SGA President Candidate Blake Hendricks: "I'm A Strong Believer In The First Amendment."


Blake Hendricks, Candidate for Student Body President at UT-Tyler
(Source: Twitter)

There are three candidates running in this Spring's student body president election: Blake Hendricks, Jacob McLeod and Joshua Menhennett.

To get to know these candidates and their campaigns better, I submitted 11 questions to each individual on Wednesday, February 6 with the request that they respond by noon on Friday, February 8.

I asked them some basic questions about why they are running and then their positions on some general issues in higher education I thought others might find interesting, such as their their position on Campus Carry legislation, banning controversial speakers from campus and abortion. My effort was to give the reader a feel for each candidate's values and priorities.

At the time of this publication, only Blake Hendricks responded, although each candidate said they are happy to participate in the interview. Treasurer Jacob McLeod is in Austin Friday and Saturday and mentioned he may not be able to meet the Friday noon deadline because of this commitment.

If more candidates respond, I will update this post or make a new post to publish their responses.

In the mean time, here is my interview with student body president candidate Blake Hendricks. His responses have been edited for readability and flow.

INTERVIEW WITH STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT CANDIDATE BLAKE HENDRICKS

1. Why are you running for student body president? 
I am running for Student Body President because it is an incredible opportunity to represent my peers and their ideas, as well as advocate for their issues and concerns. The Student Government Association (SGA) is a vital entity that, with the right leadership and direction, has the potential to enact positive encompassing change here at UT Tyler.

2. What life experiences or qualifications do you have that you believe will enable you to perform the role of student body president? 
I believe that the life experience that I’ve acquired through my involvement here on campus has added tremendous value to myself, not just as a person, but as a leader too. Each and every year I’ve challenged myself to do more, go further, and to reach new heights. I’m striving to raise the bar again by pursuing the office of SGA President.

For those curious about my qualifications: I am the President of Soules Ambassadors at the Soules College of Business, I am a Representative for the Intrafraternal Council (IFC), I am a Senator for the Soules College of Business at the Student Government Association (SGA), and I am the Treasurer for Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity.

I am confident that the value I’ve gained and the lessons I’ve learned through my involvement in these organizations has helped prepare me for the role of Student Government President here at UT Tyler.

3. What are your ideas and goals for the next year as student body president? 
When it comes to ideas and goals for this next year, I have many. I’ve decided to narrow my list to four core areas that I believe are the most important in order to have growth and success here at UT Tyler.

The first area starts with SGA. Two aspects I would like to see significant changes to are, the organization’s: Framework and Capacity. With these modifications, the organization will be free of unnecessary restraints, and will be able to expand its reach on campus.

The next area is geared toward Administration: Two aspects I would like to tackle are: Communication and Accountability. By improving these functions, both SGA and Administration will be able to work together towards common goals instead of the relationship constantly feeling one sided.

The third area focuses on the Campus. Two aspects that should be prioritized are: Enhancement and Innovation. If SGA is in great shape and establishes a strong relationship with Administration, then both groups will be able to tackle projects that will both enhance and innovate the campus here at UT Tyler.

The last area involves students. Two aspects that are currently lacking for students are: Engagement and Empowerment. By having a supportive campus environment to provide to students, Student Engagement will begin to rise which will lead to more Student Empowerment.

It is important to recognize that these areas cannot operate on their own and that they are fully dependent on one another to succeed. If these four areas are aligned and are operating on all cylinders, the sky is the limit for the potential of UT Tyler.

4. What else would you like students to know about you (if anything)? 
I would consider myself someone who is very organized, has strong interpersonal and communication skills, and has a natural problem-solving mentality.

On top of that I would say that I am someone who has empathy and respect for others. I often find myself wondering how things are perceived from other people’s perspectives and I do my best to understand different points of view.

Finally, I would say that my love for the University is what drives me to do more. The fact that I can not only get a great education, but also be involved in so much is invaluable to me.

5. Why should students vote for you? 
Students should not feel obligated to vote for me. I challenge everyone to do their homework on all of the candidates so that they are able to make the most informed decisions possible in this election.

I do believe this is one of the more important SGA elections this school has had in recent memory because it involves very different outcomes from very different candidates. I hope students will have the courage of their convictions and vote for the candidate that they believe can do the most, not just for them, but for the future of SGA, and the University as a whole.

6. Who are you running with (if any other candidate)? 
I am not running with any other candidate.

FREE SPEECH

7. What is your position on campus speech? Would you support or oppose a student organizations’ desire to host a guest speaker on campus whose views other students may deem to be controversial? 
I am a strong believer in the First Amendment right to free speech. I believe that those who reject others, or isolate themselves from those that have opinions other than their own, only stunts one’s growth and understanding, and ultimately hurts student engagement and any sense of unity.

CAMPUS CONCEALED CARRY

8. What is your position on Texas Senate Bill 11, otherwise known as the “Campus Carry” law? Do you support or oppose increasing the restrictions on where concealed handgun licensees can carry a concealed firearm on-campus? 
I believe that the law is the law, and should be enforced as such. I believe that administration makes decisions to the best of their ability in order to create a safe environment here at UT Tyler.

ABORTION

9. What is your position on abortion? Would you support or oppose the implementation of on-campus vending machines that allow students to purchase abortive contraceptives, such as Plan B or the Morning After Pill, as other institutions of higher learning have implemented?
I believe that human life should be protected at all costs. If the University believes that it is in the best interest of the students to make these products available to them, then I will support them in that decision.

DUE PROCESS

10. What is your position on due process? Do you support or oppose the recent changes by the Department of Education to Title IX investigations which require universities to allow a student who is accused of a sexual crime the ability to cross examination their accuser? 
I believe that those who violate Title IX should be punished accordingly. I am confident that the University will do everything in its power in order to make the most informed decisions possible for all parties involved.

SGA'S ROLE IN STATEWIDE DEBATES

11. What role would you like to see student government play in statewide and national debates? How often would you like SGA to take official stances on issues that extend beyond UT-Tyler’s campus?
While I believe that the Student Government here is filled with many intelligent and capable individuals, I would prefer to leave the debating to the Debate Team here at UT Tyler. They are exceptional and I would love to see them receive more funding and support from the University.

I believe SGA has more than enough work to do here on campus and do not believe it is the role or responsibility of the organization to take stances on issues that extend beyond the jurisdiction of the University.

Twitter: @jhescock

 Stay tuned for more interviews as they come in! 

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