SBP Campaign Season Concludes with Final Speeches from Candidates
Abby Roth, Max Pleban and Mattie Winburn at the SBP Debate | Photo courtesy of The King’s College
King’s SBP election season came to a close on Monday, Feb. 21, as the three candidates gave their final speeches to the student body, each characterized by an overarching theme of love for King’s community coupled with a desire to continue its improvement.
Abby Roth opened with an outline of her plan for the upcoming academic year. “Under my leadership, I will strive for healthy pride, especially in the areas of campus, athletics and the council.”
Roth went on to explain these three areas in detail. Campus, in her mind, involved “bringing back traditions while also adding opportunities for less academic-focused [activities] in the hopes of creating an environment of a casual, fun community.”
Roth advocated for a return of “healthy competition” that she feels has been lacking since the onset of the pandemic. She wants King's to be a place that encourages these activities.
“I hope to create a community that celebrates the athletes and acknowledges how much hard work and sacrifice they put in to represent King’s,” Roth said.
Roth advocated for a more organized and powerful Student Council, allowing the House presidents more freedom to lead their respective houses while making the cabinet more efficient.
Max Pleban followed Roth, taking the stage in a full suit and tie to the applause of his Reagan counterparts. While Roth’s speech focused on details of her platform, Pleban went for a more broad and inspiring approach.
“Everything that we believe can be put in a circle,” said his mentor. “This can include anything from ‘My favorite food is sushi’ to ‘Plato is my favorite philosopher,’” Pleban said.
“[...] Within that larger circle, there is a smaller circle of beliefs, [...] the essentials that, no matter what, we will not budge on.” These core beliefs and values grow smaller as we grow older, said Pleban.“One of my essentials [...] is to leave things better than I found it,” Pleban said.
He used the House of Reagan as an example of what his leadership could look like. Pleban emphasized the student body’s responsibility to strive for excellence and pointed to his house’s budget tripling last year as a clear example of what King’s students could do with time and patience.
The final candidate, Mattie Winburn, focused on the impact she wanted student leadership to have, as well as her passion for King’s student body as a whole.
“Why did I consider running for leadership at King’s in the first place? [...] I wanted to become a leader that fully embodied the leaders of my house, serving with both excellence and integrity,” Winburn said. “I am incredibly grateful for the strong community that my team and I have been able to build at the house of Clara Barton.”
Winburn concluded, “Today’s student body is tomorrow’s alumni, the same alumni that in just a few short years will begin receiving phone calls and emails asking if [they are] willing to give back to King’s.”
The next SBP for the 2022-2023 academic year will be announced on Wed. Feb. 23 in the City Room.