Voting for this year’s Oxford College Student Government Association (OxSGA) elections will open on April 1 at 8 a.m. and close on April 2 at 8 p.m. Candidates for all OxSGA positions held an open forum on Seney 4th March 26 to discuss their platforms.
This year’s OxSGA elections are the first to implement a ranked-choice voting system, allowing voters to rank all the candidates by preference. If no candidate initially wins a majority, an automatic runoff will redistribute votes based on preferences until a winner emerges. OxSGA will continue to use ranked voting in future elections.
Results will be announced shortly after voting closes on April 2, according to an email sent out by OxSGA.
OxSGA President candidates
David Fernandez (26Ox)
First-Year Senator, Vice Chair of Student Living committee and Vice Chair of Budgets committee.
Fernandez aims to highlight the Oxford campus’ essential role in the Emory University ecosystem. If elected president, Fernandez hopes to bridge the resource gap between the Oxford and Atlanta campuses by improving academic advising and course offerings at Oxford. Additionally, he plans to improve communication with the administration and ensure Oxford voices are better represented on the Atlanta campus.
Along with improving Oxford-Atlanta relations, Fernandez’s campaign includes advocating for free printing, extended gym hours and changing the Oxford Code of Conduct to get rid of policies that penalize students for being present in places with alcohol.
Emma Jorgensen (26Ox)
First-year senator, vice chair of the Budget committee and co-chair of the Health and Wellness committee.
During her first year in OxSGA, Jorgensen worked on two bills to support clubs on campus. The first bill provided $250 in foundational funding to newly founded clubs and the second bill allowed clubs to spend up to $75 on prizes or personal items to give away at events, provided that the prizes reflect the missions and values of the club.
Additionally, Jorgensen helped bring a petting zoo to the Oxford campus on Feb. 28 and worked to implement new equipment, such as stairmasters and treadmills, in dorm buildings.
Jorgensen’s platform advocates for improving school spirit by facilitating Oxford representation within Atlanta clubs, enhancing the recruitment process for Greek life and easing the transition from the Oxford to Atlanta campuses.
Jack Steffen (26Ox)
First-year senator, vice chair of the Student Living committee and vice chair of the Concerns and Communications committee.
Steffen’s main priority as an OxSGA member has been tackling campus food insecurity. During his platform speech, Steffen announced that starting next semester, every Oxford student can use their meal swipes at the Oxford Family Kitchen to ensure students can access food after the dining hall closes. He also plans to open a micro market in Pierce Hall, which will stay open until 2 a.m. and offer groceries, snacks, medicine and other commodities.
Another hope for Steffan is to make boba tea a regular fixture on campus.
Other key issues for Steffen’s campaign include enhancing pre-professional advising, creating an international student senator position within OxSGA, establishing a student jukebox in the Oxford Student Center (OSC), offering self-defense training for students and improving water pressure in the dorms.
OxSGA Executive Vice President
Delaney Arnold (26Ox)
First-year senator, vice chair of the Arts and Academics committee and vice chair of the Concerns and Communications committee.
This year, Arnold co-authored a resolution to call for improved class availability at Oxford by bringing in higher-level biology courses and electives like Animation. She also helped the Student Living Committee convince Oxford to keep the OSC open 24/7.
Alongside her OxSGA involvement, Arnold works at Hopkins Hall and serves on three club executive boards, including Eternal Magazine, Oxford International Relations Association and End Overdose.
Arnold hopes to restructure club budgeting by allocating more funds to large, campus-wide organizations and reducing funding for clubs that never use their $3,000 allotment. In addition, she has been working on an initiative to replace Dooley’s Tavern with an outdoor third space for students.
Sam Santana (26Ox)
Freshman representative of the Oxford Business Club and Oxford International Relations Association and CEO of the startup PoxKit.
Although Santana does not have experience in OxSGA, he hopes to improve transparency through town halls and frequent email updates.
Furthermore, Santana wants to expand the Impact Lab at Oxford to include more students and introduce an “Eagle Flight” program that takes advantage of the career opportunities and pre-professional experiences offered by major corporations around Emory.
Santana’s platform included speeding up the WiFi, facilitating late-night shuttles to Waffle House and bringing one-person study spaces to the Oxford Campus, similar to the ones at the Goizueta Business School.
Kimble Schiller (she/her) (26Ox,28C) is from Houston, Texas and is majoring in economics and philosophy, politics and law. Outside of the Wheel, she can be found studying, hiking, writing for fun, or spending time with friends.
