April 4, 2000
 
ASU Votes for Change
Mike Boteilho  Managing Editor
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

The votes have been cast and tabulated, and after a week-long process of Internet voting, Appalachian State University students chose who they wanted to lead them into the 21st century. Juniors Ryan Bolick and Preston Powell are the two men the student body believes should lead ASU and the Student Government Association (SGA) to a new level of greatness. 
“We ran a campaign of visions, not promises,” said SGA president-elect Ryan Bolick. “We came together on my behalf three years ago to develop the strongest vision possible.  We made a lot of promises to the student body, because they deserve it. These are promises we plan to keep.” 
Bolick was also quick to point out that these visions cannot be accomplished without the help and activism of the student body. 
“These aren’t promises we can do alone,” said Bolick.  “We thought outside the box, and gave something that the students can look forward to. We want to reignite the student fire to achieve a common goal, like they (students) did in the 1970’s.” 
While the president and vice president-elect should be enjoying the spoils of their victory, they both made it clear that this week will be a very important week for their campaign visions. 
“Section III is our number one priority. To get this included for next year, it needs to be passed in the next three senate meetings. Making SGA more student inclusive and more representative of the student body is something that the students want,” said Bolick. “We promised this. We have an open forum next week to go in-depth on Section III and to answer any questions that the senators may have, and to let them know how much the constituents want this. We promised the students what they want, and that is more representation. SGA might not be in favor of it, but one thing we need to let them know is that the constituents are demanding it, and we represent the constituents.” 
Amidst the campaign promises and visions the Bolick and Powell team have to accomplish, the joy of winning the student body election ranks highly with both of them. 
“It’s got to be one of the greatest days of my life,” said Bolick. 
“When I first started out with this, I never thought I would be in front of a room with over 70 people being the president of the student body. The Lord has blessed me with this  opportunity to lead the students and I guess it hasn’t really hit me yet that something I have put forth for so much effort into achieving has finally come true.” 
Even though vice-president-elect Powell has had a number of accomplishments this year, for example, beating the number one ranked Georgia Southern Eagles and winning the Southern Conference Regular Season Title, the SGA victory is something that he holds very high on his list of accomplishments for the year. 
“This is definitely near the top of my list,” said Powell. “It has been a thought in my mind for a long time now and to finally see it and feel it is something very special.” 
While their campaign vision calls for much reforming, the two elected officials were quick to point out that although SGA needs some fine-tuning, the organization as a whole is not a flop. 
“You can call us the reformists,” said Powell. “Ryan and I have promised a lot of things and there are no doubts in our mind we can lay forth the tracks to accomplish all of those.” 
The Bolick-Powell vision for Appalachian got people who do not usually vote to the polls, mainly because of their visionary message for the school and student body. “We have a lot of people that don’t usually vote to participate this year in the Appalachian vote,” said Powell. “And this is a direct reflection of the out-of-the-box mentality that Ryan and I have embraced from day one.” 
Sharing in the joy of the Bolick-Powell victory were probably the two most influential people in Bolick’s life, his parents. 
“I am elated, and so proud of him,” said Rebecca Bolick, Ryan’s mother. “I know how hard he has worked, what he has stood for all of these years and what a fine job he will do.” 
His father also shared in the same philosophy as his wife, but he also relied on the system to choose the best candidate. 
“I just had to have faith in the students, that they would pick the right person, the right team, the right people and they did,” said Allen Bolick. “He (Ryan) had established goals when he first came to Appalachian and one of those goals was just accomplished.” 
Campaign manager Joanna Clary, who was named the Most Valuable Team Member on the Bolick-Powell ticket, also feels that the student body was correct in their choice of leadership for the 21st century. 
“Emerson said that greatness always looks to the future, and I have always felt that Ryan and Preston’s vision for Appalachian are ideas that put the students in their best interests ... they will be great leaders,” said Clary. 
The student body voiced their opinion on how they believe that Appalachian and SGA should be run in the future, and both Bolick and Powell have a lot of work ahead of them.  Work that both believe will be achieved.
 
 
 
theapp@appstate.edu