Candidates have the opportunity to step into Student Government (SG) with a new title.

Four candidates are campaigning for the position of President and Vice President, each striving to represent the FGCU student body and advocate for a greater future for the university. 

On Feb. 25, SG held a meet and greet for senate candidates, followed by a debate between the presidential tickets. 

The candidates were asked questions by the moderators in the first half of the debate. The first seven questions allowed each ticket to rebuttal, while the last five questions did not. During a short break, members of the audience had the chance to submit questions, which would then be asked by the moderators in the second part of the evening. 

The debate was moderated by Eagle Media Executive Editor Tori Foltz and Eagle News Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Cavalier. 

Ticket A is Presidential Candidate Gianna Ihuoma and Vice-Presidential Candidate Giovanna DeMarco. DeMarco was unable to attend the debate due to another obligation. 

Ticket B is Presidential Candidate Jackson Chumbley, current Vice-President, and Vice-Presidential Candidate Alyssa Popovitz. 

Vice Presidential Candidates gave opening statements. Since Demarco was unable to attend, Ihuoma read her pre-written opening statement. Popovits gave her opening statement for Ticket A. The tickets were then asked a series of questions: topics including how to make FGCU a more sustainable campus and ensuring the student body feels heard. 

Both candidates spoke about implementing more involvement on campus. 

“We want to work to essentially make sure that freshmen and transfer students get involved and know the resources available to them, as well as enhance the overall involvement here on campus,” Ihuoma said. 

However, Chumbley and Popovits had a different approach to the topic stating that the way involvement starts is through gaining feedback on campus activities. 

Chumbley explains that he wants to hear what the students want to see during their time at FGCU instead of joining previously existing organizations; this is made possible through feedback as it comes directly from the student body. He also mentioned that SG meetings are open to students to take part in the meeting in hopes of encouraging students to participate and share suggestions; he wants the students at FGCU to feel seen and heard.  

When asked about sustainability, candidates had similar responses and shared a common ground, both highlighting the significance of educating others on how to conserve wildlife on FGCU’s campus. 

Chumbley and Popovits spoke on “ecofetti,” essentially an eco-friendly, alternative take on the traditional confetti initiated by SG. 

“This is just a stepping stone for us,” Chumbley said as he looked into how to reduce the use of plastic on campus, which is a full campus effort.

Ms. Ihuoma mentioned that she began taking ecological classes this semester, educating herself on the importance of sustainability. She believes that offering educational workshops “get the word out there on sustainability.”

Both tickets aim to create a nature on the FGCU campus that allows for the conservation of wildlife.  

Chumbley and Popovits had extensive experience in both off-campus leadership and on-campus. 

Ms. Popovits moved her way up within SG.

 “I first started off as a special conference in Vice Chair. The next year, I went on to actually chair that committee, and now I currently serve as the chief of staff,” she said when asked about her past experiences.

Chumbley started in SG as a freshman and built his way up like Popovits. 

He currently serves on 14 different university committees. 

Chumbley explained how SG gave him a better perception of “how the gears turn at this school” and “what it takes to operate this school.” Both advantages he would not have gathered without his involvement in SG. 

Ihuoma explains how she worked beside organizations and student leaders which allowed her to gain direct experience in student representation and creating new policies. 

Chumbley and Ihuoma both gave closing statements. 

Students can vote on Eagle Link; voting closes Thursday at 5 p.m.