by Cento Staff
One of the most important upcoming Centre College events is the SGA Debate, held this year on April 10th at 7:00pm in Newlin Hall. The SGA Debate always precedes the SGA Elections, which opens this year on April 11th, this Friday. The debate is a yearly occurrence jointly hosted by the Cento and SGA, in which candidates for SGA President, President of the Student Senate, Speaker of the House, and the President of SAC will be asked questions about their campaign and goals. These are the students who will be shaping your experience at Centre College over the course of the coming school year, who will be in charge of club funding, SAC activity planning, lobbying admin for students benefits, and in general helping you have your voice heard. Just like any election, it is important to stay informed about what your candidates represent and how they want to change campus.
In order to help students come into the debate informed about the potential options for candidates, we at the Cento decided to ask some preliminary questions of the SGA Presidential Candidates. Below are their responses:
Can you give an overview of who you are?
Caroline Koenig:
I am a junior politics and philosophy major from Murray, Kentucky. In the future, I plan to work in public policy for a nonprofit advocacy organization and eventually attend law school. When I am not busy being a student, I am a chronic coffee drinker and frequenter of Drystack (my apologies to any Hub fans). Some fun facts about me are that I am obsessed with analog watches, backpack pins, 0.5 Pilot pens, and my two cats.
Samuel Cothoff:
I am a junior from Hopkinsville, KY, majoring in Anthropology/Sociology and minoring in Health and Medical Studies and Music. I enjoy songwriting, long walks around campus, cooking, playing guitar, DJing, and the Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso at Hall of Fame (shoutout Brooklyn). I am currently involved with the Student Government Association College Council, Greek Life, Kentucky Ensemble, Centre Ambassadors, and Centre Players. I have previously served on the Student Activities Council, as a Resident Assistant, and as a First Year Mentor. I do research in equity, inclusion, and social justice as a part of the Atkins Scholars Program. All of these experiences have shaped me as a person, and I am grateful for the opportunity given to me by Centre to participate in these various events.
What is the goal of your campaign?
Samuel Cothoff:
The goal of my campaign is to reveal more about what the President does for the student body, for SGA, and for Centre College and demonstrating why I am fit for the role. It wasn’t until running for President that I truly understood what the President does for campus life. While they are the figurehead of student government and the fiercest advocate for all student concerns, they are also the administrative voice of the Student Government Association. They ensure that all procedures are complete and that elections run smoothly. They serve on standing committees within Centre’s institutional network like the College Council Steering Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. They schedule meetings, reserve rooms, appoint committees, distribute suggestions and concerns to the appropriate people, and more that is often overlooked. They are the conductor of the orchestra that is SGA; they ensure all parts of SGA work in harmony. If SGA is in harmony, then they can focus on advocating for and making change. For me, this campaign is about more than winning and being President. It’s about being transparent with the student body so that everyone can understand the role of SGA and its impact on student life. I want every student to know that their voice matters and that they have direct access to student government. If elected, I will use my experience, institutional knowledge, and drive for advocacy to ensure SGA is accessible, responsive, and engaged.
Caroline Koenig:
My goal is to mobilize SGA and to foster a robust culture of advocacy to create meaningful change. While administrative issues are also important, we need to turn our focus to addressing the longstanding issues, such as housing, student worker wages, and disability accommodations, that the student body faces. SGA has the power to publicly endorse the reality of the student experience and bring these real issues to the attention of the administration. To begin tackling these issues, we need to conduct independent research, compile surveys, and host issue-specific town halls. I have found some of these methods, namely survey data, to be more effective and convincing when it comes to persuading the College to take action, which was the case with washers and dryers. Furthermore, we need to exercise our underutilized legislative powers to write and publish resolutions proposing recommendations and advising the College on these issues, as outlined in the SGA Constitution. Through these actions and more, I want students to feel confident that SGA is not going to ignore the big issues. We will be loud and proud advocates for you, for better, and for change.
What experience do you have in a position such as SGA president?
Caroline Koenig:
Over the course of my three years on SGA, I have had the honor to serve as the previous Co-Chair of Students Affairs and the current Chair of Campus Improvements. In Student Affairs, I gained insight into our relationship and processes with clubs, which constitutes a large portion of SGA’s work. In Campus Improvements, I gained experience with developing and solving larger projects, including working with facilities to fix the sidewalk between Crounse and Young and pushing the College to address the excess of broken washers and dryers. Additionally, I have served on multiple College Council committees (Career Readiness, Sustainability, and Voter Friendly Campus). All of these experiences have prepared me for the ex-officio and voting member responsibilities of the SGA president, as well as supporting creativity, idea-generation, and delegation when presiding over meetings.
Samuel Cothoff:
My background in various campus organizations has prepared me to serve as SGA President. As Speaker of the House for the past two years, I have worked directly with all of SGA leadership. I served as the “right hand man” to the President, ran every General Session meeting, oversaw and wrote legislation, and facilitated discussions of all kinds with every type of constituent on campus. Through this, I developed a deep understanding of SGA’s structure, governance, and abilities. Outside of SGA, I have thrust myself into every aspect of campus life that my Google Calendar and body have allowed. As Risk Manager of my fraternity, I developed skills in problem-solving, responsibility, and ensuring the well-being of others, which translates to my priority of student safety and advocacy.. As an Atkins Scholar, I conducted independent research on campus, deepening my critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills that I will apply to navigating student concerns, institutional policies, and projects. My experience as a Tour Guide has strengthened my ability to communicate effectively with anyone, including overbearing parents who want what’s best for their teens. I have always been a representative of Centre and understand the concerns of both current and incoming students. Having served in this role, and others like FYM and RA, has reinforced my commitment to making campus a more welcome, inclusive place. Because of these experiences, I am equipped with a solid, diverse set of skills that will help me be an effective SGA President.
Why should students care about the role of SGA president?
Samuel Cothoff:
The SGA President directly impacts student life and helps shape the overall campus experience. The President balances the organization’s overall function and the organization’s role within the larger institution of Centre College. They do all of this while advocating for a better student experience. They are not just the person who will push for policies or initiatives—they are the person who ensures that student concerns are heard, addressed, and acted upon. The President bridges all communities of campus—students, faculty, staff, administration, and the Board—in an attempt to create real change. The President does not rule alone; they must rely on the voices of all students to know what needs fixing. The President should be a collaborative, inclusive leader who does what they can with their term. Students should expect a President who is experienced, action-focused, and committed to student engagement. I understand how SGA works within itself and within the greater Centre College structure. The best that I could hope for in my tenure as President is to leave Centre a little better than when I started. This position isn’t a title; it’s a collection of duties that focus on improving life on campus. I know I am capable of fulfilling these duties and am ready to lead the student body with my whole heart.
Caroline Koenig:
It’s not just that students should care, rather students always deserve more out of the SGA president and SGA as a whole. SGA has the power to unify the voice of the student body to effectively advocate for change, and the SGA president can help influence the direction of said change. Building off the last few years, I want to foster a robust culture of advocacy, addressing the longstanding issues on campus. I am committed to making these issues, both in my platform and beyond, a priority, so if these issues are important to you, I am humbly asking for your vote.
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Remember the full SGA debate is on Thursday, April 10th, at 7:00pm in Newlin Hall. At the debate you will hear a much wider range of questions, and will be given the chance to ask both the presidential candidates, and the other running students, any questions you have regarding their campaigns. We hope to see you there!