Paul Sherar - Chief Photographer

(l-r) SGA vice presidential and presidential candidates Robert Rountree and Tim Young both feel changes can be made to SGA.

Young, Rountree: A leader must first listen to succeed

David Forbes - Staff Writer

Ironically, it was the negative aspect of politics that convinced Tim Young to become involved with the Student Government Association.
“My family has never been the governmental type of family. My grandmother was a teacher in the public school system, and she would constantly be buffered by the whims of politicians,” said Young. “I saw my parents, grandparents and friends of the family feel the effects of bad government.”

“On some level, I guess that’s why I want to get involved with government. I want to be the kind of representative that they didn’t have,” continued Young.

Young, a sophomore majoring in history and secondary education, is a candidate for SGA president, running with fellow sophomore Robert Rountree, vice presidential candidate.

Both are currently senators from Coffey Residence Hall and members of the Coffey Hall RSA.

Rountree, a political science major from Wilson, grew up with both of his grandfathers being involved in judicial elections.

“I’d point towards the civic responsibility I learned in the Boy Scouts, in my church and my community back home,” said Rountree of his reasons for becoming involved in SGA.

“I’ve always maintained an interest and wanted to be involved in politics, and I think I’ll continue that even if this election is not successful.”

“In every organization, you get to meet people, to make contacts with people. I enjoy that, not just with SGA, but with all the organizations I’m a part of,” said Rountree, who is involved with the Appalachian Honors Association as well as the Phi Eta Sigma and Gamma Beta Phi honor societies.

Young is a member of the “NOUN” Improv Comedy Troupe, as well as impACT (a part of the Appalachian and the Community Together office).

“We both feel SGA is essentially a good organization or we wouldn’t be involved with it,” said Young. “However, I don’t think either one of us would be running if we didn’t feel that there were some changes that needed to be made. We’ve had a lot of problems with lack of involvement and apathy, with students feeling increasingly alienated from the institution.”

“Part of me thinks, though, that there’s limits to what can be expected from SGA. I think that sometimes critics judge us a little too harshly,” elaborated Young.

“I don’t take the criticism personally at all,” said Rountree. “There are a lot of problems with senator-student relations. But with my situation and Tim’s, that doesn’t apply at all. I think we get great constituent feedback.”

“A leader has got to be first and foremost a listener,” agreed Young.

“Having had experience with educational systems really helps you to understand what it means to be a part of an educational institution like Appalachian State,” said Young, of his major’s pertinence to this election. “It’s also been said that historians make the best politicians.
If you know where you’re coming from, you can get a better sense of where you’re going.”

“This is an educational institution. Therefore many of the concerns we face are directly educational,” said Young of his belief that politics and education are intertwined.

“I feel that if you ignore that, you’re ignoring about 85 percent of what it means to be in a student government.”

“I think there’s a problem with priority at this university,” said Rountree. “The problem is not among us, but definitely among the administration. I don’t think the prestige of this university can be measured in the amount of new buildings. It’s the quality of the education, and especially the quality of the students.”

One of five tickets in competition for the student body president and SGA vice president positions, Young sees the number of candidates as beneficial rather than an obstacle.

“I think the fact that there are so many qualified candidates this year is beneficial to the school. More choice is never a bad thing,” said Young.
“However, I think Rob and I do have ideas, and we have drive to see those ideas pushed through. After all, if your leader’s not enthusiastic, who else will be?”

“It is a very crowded campaign field this year,” said Young. “But we wouldn’t be running if we didn’t think we could truly do something for this school. We’ve got ideas, we’ve got motivation, and we’ve got an honest commitment to change the way things are and help the
students out.”

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Paul Sherar - Chief Photographer

Wussow, Bayard hold different experiences but similar goal

Wussow, Bayard hold different experiences but similar goal

Adam Bennett - Associate Editor

Getting involved and being passionate about something in life is a common goal shared by SGA presidential candidate Stephen Wussow and running mate Dustin Bayard. The sophomore and junior duo are also both very passionate about politics.

“What usually gets me going is politics, because that affects every aspect of our lives if you really get down to it,” said Wussow.

Wussow, a 20-year-old sophomore originally from Flint, Mich., and Bayard, a 21-year old junior from Troutman, believe in leadership by example.

