UPUA presidential candidates Samantha Miller and Gavin Keirans continue to gain the endorsements of student leaders and groups around campus.
Two diversity groups voted to back Miller, the current University Park Undergraduate (UPUA) Association Governmental Affairs chairwoman.
Both the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Rainbow Roundtable backed Miller after discussing issues with her and the other two candidates, current UPUA President Keirans (junior-business management) and current Council of Commonwealth Student Governments Student Affairs Director Nick Borsuk.
"The thing that Sam said that was really touching was how she's trying to make UPUA a non-secretive government," NPHC President Cordero Thompson (junior-accounting) said. "Gavin said he has an open door policy, but if no one knows that, then indirectly it's still a secretive government. We want our voice to be heard."
The Rainbow Roundtable, a group that unites lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied (LGBTA) groups on campus, also endorsed Miller (junior-political science).
"We definitely noticed that [Miller's] response was much more clear and to-the-point, and with [Keirans], we thought it was vague," said Yvette Lerma, Rainbow Roundtable president. Miller's campaign manager, Steve Lucas (junior-English), is vice president of Rainbow Roundtable but said he was not a part of the process.
Mike Hacke, the former Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon overall chairman, also endorsed Miller.
"UPUA is still a very young organization and in order for it to grow externally to best serve the student body, they need to focus on their core visions in small steps," Hacke (senior-philosophy) said. "Sam and Matt are the candidates who are going to take those steps."
The Pennsylvania Tuition Coalition voted to endorse Keirans. The tuition advocacy group, which Keirans played a large part in creating, brings together student leaders from the Interfraternity Council, UPUA and Penn State's chapter of the NAACP.
"We endorsed [Keirans] because he already has the connections and contacts," said Coalition Director of Operations Andrew Karasik (sophomore-political science), who is also a UPUA member. "We need someone who is going to hit the ground running. Gavin has showed that he's committed to the students."
Current UPUA freshman representative Colleen Smith, who is running for UPUA off-campus representative, is a member of the coalition but served on Miller's Governmental Affairs committee this semester.
"It's not that I don't support her as an individual, because I think she's a great leader and I think she has all the skills necessary," Smith (freshman-biology) said. "But when you look at their platforms and being that UPUA is such a young organization, I think continuity is very important."
Lion Ambassadors backed Miller. Miller, who was not involved in the endorsement process, currently serves as the group's university relations chairwoman.
Keirans also picked up the official endorsements of The Lion 90.7 FM, Professional Marketing Association and Oriana Singers.
Kayla McPherson, president of the Association of Residence Hall Students (ARHS), said she endorses Miller, though ARHS will not make an official endorsement.
