King’s Hosts First SBP Debate of the Election Season

| Photo courtesy of The King’s College

King’s hosted its first SBP debate of the election season on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 15. The SBP candidates, Abby Roth, Max Pleban and Mattie Winburn, debated various topics and issues the student body posed. Lydia Marlin and Noah Ebel moderated the debate.

The candidates gave their opening statements. Each expressed their love and vision for the student body throughout the pandemic. 

“This community has become stronger as a result and this tenacity is visible in every student,” Roth said. 

“Every student, house and administrator has persevered through these unprecedented times. This is a testament to the type of person that comes to The King’s College,” Pleban said.

“I believe that in order to most effectively improve the functions of our institutions, I must rely on the experiences, ideas and feedback of you all, the student body,” Winburn said. 

Next, Marlin asked the candidates a variety of questions. The first question was how each candidate viewed the role of SBP. 

“The role of the student body president is to lead and listen,” Roth said. 

“It is clearly outlined as to identify the student's needs and then to develop an appropriate response,” Pleban said.  

Winburn spoke of her three viewpoints of the role: advocating, engagement and communication with the student body and the administration.  

All have similar goals and hopes for the community at King’s. 

Ebel asked what the leadership approach of each candidate will be to those students that have not had the same “Kingsian” experience they all claim to have. 

“In order to hear the voices of all other students, we need to create an environment and a community that encourages giving. You’ll never understand King’s if all you ever do is take from it,” Pleban said. “We are not just here to take from the school, but to serve.” 

“While you can be a part of the community, you can also be an individual within a House,” Winburn said. “There is a stark difference between building community and demanding conformity. Not everyone has to be the same for a community to be strong and united.” 

“That is what makes us so unique at King’s and what drives me and I’m sure the other candidates to fulfill the role of student body president; all of these differences is what makes King’s King’s,” Roth said.

The candidates next discussed their plans for selecting their Cabinet members to weigh their decision based on the various experiences and perspectives each member will bring. 

Pleban added, “We ought to view the Cabinet members as presidents of their own fields.”

The next question Ebel presented was what the candidates were concerned about with the Honor Code.

“This is what prepares us for post-grad life, being able to have conversations with one another in a Biblical manner,” Roth said.

“My biggest concern about the practice of the Honor Code is the motivation behind it. It should create connections through love and concern for one another,” Winburn said. 

“We need to approach it with the view of humility and grace,” Pleban said. 

The last question the candidates discussed was the obligation the SBP has with the student body and the administration. The goal should be to have communication and transparency within Council meetings. 

The candidates were then allowed to expound more on their platforms. Winburn emphasized on engagement with the student body and getting rid of a certain King’s mold students feel they need to assimilate to. Pleban wants to plant seeds now for financial strategies in the House system for the future student body to enjoy the shade of. Roth wants to bring back the competitiveness and energy the student body had prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Throughout diversity, The King’s College continues to be unified with one goal and purpose. 

“My passion and love for this school was not ignited by this election and it won’t end with it here,” Winburn said. 

“If there was one word that I would use to describe each and every one of us, it would be drive,” Roth said. “You’re not here unless you’re driven. We all excel in whatever area that we’ve chosen.”

Lastly, the candidates each gave closing statements. 

“I can’t tell you that I have all the answers, but what I can tell you is that I am a competent, confident and committed leader,” Winburn said. 

“I want to see a college that is successful not just next year but lays the groundwork for 5, 10, 20 years from now,” Pleban said. “Can we close our say and do gap to where we come to the point of coming back to this college years from now and be incredibly excited to see the work that we have put in, together, as a student body.”

“We all are recognizing and fighting for similar things, and I think that this is good. This race is more about who you think can lead and listen best, and I’m hopeful that for you I am that candidate,” Roth said. 

Marlin closed the event by saying, “The purpose of this debate is to help you find a candidate whose vision for our community you can support and stand behind.”