Mississippi College Elects New Student Government Association Executive Council, Senate
The April elections started with an Executive Council open forum event.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with minimal stylistic changes. A member of the editorial staff contributing to this article is a candidate in a finalized, uncontested SGA race.
Elections for the Student Government Association (SGA) of Mississippi College (MC) are in full swing as the association prepares for the 2026-27 academic year. Election week kicked off on April 13 with an open forum that took place at Swor Auditorium in Nelson Hall.
The SGA is holding elections for all of its sophomore, junior, and senior Senator positions on April 15. Five seats will be elected from each academic class, for a total of 15 seats. The sophomore class is the most competitive, with nine candidates in the race. Three seniors — Avery Long, Cade Wethersby and Price Hester — are seeking reelection for their fourth consecutive and final term. Freshman and transfer elections are held each fall. This year, voting is conducted through a form posted on the SGA social media accounts.
SGA acts as a liaison between the university administration and the student body, advocating for student interests. In the past school year, SGA worked to change MC’s resident laundry policy by removing per-use charges in dormitory laundry machines. This year, SGA has also extended the hours of student access in Alumni Hall. “It’s stuff that people on a daily basis are being impacted by, that is, certain policies that I’m going to keep building on and making better and better as we keep going into next year,” Bryce Varner, a vice presidential candidate, said.
Several important SGA elections are taking place, including Business Manager, Chief Justice, Vice President, and President. Three of the races are uncontested this year: Kaden Coats running unopposed for Chief Justice, Bryce Varner for Vice President, and Marco Pineda for President.
These executives emphasized collaboration with other student organizations, clear communication with the administration, and a growing presence on campus. “As MC turns the page on 200 years, I think we’re at a crucial point,” Pineda said. “There’s a lot that SGA can be doing, and I’m really excited to continue.” The only contested position is Business Manager, with Alonnah Patterson and Alana Liddell facing each other.
To be eligible to run for Business Manager, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 at the time of election and must have completed 54 credit hours by the end of the semester in which the term begins.
The position has a wide range of responsibilities, including fulfilling the SGA’s graphic design needs, serving as the clerk of the Senate, and maintaining Senate records and legislation. The Business Manager also oversees SGA finances, publicizes elections around campus, and handles catering and other logistical needs during the year. During the moderated debate, the candidates, Liddell and Patterson, outlined their reasons for running and discussed their qualifications for the position.
Patterson decided to run after realizing how her skills and major could benefit SGA. As a marketing major with an interest in public relations, Patterson hopes to increase student engagement through SGA’s social media platforms.
“I’ve developed a strong presence in media and design, and I feel that I have a really good skill set in that,” Patterson said. “I’ll be able to use that to do more student engagement and more activities, have a lot of takeover on Instagram and leave an impact with that.”
Patterson also addressed the organizational and financial aspects of serving as Business Manager. “I know that it takes a lot of responsibility and accountability to also deal with the finances and the executive side of that,” she said. “I’m very organized, having different positions on campus and within my tribe, and I can do that in an orderly and timely manner.”
Liddell, a two-term SGA senator, said her reason to run came from her desire to work directly with students and advocate for their interests. “I want to have a more hands-on position, where I can really embody who I mean to be and be more confident in servicing our students,” she said. “I really wanted to hear everything that students are saying and be able to live out and create and build upon their goals and what they want to see more on our campus.”
Liddell said she also strives to be a dependable figure for both SGA members and the broader student body. “I would really love to be able to enact the thoughts that I have for this position and the student experience at MC as a whole,” she said.
Both candidates emphasized their personal habits and previous experience in similar roles. Patterson said she had a planner for her schoolwork, which helped her prioritize her tasks and effectively manage a tight schedule. “I’m very good at time managing, and I can focus and get things done,” Patterson said. “Not just get them done but have them done right.”
Liddell has taken business management classes and currently serves as the SGA Director of Student Affairs. “I plan to do more and build upon it, to show you all that I can handle this position and that I can grow in it and be more confident to help everyone else around,” Liddell said.
They also vowed to ensure that SGA stays within its budget throughout the year. Liddell emphasized accountability with the executive team. “I plan to be someone that speaks first, so they will know where to go forward, and I just plan to be responsible over our finances and be held accountable,” Liddell said. “And I expect my executive team to also hold me accountable.”
Patterson emphasized clear communication and time management. “It comes down to commitment and communication that you know your team, and that you know each person and who they are and how they communicate,” Patterson said. “Doing it in a timely manner, to where you’re not putting it off last minute, but that it’s done with enough time to have it sorted and organized.”
Voting opened on April 14 at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m. Although voting usually happens through the MC website, due to technical reasons, SGA had to shift to a Google Form ballot distributed through social media. Election coordinators said results will be posted by April 17, after all races are finalized.
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