The pair’s second year as senators has allowed each to involve himself in campus issues and try to make a difference.

“I think we’ve both been involved in some of the juicy stuff that actually involves presenting bills to the Senate—not just sitting there and riding along but being leading senators,” said Bayard. “I think we’ve done pretty well.”

Wussow is double majoring in political science and sociology with a minor in philosophy. After he completes school, Wussow said he hopes to start a lobbyist organization.

“We want kids to get angry about something, care about something and want to do something about it,” said Wussow.

Future high school English teacher Bayard would like to someday join the U.S. Congress. He is double majoring in political science with a concentration on international comparative politics and minors in criminal justice and English education. After a few years of teaching, Bayard said he would like to be a mayor on his trek to Congress.

Wussow’s parents are missionaries that helped instill a serving attitude in him at a young age.

“It’s always been normal for me to think of a life goal as helping other people because that’s just what my parents did,” said Wussow.
“They were constantly serving, and I just learned from that. My role in the world is really obvious to me.”

Wussow said he initially chose Appalachian State University because of his love for the mountains. “I’m a mountain man,” he said. “I love it here. I didn’t feel like I was in my element in Charlotte.”

If he had the opportunity to switch positions with someone for a day, Wussow would choose the lead singer for U2, Bono.

“He’s constantly working on politicians to forgive Third World debt. It’s great that he’s using his fame for such a [worthy cause],” said Wussow.

In contrast, running mate Bayard chose Appalachian because of the affordability and the Reich College of Education.

“That sold me the most: the very prominent teaching college,” said Bayard. He is the only person in his family who has had the opportunity to attend college.

If given a chance, he would take on the role as chancellor.

“I would make a few changes here at the university that I think we need to change,” said Bayard.

Wussow and Bayard met last fall in the Students Actively Volunteering for the Environment club (S.A.V.E.) and came to realize their common goals and interests. Since that initial meeting, they found themselves joining many of the same clubs, organizations and classes.

Because of this common bond, the pair said they decided to run for SGA’s top offices last semester.

“We have a mutual respect and are able to form good ideas and articulate them,” said Wussow.

Both are passionate about politics but they urge students to get involved with extracurricular activities, no matter what club it is.

“I want to steer away from kids going home after class and playing video games but actually getting out and doing stuff on campus,” said Bayard.

Wussow’s favorite bumper sticker reads: “If you’re not outraged, then you’re not paying attention.” He wishes students would take a more active role in the world around them. “There’s so much going on that you could be outraged about,” he said.

Without clubs on campus, Wussow and Bayard never would have met. They are both involved in clubs like the ACLU, Green Party, S.A.V.E. and the Solar Energy club.

Wussow spoke about preconceived notions students may have about them.

“We do not want to be labeled as the hippie ticket or anything like that,” said Wussow. “Some uneducated people might think of it like that, but it’s not that at all. We have good, concrete ideas and our platform will show that.”

Bayard said many people are viewing their campaign similar to the Mounkes-Schriber campaign last year.

“Student Government and Appalachian as a whole needed new leadership and just a whole new face—completely revamp everything.
That’s what we are trying to do,” said Bayard. “We are not the same old run-of-the-mill ticket. We’re definitely completely different. That shows in what clubs we’ve been active with on campus.”

On the candidates’ chemistry, Bayard said they will agree to disagree after discussion on some topics.

“Sometimes that’s the way it has to work because not everyone looks at things the same way. I don’t want both of us to always agree because that would be like having the same person as president and vice president,” he said. “We are definitely two different individuals.”

“We complement each other well,” Wussow added.

“I do consider myself an average college student. However, I’m very determined in what I set out to do,” said Wussow. “We are determined to take this by storm.”

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Paul Sherar - Chief Photographer

(l-r) SGA vice presidential and presidential candidates Amy Dixon and William Foster say they will create a positive environment, if elected.

Foster, Dixon would focus on improving strengths in office

Bethel Barefoot - Chief Copy Editor

There are some things on which William Foster and Amy Dixon see eye-to-eye.

They both want to see results and both want to create a positive environment along the way.

“My focus is reaching a common goal and feeling the benefits of a job well done,” said Dixon, SGA vice-presidential candidate.

