Elected student leader promises democracy, ‘communication’

By Jonathan McFadden
mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Kambrell Garvin is a busy man these days.

Only a few minutes into a scheduled interview with his visitor, the junior political science major ignored text messages, put off phone calls and explained that he had another scheduled interview in almost an hour. 

Classes in the morning and meetings in the evening make a typical week for Garvin, with office hours sprinkled in between.  

When he’s not in his office or meeting with administrators, he’s appearing before the university’s board of trustees, talking with students across campus or facilitating Council of Student Leaders (CSL) meetings.

Then there’s social interaction with friends, community service with his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, membership with Winthrop’s NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) chapter and 15 semester hours.

Then again, what can one expect from Garvin, who this semester steps into a role that places him at the lead of 7,000-plus students.

What could be described as a decade-in-waiting came to fruition last semester when 832 students voted in the first democratic student-wide election in 10 years.

By a 71-vote margin, Garvin was elected as the chair of CSL—Winthrop’s student body president—with his running mate, junior integrated marketing communication major Kaitlin Sapp, winning the bid for vice-president.

Campus wide elections originally ceased in 2001 when a lack of student involvement led university leaders to disband the democratic election process.

Instead, in-house members of CSL voted on their chair and vice-chair, who in effect served as the student body president and vice president respectively. 

Until recently, student interest and involvement in CSL was sparse, with weekly meetings being attended only if certain controversial issues—like a proposed smoking ban or frustrations with the university’s administration—were put on the agenda. 

Splinter groups, like the Winthrop Student Congress or TSA (Think! Speak! Act!), have been involved in ferreting issues with student government, whether their approach was agreeable or not, Garvin said.

Now, CSL plans to usher in change by initiating a campaign that will publicize and actively promote CSL gatherings.

Every Monday outside of DIGS 114, a sign indicating the meeting locations and times will be posted.

Fliers will also be stationed around campus and in residence halls, encouraging students to “come on out” and “have your voice heard,” Garvin said.

And, voices will definitely be heard, Garvin said. The way history tells it, women and blacks would not “have a seat at the table” if complacency and fear robbed them of their desire to speak for change, he said.

As for Sapp, Garvin’s self-proclaimed “right-hand woman,” hard work during the summer will pay off with more attendance at CSL meetings and improved communication with the student body.

 “We’re going to see people actually coming to the office, [students] coming to the meetings that aren’t generally elected members, just people coming to see what’s going on and kind of give their input,” she said.

More than that, Sapp said students can feel free to come to her or Garvin regarding any issues, big or small, if they feel uncomfortable airing concerns at open meetings.

“The most important thing is just communicating with us,” Sapp said.

Elected in April 2011, Kambrell Garvin, junior political science major, is the first democratically elected student body president in a decade. Photo by Aimee Harman • harmana@mytjnow.com

Promises, promises

With the election’s momentum dwindling and a new semester dawning, Garvin is readying himself to make good on his campaign promises. 

For 10 days last spring, Garvin and his running mate, Sapp, canvassed on a platform promising government transparency, discerning resolutions to parking issues and lobbying state legislators regarding the consistent increase in higher education costs.

Garvin said he is currently in talks with administrators regarding parking, a long-standing issue on Winthrop’s campus.

Already, five students have been appointed to a Parking Appeals Committee meant to identify the trouble spots on campus where students receive the most tickets.

As for lobbying legislators, Garvin said he and his classmates recently discussed the loss of PELL Grants and student jobs, he said.

“I think students will see this is something we must actively get engaged in,” he said. 

Keeping students involved is also paramount.

“Students should continue to vote in the years to come,” Garvin said. “This is the test year. If we don’t do what we’re supposed to do this year as a student government, then students will get disheartened and the numbers we saw 10 years ago in lowly student participation will slowly creep back up.”

In the spring, Winthrop saw an 18 percent voter turnout. Compared to other universities, which usually see eight to 9 percent voter turnout, Winthrop did well, Garvin said.

Now, students should expect to see leadership from CSL, Garvin said, and not a top-to-bottom pecking order.

“I’m the people’s president,” Garvin said. “The people put me in place and the people are who I represent.”

New alliances

Garvin’s contenders have been busy as well. 

Senior political science and economics double major Timothy Kroboth will chair a newly formed Political Action Committee.

Two main objectives for the committee include voter registration drives geared towards motivating students to get involved in the primaries and a letter-writing campaign that will garner student support on letters sent to the S.C. General Assembly and legislative leaders in Washington D.C., Kroboth said. 

Kroboth, who this semester will also lead the College Republicans, said the committee may also collaborate with the College Democrats and College Republicans for political events, but no ideas are set in stone.

One thing Kroboth is sure of is that his activities with the College Republicans and Political Action Committee will not overlap, nor strut any particular political party bias.

“I’m not endorsing any kind of political ideology whatsoever,” Kroboth said. 

Kroboth snagged 21 percent of the votes last spring.

One of Garvin’s other opponents in last semester’s election won 7 percent of the votes and siad he would be willing to stp up to the platform again if the need arises. 

Cliff Totherow, senior philosophy and psychology double major, said he has been putting a “great amount of time and sweat” into training for the 2012 XTERRA off-road triathlon race series via the Active EAGLES Club.

But, if the need arises, Totherow said he’s willing to step up to the platform again.

“If Kambrell is doing an outstanding and proper job representing the Winthrop community, then I fully encourage him to keep his momentum rolling with the following term,” he said. “However, if this is not the case, I will gladly pick up the slack to ensure that the job is being utilized to its full potential in service of all Winthrop students, faculty and staff.”