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Brigman, Leak serve, listen to students |
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 |
 Thomas A. Brigman, a sophomore political science major and Paul S. Leak, a junior majoring in finance and banking are hoping to keep our campus green, solve the greek housing problem, and work on diversity appreciation. Photo by Jameykay Young
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by ANNE BAKER
News Reporter
By combining their individual talents, Thomas A. Brigman and Paul S. Leak hope to serve each and every aspect of Appalachian State University’s student body.
Brigman, candidate for Student Government Association president, is from Laurinburg and is a rising junior double majoring in political science and criminal justice.
During his time at Appalachian State, Brigman has been a large part of the Campus Resident Student
Association (CRSA) as well as SGA; he currently serves as SGA Rules Committee Chairman, CRSA
vice president, and is active in the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments.
Vice presidential candidate Leak is a junior from Durham and is majoring in finance and banking, as
well as risk management and insurance.
Leak is part of the fraternity Kappa Sigma, holds the position of Vice President of Administration for
the Interfraternity Council, and is a coordinator for the Phase 2 AppolCorps orientation process.
Brigman said continuing to represent those on Appalachian State’s campus is a main focus, and he
enjoys being a part of taking the desires of students to administrators and making sure those wishes
are heard.
“I take service as a large issue and it’s all about serving and representing students...that’s what I feel
like I do best and that’s what I’m looking to do. I feel that being president I can [continue serving
students],” Brigman said.
Both Brigman and Leak said appreciating the diversity on Appalachian State’s campus is a priority, and
they would like to make a strong connection with those that do not feel they have the representation
they deserve.
“We recognize that there are some people on campus who might not feel like they are appreciated or
accepted... We have a couple of key points on our platform that we think will help those populations
that don’t feel that connection to the Appalachian family and need that connection to the Appalachian
family,” Brigman said.
Leak stressed that anyone on campus can come talk to either he or Brigman about any issues they are
struggling with.
Campaign Goals
• Continue to support the Renewable Energy Initiative and ensure all future buildings added to the university are built from an environmentally “green” standpoint.
• Concentrate on the problem of Greek housing on campus and possibly move the Greek community toward on-campus housing.
• Appreciate the diversity on campus and make a strong connection with those that do not feel they have the representation they deserve.
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“I feel like, through student government, we need people who have been out there and who will talk to
people and will bring life back to SGA... [SGA] represents everyone on the campus and everyone has
a voice, and everyone’s voice needs to be heard,” Leak said.
Additional goals of their campaign include continuing to improve the relationship between the university
and the Town of Boone, establishing recycling plans for each department on campus, reducing the use
of Styrofoam in cafeterias while bringing in reusable products, and completing a study on the prices of
food on campus, Brigman said.
Brigman said it is also important to continue to support the Renewable Energy Initiative and ensure all
future buildings added to Appalachian State are built from an environmentally “green” standpoint.
A percentage of the savings on electricity and energy use gained from the buildings should be given to
students, Brigman said.
Leak said he also wants to concentrate part of the campaign on the problem of Greek housing on
campus.
“The Greek community is now at a point where it can move toward [on-campus housing]... [Greeks] do
so much not only for the national philanthropies but for local charities as well, and we want them to be
able to be recognized on campus,” Leak said.
Brigman and Leak said they both enjoy Appalachian’s friendly atmosphere, and hope to carry it on
through their work in SGA.
“It seems like one of those things that gets beat down into the ground...[but] you always do feel like
you’re a family here at Appalachian whether you know the person or not,” Brigman said.
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