I have had the privilege and honor to serve in the Student Government Association for three years, serving as a First Year Councilor, as a senator from the College of Commerce and Business Administration and, most recently, as the Vice President for Financial Affairs. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in SGA, developing a passion for bettering our University and students. Because of this, I am running for Executive Vice President to serve the students and University that have given so much to me.

I am very proud of what the Financial Affairs office has accomplished this year. Our team put in a lot of hard work, and the results speak for themselves. Over the course of the school year, we have increased the number of need- based scholarships awarded each month to students in need and have increased the principal of the SGA Endowment fund by approximately 20 percent. In addition, the Financial Affairs Committee is on pace to allocate the entirety of its budget to student organizations by the end of the fiscal year.

If elected Executive Vice President, I will build on the successes we have had this year and work to better campus life here at the Capstone.

Over the years, I have seen the SGA at high points and low points. While I love to talk about the high points, one cannot pretend that the low points never happened. These events have shaped our current student government leaders, teaching by example what methods of leadership work best and how previous mistakes can be used as learning experiences.

Learning from mistakes is one reason we have seen an immense increase in efficiency across SGA in the past year. If elected, I would strive to continue increasing efficiency and to save money when possible. The savings could be used for additional projects or scholarships, giving a greater benefit to the campus.

It is pivotal that SGA is relevant to all students on campus. Although it is great to implement projects with focused goals, it is also important for us to work to benefit campus as a whole. Should I be elected, one particular goal that I would place a high priority on would be the reinstatement of a commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony. The Capstone has not had a commencement speaker in several years, and bringing back this tradition would benefit not only our current students, but also students for years to come.

Another focus over the next year will be on the spring concert, formally known as RAGE. While the event has lacked success in recent years, I believe that the right mindset and good planning can lead to a spectacular event. One thing in particular that I plan to do is send out a survey to students via email or The Crimson White with artists of various genres. The right artist is imperative for the concert to be successful, and I think that letting the students have a voice in the choice of artist will go a long way to making the concert a success.

The University of Alabama is more than a college to me. It is like home. My bed in Bryce Lawn now feels more comfortable than my bed at home in North Carolina. I have lost touch with many high school friends, but I have gained countless lifelong friendships at the University.

My experiences here have made me the person that I am today. There aren’t many things in life that one can say that about. I would be honored to be your next Executive Vice President, and should I be elected, I promise to work tirelessly to make every student feel as much at home at The University of Alabama as I do.

Chris Willis is a candidate for the position of SGA Executive Vice President. He is running uncontested.