By. Melissa Boyd  (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Junior Mike Collis is up for a challenge: running against current SGA Chief of Staff Kira Tieman for SGA president.

He says he’s preparing for his future.

“I’m a political science major and I want to get into politics as a career,” he said. “I wanted to start at the college level. I like helping people in the college and SGA would be a great start.”

Mike Collis

Mike Collis

He ran against Tieman before.

“Last fall, we ran against each other for the Chief of Staff position,” he said. “I’m a transfer student from Burlington College in New Jersey, so last semester was my first semester here. Kira’s in my classes and I know her. I know I’m at a disadvantage because she’s been here longer than I have.”

He said the last election was a good test for him.

“I found out what worked and what didn’t the first time around,” he said. “I think that will help with this race.”

Collis is a member of College Republicans and also the author of the Student Bill of Rights, his current platform for SGA presidency.

“I’m big on student rights,” he said. “I’ve heard stories where students had disagreed with their professors and weren’t allowed to and I’m trying to clarify students’ rights with all of that – including speech, press and judicial processes.”

He said these policies would start and continue with his presidency if elected.

“I’m always open to students coming up to me and giving suggestions, especially when it comes to their student rights,” he said.

Senior Liz Wallace said she was impressed with Collis because of his Student Bill of Rights.

“I don’t know if it passed at the SGA meeting or not,” she said. “But from what I saw, I can tell he knows how to support students and he knows that the students want.”

Wallace said she knows him through College Republicans and having classes with him.

“I think he will be a good president, if elected,” she said. “I think he will support the students and help them as much as he can.”

Collis said his biggest challenge will be time management, but he thinks he can handle it.

“I’m a student who lives off-campus, so I have to have a job to pay rent,” he said. “The most difficult thing would be to get my schedule to work with those of the cabinet’s. But I will overcome this challenge with communication, making sure everyone’s cohesive with their schedules before events to make sure everything can fit.”

Senior Travis Ragland said he thinks Collis is smart enough to do the job.

“I think he’s similar to Tanner [former SGA president] because he’s new as a transfer, like Tanner was new as a freshman running,” he said. “But he’s very engaged with politics and understands the political realm.”

Ragland said he’s taken classes with Collis before.

“Mike is very intelligent,” he said. “He knows what he’s talking about and he’s always quick to engage as a classmate. I think he would do an exceptional job as president if he’s elected.”

Collis said that, if he won, student rights would be the prime concern for him.

“Voting for me would ensure student opinions are hear and students would have strong backing with me as president,” he said. “I’m very progressive so I will certainly make an agenda. Most importantly, I will see that agenda is carried out.”