Candidates for Vice President

Bryce Hayzlett

Written by Dara Collins

Ever since Bryce Hayzlett stood before the legislative body to inform students and fellow senators about the controversy surrounding Turning Point USA, he realized he felt comfortable speaking in front of a crowd when it came to the Student Government Association (SGA).

During an SGA meeting on Nov. 11, 2019, Hayzlett revealed two years worth of incidents where Turning Point USA was associated with racism and sexism, citing specific examples from other university chapters of the organization.

Hayzlett, a junior information technology major, has publicly, comfortably and successfully spoken about sensitive and controversial topics. Now and in the future, he wants others to feel comfortable approaching him about anything.

“I’ve been told that I’m easy to approach and talk to as well as a good listener, and I hope that I can use those qualities for students to feel comfortable approaching me with absolutely any concerns that they have relating to the university,” Hayzlett said. “I like helping anyone in SGA that has questions on how we run, and I expect that we’ll have plenty of new faces after next semester’s freshmen elections.”

Hayzlett currently serves at the President Pro-Tempore but looks to further his involvement in SGA as the next vice president.

As the President Pro-Tempore, Hayzlett’s current duties include creating the schedule and tracking hours for SGA’s work hours, and he would fill in for the current vice president if they were to resign or be absent from a legislative body meeting.

Hayzlett also acts as an ex-officio observer during executive cabinet meetings, in which he serves as a liaison between the executive cabinet and the senate.

Hayzlett expressed his passion for SGA, stating that he serves “out of personal passion and not for a line on a resume.”

“SGA is what I dedicate most of my free time to outside of classes, and I’ll still have plenty of time next academic year to continue this work ethic.”

Hayzlett hopes to keep the senate on track next semester and be a resource for new members.

“After our former vice president transferred, there was a readjustment period that I believe hindered SGA’s productivity,” Hayzlett said. “I want to make sure that nobody is left behind and that we have the most productive year possible.”

“I want to be able to ensure that incoming senators have someone that can help guide them and help them fit into their new role, and I believe that I’m the best person fit for that job,” Hayzlett said.

Jordyn Hronec

Written by Dara Collins

Jordyn Hronec believes that Student Government Association (SGA) is more than just gavels, polos and constitutions.

“As vice president, I will specifically be working to ensure that our weekly legislative body meetings possess the correct atmosphere that encourages and uplifts the student body,” Hronec said.

Hronec, a junior multimedia major and the current recording secretary of SGA, already has multiple plans in place to fulfill the role of vice president.

“In order to bolster student involvement and ultimately, student approval of SGA, the correct atmosphere needs to be established within the body, and that all begins with the correct leadership, both inside and outside of meetings,” Hronec said.

Hronec hopes to continue current President Jake Berlin’s work and make legislative body meetings of interest to students.

“At legislative body meetings, SGA tends to discuss a disproportionate amount of internal business over affairs that truly matter to students,” Hronec said. “This needs to change, and I will make it change through several measures, including but not limited to, making agendas public and well-known, accepting student body-driven amendments to agendas and pushing for non-essential, internal votes to occur via SGA’s public email group.”

Hronec has made students a priority in her current role in SGA. In addition to her duties as recording secretary, Hronec also served as the chair of the Student Concerns Committee. This committee collects, organizes and resolves concerns of the student body.

As chair of the committee, Hronec helped organize the Come Complain events as well as the new monthly Town Hall series. There is also an online concern collecting form that students can access from anywhere at any time that Hronec created.

Hronec feels the role of vice president is integral to SGA functions, especially organizing and motivating the senate.

“In order for the SGA senate to truly reflect the needs of the student body, it needs the correct leadership who will maintain order, but also break down walls created between the body and the students,” Hronec said.

Hronec believes her organization and leadership skills will help her excel as vice president, but she views her most important quality as clarity.

Additionally, Hronec would be holding dual leadership positions as she fills the role of Editor-in-Chief of The Globe next academic year. She believes the organizations have the same basic goal: to serve the student body.

“In the past, The Globe and SGA have had a contentious relationship,” Hronec said. “Recently, this has changed…This is the relationship that we should have, and it is one that I will continue to foster.”

Candidates for President

Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel

Written by Allison Schubert

Throughout Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel’s time at Point Park, she has had one goal: to graduate from an institution she will be proud to call her alma mater.

“When I look around at the school right now, I am not proud of what I see,” Frank-Rempel said. “After I graduate, I want to be proud of the school I came from. Running for the position [of president] is the best way I can think of to improve the school.”

Currently, the sophomore intelligence and national security major serves as the vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), where she runs legislative body and executive cabinet meetings, makes herself available on campus to the student body and steps in to both challenge and support current President Berlin.

Before her role as sitting vice president, Frank-Rempel first served as a senator, then was elected into the position of President Pro-Tempore (PPT). 

As PPT, she tracked the office hours of SGA’s members and served as a liaison between the executive cabinet and the legislative body.

In fact, it was her position as PPT that gave her the eventual promotion to vice president. In the SGA constitution, the PPT fills in for the vice president should they resign or be unable to fulfill their duties.

When former Vice President Alexa Lake transferred schools at the end of the fall semester, Frank-Rempel got her call up, which she is thankful for.

“SGA was the first organization that I joined freshman year and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities it has given me,” Frank-Rempel said. “What I love most about serving the student body in SGA is the ability it gives me to influence the school into a community that I am proud to be a part of. “

Though she loves her current position, Frank-Rempel already has big ideas for how she can step into the role of president.

“[In addition to] an overall improvement in the functionality and beautification of Point Park’s facilities, I would like for SGA to step up into a position to hold the administration accountable,” Frank-Rempel said. “Particularly in light of the problems we have faced with discrimination in the past year.” 

Dennis McDermott

Written by Allison Schubert

Dennis McDermott has always been an outgoing person, and realized shortly after joining the Student Government Association (SGA) that he could use that aspect of his personality to connect with the student body.

“Being in SGA has allowed me to connect with resources not only on campus, but in Pittsburgh as well that can be used as a vehicle for the improvement of people’s lives,” McDermott said. “It has also provided me with the perfect excuse/talking point to strike up a conversation with literally anyone on campus, to find out things they struggle with on campus and how I can help to alleviate those struggles.”

Currently, McDermott serves as a senator for SGA with seats in the Rules Committee, Student Concerns Committee, Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, but his role in student government extends beyond the walls of the university. 

He also is the current president of the Pittsburgh Student Government Council (PSGC), a group of students from member schools of the Pittsburgh Council of Higher Education that meet to discuss the common needs and concerns of all represented colleges and universities.

“I have always prided myself on being up-to-date on the rules of SGA, the student concerns of the university and attending every single meeting,” McDermott said. “I have also learned about issues surrounding the city of Pittsburgh [at PSGC], and brought that information back to the school with ideas on how to solve them at Point Park.”

Throughout his time in SGA, McDermott has been taking notes of what he believes would be best for the student body, and he has turned those notes into ideas that he formed his platform on.

“The number one change I would like to implement is to reduce the level of food insecurity on Point Park’s campus. Point Park has the highest level of food insecurity in Pittsburgh at 44-percent rating at moderate to high levels of food insecurity. That is unacceptable,” McDermott said. “I would also like to ensure the training of new senators and appointees… to give them the ability to seek change on their own terms.”