Mercer Martin, entrepreneurship and economics junior, and Josephine Nicholson, constitutional studies and professional writing junior, are running for OU Student Government Association president and vice president Thursday and Friday.
Martin has been involved with SGA since her first year and is currently the SGA secretary of student services. She previously served as co-chair of the Crimson Leadership Association, a group for first-year students that focuses on providing skills for a successful future, emphasizing networking skills and community. Nicholson is the SGA secretary of campus relations.
Campaign mission
The foundation of Martin and Nicholson's campaign is called “SPIRIT,” an acronym for strengthening connections, promoting OU traditions, integrating resources and access, reinforcing campus fellowship, initiating partnerships with Norman and tying students to the local community.
The pair said they aim to use their resources to build personal connections across different organizations to help everyone feel like they belong and are proud to be part of OU.
“The people with the passion are the people we want doing the project,” Nicholson said.
According to Martin, each part of SPIRIT represents a student-focused goal to improve campus life and strengthen community ties. Martin and Nicholson said their campaign is guided by feasibility with initiatives designed to represent the diversity of student experiences and create a lasting impact.
“Teaching is the best way to learn,” Nicholson said. “It’s great for people to go and get to teach these things that OU teaches us in such a beautiful way.”
Community collaboration
According to Nicholson, the team discussed several proposals to strengthen ties between OU students and the Norman community, including allowing upperclassmen to use meal points at local restaurants on designated days. They said that plan is still in its early stages, but they hope to realize it through the proper channels.
They also said they want to collaborate with the Boys and Girls Club of Norman to provide tutoring and workshops for children. Martin said the initiative would allow education majors to volunteer and potentially earn course credits while contributing to youth development.
“We want to reach the (Southeastern Conference) level of excellence in everything we do, and that encourages boosting our local economy,” Martin said. “They pour so much into us, let's pour into them.”
Student involvement
Martin and Nicholson also said they hope to better support incoming first-years and transfer students. They said they want to serve as the liaison between students and faculty to improve communication and encourage greater campus involvement.
“We have the ability, and we know what resources are ours to use, and we want everybody to know what resources are theirs to use,” Nicholson said.
The pair emphasized the importance of continuing campuswide engagement events like OU’s first Mental Health Week, a project Martin helped lead. They said they want to encourage future discussion and support around students' well-being.
Martin and Nicholson said such events are essential to bringing students together outside of classrooms and creating spaces that are welcoming to everyone.
Voter engagement
Martin and Nicholson said they want to encourage student participation in SGA elections. Both candidates said their campaign is focused on increasing engagement overall, not just votes for their own ticket.
“We don’t care if it's for us, we want people voting,” said Nicholson. “We want engagement. We want people on ENGAGE. Vote, vote, vote!”
Martin said student engagement in the last presidential election was one of the lowest the organization had seen, and she wants to bring more awareness to the election.
“Last year was the worst turnout in a while,” Martin said.
Last year, 929 students voted in the SGA presidential and vice presidential election in total, according to the fall 2024 election report.
They said their goal this year is to hit record levels of engagement across OU’s 32,000-student campus by making the process simple and accessible.
“If people take anything away from our campaign, it’s just ‘pay attention,’” Nicholson said. “Pay attention. Know what’s going on around you and your student government. Vote, be engaged. That’s the only way things will happen and go your way.”
Competing tickets
Election Commissioner Baylor Savage wrote in an email to OU Daily Oct. 20 that this is his first time seeing a three-way race for presidency during his time at the university.
“I want to say how excited I am for the increase in candidates this year,” Savage wrote. “I am hoping that this increase will also result in increased participation from our student body through higher voting numbers this year.”
Last year, Carter Strickland became president following an uncontested election. Strickland was impeached on March 25, becoming the first SGA president in university history to be impeached.
Strickland resigned on April 4 after serving as president for three months. Former Vice President Avery Dunlap became SGA president following Strickland’s resignation.
Students can cast their votes for SGA president and vice president through their ENGAGE account Thursday and Friday.
This story was edited by Thomas Pablo and Natalie Armour. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
