New SGA president elected

Daniel Thorpe is UNCW's newly elected SGA president. With 54.65 percent of the votes, Thorpe beat out Megan Jelley and Morgan Wyand. Thorpe is a junior majoring in oceanography and geology, and he is minoring in leadership. For Thorpe, this will be his first time as an elected SGA official.

"I've been saying this a lot through out the campaign: that someone without SGA experience will give a breath of fresh air." Thorpe explained that the average student sees the SGA and the school's administration on a pedestal. "I want to change that image because we are all on the same level," Thorpe said.

One of the first things Thorpe said he wants to do when he takes office is to promote the SGA. "We're going to hit the campus and let the students know who we are," Thorpe said. "We're going to work hard as well as play hard."

When Thorpe realized he wanted to run for the office, he polled more than 900 students (approximately eight percent of the entire student body). Thorpe used the responses as a way to develop his platform. A popular program Thorpe has endorsed is called "Teal Taxi." This public transportation plan would transport students from campus to locations downtown and then back to campus. The plan would include food stops along the return trip for those inevitably hungry passengers returning from a night downtown.

In addition to program ideas gathered from the poll, Thorpe said he became aware of how many students don't utilize the resources the university has to offer. "In the poll, I asked students to name three traditions at UNCW, and barely any were able to," Thorpe said. "It's not like they don't exist; these programs just need advertising."

Thorpe illustrated a program offered at the Diversity Center. The Diversity Center gives $300 towards the startup of a new school club. "Most people don't know they have this option," Thorpe said.

Thorpe's cabinet still needs to be selected. Applications can be picked up at the CAIC office in room 2029 of the Fisher Student Center. Aside from Thorpe, other newly elected SGA officials include Will Dennis as student body vice-president, Christopher Faulkner for senior class president, Brian DesRoches as junior class president and Mark Blackwell for sophomore class president.