An SGA presidential candidate dropped out of the race last week, following an announcement he was using the position to examine candidates from the inside.
Under the guise of a student running for Student Government Association president, Dan Conway, who currently serves on the Residence Hall Association, said he wanted to run because he was interested in understanding how the SGA works with the various student groups on the campus.
His experience with clubs, he said, has been dissatisfying.
“I wanted to see which candidate is going to help out clubs the most because, in the past year, clubs have been neglected,” Conway said. “Candidates can say anything behind closed doors, so I wanted to be in a situation with them to hear first-hand what they want to do.”
SGA Election Board Chairman Jason Gates said Conway withdrew from the race Wednesday night after telling The Diamondback staff and his fellow opponents of his intentions at The Diamondback’s annual SGA debate.
Conway, a sophomore government and politics and philosophy double major, has been involved with several clubs on the campus, including the College Republicans, Terrapin Trail team and a martial arts group not yet recognized by the SGA.
“I started talking to the other candidates about the techniques of finance, and I see room for improvement,” Conway said. “Larger clubs on campus get special treatment, but smaller clubs and clubs still trying to get SGA recognition get swept under the carpet.”
In addition to more focus on student groups, Conway said he hopes next year’s president will spend less time lobbying in Annapolis and more time focusing on campus issues. He also said it is a waste of time for the president to focus on improving College Park or to spend money on improving school spirit.
Conway said the few people who would have voted for him should instead support candidate Josh Wert, whom he said he supports because of Wert’s focus on student groups on the campus.
“I didn’t know Wert before the campaign; he’s not a buddy, and we didn’t set this up,” Conway said. “I just feel like he would help the campus out the most. He’s working the system for the benefit of clubs, both monetarily and in general.”
Senior staff writer Sam Hedenberg contributed to this report. Contact reporter Kelly Whittaker at whittakerdbk@gmail.com.
