Winthrop students Erin Emiroglu and Miguel Caldwell will serve as Chair and Vice Chair respectively on the Council of Students Leaders for the 2021-2022 academic year. The pair were the only ticket that ran and garnered all of the 457 votes.
Both representatives have served in leadership roles on and off campus. Caldwell said that the mutual desire to serve as student representatives and previous experience was what inspired the pair to run in the election.
“Erin and I both bonded on the fact that we wanted to be representatives for the student body,” Caldwell said. “Ironically, it was something we both knew during our freshman years. Although we both knew we wanted to be elected to these offices, we never knew that we would do it together. Erin reached out to me and expressed that she was going to run and I was thinking very hard about running. From that, we set up a meeting two days later. After our meeting and more conversations we quickly realized that our values and our missions aligned. From that moment it only made sense for us to run together. Our diverse backgrounds and collective goals of diversity, advocacy and leadership forged a very strong duo.”
Emiroglu is a political science major who will serve as chair during her senior year. She has previously served as a Diversity Peer Educator, a Voting Ambassador for the university and as the President of the College Democrats of South Carolina.
“The role of Student Body President and Vice President is to not dictate what that student body needs, but to listen to and act,” Emiroglu said on defining leadership. “Students at Winthrop may not always feel like they have the outlet to voice concerns and make changes, but as the next Student Body President, I will ensure that students have a safe, inclusive, and
accessible space to do so. The changes that can be made in this role are to be decided by the students, not those elected to the position. Student voices will be heard and I will work to meet them where they need me most.”
Caldwell is an elementary education major and will serve as vice chair on the Council of Student Leaders during his junior year. He currently works as a Resident Assistant on campus and as a volunteer counselor at Anne Springs Close Greenway.
The pair’s campaign slogan “Elevate,” represents their goal of providing a platform for student voices to be heard and amplified. One of the main methods the next administration plans to utilize to amplify student voices is creating monthly town halls for students to voice their opinions directly to the Council of Student Leaders, as well as the inclusion of a digital form for those cannot easily attend the physical meetings.
Their platform also hopes to collaborate with various offices and organizations to promote the general well-being of students and encourage diversity and inclusion across several university institutions.
“Our ultimate goal is to make Winthrop a better place by encouraging the heart of current and future students to elevate the university and their Winthrop experience. Together, we want to continue the work that past leaders have started in cultivating a university that is representative of the students that it serves,” the pair’s CSL applications says.
Current CSL Student Body Chair Brandon Jackson said that the experience he has gained from serving as a student representative has been “monumental,” and wishes the next generation of student
representatives the best of luck.
“As Chair of the Council of Student Leaders and Student Body President, I would describe my experience as monumental. I was offered the opportunity to impact lives in ways I never imagined. I had the chance to work alongside various Faculty and Staff members who have played a pivotal role in my growth and development within these roles and throughout my senior year. Not only did students, faculty, and staff members look to me for guidance, but they heard and internalized the words I spoke and wrote, and this is an experience I will never forget. I appreciate the student
body for having faith and confidence in Ravyn and I when electing us into office. Working alongside the members of the Council of Student Leaders has been very rewarding and I am glad to have witnessed and aided in their service to the Winthrop community,” Jackson said.
“To our newly elected Student Body President and Vice President, know that the world is yours to conquer. Though it may seem challenging at times, nothing worth having comes easy. The student body has faith in your ability to serve this campus well, and you should have the same faith in yourself. To whom much is given, much is required. Though the work is far from over, I know that both
of you will do what you can, do what is in your power, to make a difference in the lives of your fellow Eagles and all who have a connection to Winthrop University.”
Graphic courtesy WUCSL
