Although they have yet to issue a public statement, GUSA President Clara Gustafson and Vice President Vail Kohnert-Yount are endorsing Jack Appelbaum and Maggie Cleary in the 2013 GUSA executive race, while GUSA Chief of Staff Jake Sticka is managing the ticket’s campaign.
Former Georgetown University Student Association President Mike Meaney (SFS ’12) and Vice President Greg Laverriere (COL ’12) did not endorse a candidate in the 2012 GUSA race.
“As chief of staff over this past year, I’m obviously committed to this institution and concerned with its future,” Sticka (COL ’13) said. “I wanted to make sure the ticket I thought was best had the best chance of winning, and that’s why I’m supporting them.”
Ethan Chess (COL ’14), chair of the GUSA election committee, said there are no rules prohibiting active members of GUSA from endorsing or contributing to campaigns.
Gustafson (SFS ’13) praised the platforms and leadership style of Appelbaum (COL ’14) and Cleary (COL ’14) as “revolutionary.”
“If anyone is going to be able to get things done, it’s the two of them,” Gustafson said.
Sticka said he sees Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount’s support as an affirmation of Appelbaum and Cleary’s strength.
“I think it speaks for itself having the sitting exec’s support,” Sticka said.
Sticka cited his close work with Appelbaum as leaders of the College Democrats and in the currentGUSA executive cabinet as a major factor in his decision to support the ticket this year.
Appelbaum expressed his appreciation for Sticka’s support.
“It’s a great testament to the strengths of our ticket and experience on campus,” Appelbaum said.
Other candidates, however, questioned the significance of the executive’s endorsement.
“The most important thing is whoever takes over and continues the progress Clara and Vail have made — who they endorse is not the most important thing,” vice presidential candidate Robert Silverstein (SFS ’14) said.
“We’re disappointed that they chose to endorse Jack and Maggie’s campaign, but we respect their right to do so,” vice presidential candidate Joe Vandegriff (COL ’14) said.
Presidential candidate Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) said he was surprised by Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount’schoice, and said that Sticka played a role in their decision to support Appelbaum and Cleary. Tisa has worked alongside the executive as speaker of the GUSA senate.
“While we respect the current execs, the one commonality between them and their ticket is JakeSticka,” Tisa said. “It’s been widely known that Sticka was going to manage their campaign and he was going to work his hardest to bring his partners on board.”
Tisa emphasized the similarities between his platform and Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount’s focus on social justice in the 2012 race.
“If you look at the tickets in the field of furthering social justice and diversity and bringing new voices into GUSA, that’s us,” Tisa said. “We are the ticket that truly does represent their legacy even if they’ve gone in a different direction.”
Gustafson expressed confidence in the student body’s interpretation of her endorsement.
“I hope Vail and I have done a good job by the students of Georgetown and I hope they know we want to make sure this new GUSA of openness and transparency is continued,” she said.
