Student Leaders Stake Out Their Positions at Candidates' Forum By DeAndrea Ebiasah Bowie State University students officially were introduced to the candidates for Student Government president, vice president, Miss BSU and Mr. BSU at a candidates' forum on April 6 in the Wiseman Centre. Candidates for SGA president and vice president are Jamin Gallman and Rhonetta Brooks, and Joshua Spivey and Alex Lambert III made their case to students who will go to the polls on April 27 to select their representatives. Each candidate spoke about their platform for the 2011-12 academic year. Gallman and Brooks platform is passion, dedication, innovation and inspire. Spivey and Lambert platform is F.R.E.S.H, furthering retention through educating students honestly. When candidates running for SGA president and vice president were asked why they were seeking the highest student office at Bowie State, Gallman said, "the time is right and you get up and go." "In 2007, I wanted to make a difference but did not know how," Spivey said. "I wanted to get it out there. No matter where you come from, you can be where I am." There are two women seeking the crown of Miss BSU: Michelle McCleary and Avery Bishop. Matthew Riley III is running unopposed for the title of Mr. BSU. Bishop's campaign platform is P.E.A.C.E, pursuing empowerment accomplishing community service and eagerly motivating students. McCleary's platform is Umoja: The Beauty of Unity. Prior to the start of the candidates' forum, Student Government Association Kirk Pressley opened the meeting with general campus updates for the graduating class of 2011. The SGA Food Service committee discussed its continued efforts to better the menu, presentation and consistency at campus eateries. Senior class president Jennifer Williams addressed the graduating seniors with caps & gowns and photographs updates. There will be another opportunity in May and those dates are scheduled, May 15-16, with late fees of $65 and $25. In addition, Photo magic will be returning April 27-29. Williams said graduating students who are participating in this May 2011 commencement are urged to create a graduate profile that will be available on the Bowie State University website. Executive member at-large Bonita Young met with the senior vice president of business development, Shawn O'Quinn, to discuss student's issues with the menu, food presentation and the lack of consistency. There will be a final food survey passed out and available on-line for students on April 18-29. Also, comment cards for students' feedback are available in the cafeteria, and there are suggestion boxes around campus in the Center of Learning and Technology and the Wiseman Student Centre. Sophomore president Chinelo Ekeza expressed the successful turn-out of the pre-viewing of the Vagina Monologues on April 7. The full production will open April 28. Commuter Student President Desiree Sealey reminded students of Commuter Week April 11-15. One of their biggest events will be the carr wash at the Shell gas station on 450/Annapolis Road. Cost will be $5 for cars and $7 for trucks. The next student body meeting will be 3 p.m. May 4 in the Wiseman Student Centre 102. | 
The thing I like most about BSU is the connections and relationships that I have made. Being an out of state student can be a challenge, and my fellow Bulldogs have become a part of my family.
Professor E. Tony Yorkman currently serves as Lecturer in the College of Business, Department of Management Information Systems. 
S. Christa McAuliffe was a high school social studies teacher in Concord, NH, in 1985 when she became a national celebrity, having been chosen by NASA as the first National Teacher in Space.
