Were you ever curious about what your future SGA president’s greatest fear is? Why would a potential CCAS senator want to attend GW? What exactly does the SGA feel is the most underrated thing about GW? Read more to find out the inside scoop on the potential SGA candidates!

Alton McLaurin Jr.

Mahira: Hi, thank you so much for being here with us today. Can you introduce yourself to the audience for us with your name and your potential candidacy? Awesome.

Alton: Hello, everyone. My name is Alton McLaurin Jr. I’m running for SGA Senate for the School of CCAS.

Mahira: That’s amazing. And we are very excited to hear from you today. For my first question, I’m wondering, what is your favorite animal and why?

Alton: My favorite animal would probably be horses. I grew up in Texas, so I kind of have that country influence on me. And also horses are very resilient. They can walk through miles of terrain and stay on their legs. I respect that about them.

Mahira: Wow, that’s really cool. I actually really like that symbolism. It reminds me of a box with an animal farm that had a lot of his symbolism as a horse. So that’s really cool. I’m wondering now, so I’m going to put my timer on. In under 50 seconds, I’d like you to highlight your biggest policies as a candidate in three, two, one, go.

Alton: I think one of my top biggest policies would be the academic reform. When it comes to teaching quality, I believe I’m very firm on big teachers being able to teach well. And if we’re paying 98k, we should have teaching that matches that price tag. And I believe my ability to scope out and determine whose performance is adequate or not. It’s going to be able to help a lot of different students be able to excel in different fields, especially with SEAS, kind of lacks in that, you know, good performance.

Mahira: Yeah.

Alton: Additionally, financial transparency. Requesting that the university be more transparent about where our money is going. We should know about deals, partnerships, and major projects, the cost and operational cost that goes along with that. SJ should be aware of that. And additionally-

Mahira: And we’re at time. I am so sorry, but would you like to just finish up the part about advocacy real quick then?

Alton: Advocacy, just reestablishing the Black Student Caucus and the task force on fight against the citizens on campus, I believe, will help a lot of students on campus find that safe space to have that dialogue and protection against so many different things.

Mahira: Yeah, I think that’s so important. I see that you’re talking about all these different communities that you would like to uplift and help. So now I’m curious, how has your identity impacted your time here as GW student and also in your campaign now?

Alton: I think what I embody is someone who’s separate from all the different cliques that makes GW. I’m very independent. So it just is, I think I’m proof that even though you might not find a group here, just being able to find, you know, that sense of appreciation for yourself is what’s important. And they say like GW is very independent school, which I think it is in some ways, but a lot of people lose focus on trying to find a sense of importance within their own self. I think it’s very needed.

Mahira: That’s very beautiful! I really appreciate your role here. I think that’s really empowering what you said of like, you know, trying to find yourself, right? Even if you don’t fit into it necessarily a group or a category. I think that’s really important. And GW, do you think there’s anything particularly underrated here?

Alton: I would say, like professors, like networking with professors. Like a lot of professors here can get you connected with a lot of different think tanks, a lot of different research organizations. and different firms that they are affiliated with may even work for. And I feel like students don’t take the time to go to office hours or stop after class and be like, “hey, professor, do you know anyone that can help me with this or anyone that can get me connected with these people?” Just doing that, taking an extra step can put you in a lot of successful, get you a lot of successful opportunities.

Mahira: Yeah, that’s awesome. Thank you. And for my final question, what is your favorite floor to study at in Gelman?

Alton: Favorite floor? I love fifth floor. It has the law section.

Mahira: Oh, yes.

Alton: And I plan on studying law, so I just go there and read about the Constitution, Supreme Court cases, and different things that pertain to law, which I love.

Mahira: Wow, that’s really awesome. Well, for any people who are considering law, this is your recommendation. All right, so thank you so much for being here with us today. Is there anything else you’d like to tell our audience before you finish?

Alton: Yes, voting will be on 16th and 17th of this week, and election announcements will be on the 18th. Please get out and vote, and thank you.

Mahira: All right, awesome.