Presidential hopeful Foster concurred, citing a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of results as important to his motivation.

The pair’s similarity in motivation will come in handy as the duo
battles for the highest elected positions held by members of the student body.

“We have the same goals for SGA and the same ways to accomplish them,” said Foster, originally from Unionville.

The future after Appalachian for Foster and Dixon holds master’s degrees in their respective fields: computer information systems and graphic design, and communication/business; but past experiences are what have made the two the leaders they are.

“Experiences in high school changed my perceptions. I learned more about people in general, and the inner workings of people and people in groups,” said Foster, a first semester senior.

It is these experiences and additional volunteering and job opportunities that have shown him how to lead, to know that focus and organization are essential to complete what has been started, said Foster.

“If one task isn’t done, you can’t move onto the next,” said Foster. He said he feels he has exercised these leadership skills as SGA director of public affairs last year and as a senator this year.

Dixon, a native of Newton, has learned many of the same ideas through her own past work experiences. She got a first-hand look at life and death during an emergency room internship.

“[The experience] gave me a better sense of the meaning of life, a different look at life. I learned to be thankful and not take anything for granted,” said Dixon.

Dixon came to Appalachian as a Plemmons Leadership Fellow and has since, in addition to being a senator for two years, helped coordinate the Leadership Forum, is vice president of Communications for Club Council and has been a member of the impACT Team.

“Organization is the main key to being a good leader,” said Dixon. She herself stays very organized, and together with Foster plans to use this to her advantage in reaching goals for SGA.

“We want to have an overall, step-by-step plan to make our platform goals,” said Dixon.

Part of this plan includes continual development of their leadership skills and also of SGA as a team.

“We want to keep improving our delegation skills and stay constant,” said Dixon.

Foster also has plans on how to apply their shared quality.

“We also want to create a more in-depth senate orientation, so that senators will know what’s expected of them,” said Foster.

“When they know each other, they can work together,” he said.

This plan of action would be accompanied by another, very important part of their role as leaders, according to Foster and Dixon, if they are elected.

“We want to reward those who do well, congratulate them and say good job,” said Dixon. “Recognition is a big part; it will be important next year.”

Carrying out these plans requires a good relationship between the two candidates; fortunately, that is exactly what they have.

“We work well together and have the same ideas,” said Dixon. “We are able to tell each other what we are doing wrong and give constructive criticism.”

The duo also keeps things light.

“Humor keeps us together,” said Dixon. Familial relationships as well as working relationships have been important in the lives of the two candidates.

“Family is always important,” said Foster, who recalled his grandfather as one of the most influential people in his life.

Likewise, Dixon named her own great-grandmother as an instrumental part of her life.

“She stood for everything good,” said Dixon. “She didn’t get mad when things didn’t go her way.”

Dixon’s pastor has also been influential in her life, a source of spiritual advice. “He has been a wonderful influence,” she said.

Family is also a place where Foster and Dixon find good advice.

“[My mom, sister and I] have a really close relationship, all my family really,” said Dixon.

Foster agreed, also saying those he has a good working relationship with and who can give an unbiased perspective give him the best guidance.

Foster and Dixon came to this university, which has afforded them many opportunities, for much the same reasons.

“It’s reasonably small and far enough from home,” said Foster. He also enjoys the one-on-one attention by professors that is possible at Appalachian, along with the overall persona of the campus.

“There is a good, relaxed atmosphere,” he said.

Dixon came partly because of scholarships she was awarded, but like Foster she enjoys the family environment that Appalachian has, its size and its location in the mountains.

“I like the outdoors, and hiking,” said Dixon.

Since coming to Appalachian, the two have been very active. In addition to their SGA commitments and other leadership positions, Foster and Dixon also hold jobs apart from school, such as Kilwin’s Ice Cream for Foster and photographing fraternity and sorority events for Dixon.

Foster likes to snowboard and is a member of the snowboarding club.
He also volunteers at his church. The emerging future may hold another big job for William Foster and Amy Dixon, but they are ready, and they have a focus.

“We want to see SGA improve,” said Foster. “We want to make it easier for students to approach. I think there are a lot of things we can do.”

“There needs to be a lot of changes to make SGA for students and not just the administration,” said Dixon. “We want to make it more for the students. We want to make changes on the campus and get things done.”