those goals doesn’t go how you hope?
A: That’s a great question, and I think that that goes back to my work in Try Tuscaloosa. So this year I was able to create an internship program that has provided 22 students with paid credit-bearing internships right here in Tuscaloosa. Originally, I wanted the program to be a partnership with political science school and public administration. But I asked community leaders, “What are some things that you need from students? Where are y’all missing gaps in terms of your organization?” And they said that they deeply needed comms talent. And so that caught me off guard because I’m a political science major, didn’t even think about that. But I adapted my plan, partnered with the school of communications, and provided many communication students with graphic design experience, press experience, etc., right here in the community. I look forward to continuing to adapt ideas to deliver for the student body. I’m light on my feet, I have a track record of adapting, and I’ll continue that if elected SGA president.
Q: What experiences have you had on campus that you believe will help you in the role if elected?
A: That’s a great question. I have been deeply involved in student government throughout my time on campus, and I think that my institutional knowledge and experience there has prepared me to serve as SGA president. This is a serious job meant for a serious person who knows the ins and outs of our 500+ member organization, and I’ll tell you a little bit about my experience in student government. I’ve served as a first-year counselor, led SGA’s academic affairs cabinet, and now serve as SGA’s vice president for academic affairs. I also have spent two years serving on the University’s Core Curriculum Oversight Committee. And in case you all didn’t know, the University is undergoing a massive general education change that hasn’t happened since the 1980s. And so, my deep knowledge of academic affairs will allow me to cater to students and make sure they succeed in the classroom.
Q: How will you represent all students, even those incredibly different from you?
A: That’s an amazing question, and I care so deeply about representing all students. In my first 50 days of office, I look forward to connecting with student organizations across campus by launching “50 clubs in 50 days.” I’m going to visit with student leaders and their organizations one by one, encourage them to apply for FRC funding, talk to them about our resources, encourage them to apply for SGA and also allow their concerns to shape my policy agenda for the year. I know that y’all saw I have an incredibly ambitious campaign, but the campaign and my promises don’t stop this week. I look forward to continue to adding onto my policy agenda as I learn about student concerns through this 50 clubs in 50 days initiative.
Q: What’s something that isn’t currently a part of your platform that you do you think will benefit the majority of the student body?
A: That’s a great question, and this might be a little bit out of the box, but I personally did not have the greatest Bama Bound experience. It wasn’t completely intentional, and so I care deeply about making sure that freshmen are onboarded to the University in the best possible way. If y’all don’t know, if elected SGA president, I’ll be having monthly meetings with Dr. Mohler, and that’s something that I want to bring up with him as soon as I get into office. As a freshman going through Bama Bound, you go through a mass advising experience, and I want to make sure that students are equipped and understand what they’re getting into before the Bama Bound process. So that’s something that I definitely hope to reform.
Q: Last year, you made a number of campaign promises that don’t appear to have been fulfilled. Knowing that not all your promises were kept, how can voters trust that you’ll keep your new campaign promises?
A: That’s a great question. And the truth is, I was able to fulfill a majority of my campaign promises, and you talked about adaptability earlier. A lot of the reasons that they weren’t fulfilled was because I didn’t have the institutional knowledge, and I was making promises before a year of service with administrators and faculty. And so now, after a year of having SGA under my belt, I understand what’s feasible and what isn’t feasible, and I can promise you that this is an intentional platform that can be accomplished. But I’m hoping to deepen my relationships with The Crimson White and student media. I want y’all to hold me accountable. And not only that, I’m going to be having biweekly meetings with administrators and I will be the student that is on the administration’s team, and I will make sure that they’re holding me accountable in everything that I do.
Q: What’s one last thing you want voters to know about you?
A: I want voters to know that I care about them so deeply. I said it earlier, the University’s undergoing an insane amount of change. We’re currently on a search for a new vice president, a new provost, recruiting a school of leadership and policy. We’re almost doubling the size of our nursing school, and we need a student with the relationships and knowledge that can help navigate the student body through those changes. I believe that I have the experience to deliver for your needs, and I want y’all to know, if elected SGA president, my door will always be open. If voters are interested in learning more about my platform, please follow along at Stronger with Samantha on Instagram, and don’t forget, I would be honored if you voted stronger with Samantha on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on myBama.
