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SGA Election Season Begins, Candidates Hopeful to Build on Growth

The official beginning of election season for Towson University’s Student Government Association began Monday. Petitions are required for anyone interested in running for president, and Monday was the first day those were to be handed in.
The SGA has seen tremendous growth in the past year and the first two students to hand in petitions are quite excited about the possibility of building upon that foundation. John Graf and Ryan Assadi were the first to turn in petitions, which consisted of 200 names endorsing their decision to run for office.
Both men have been active in SGA for several years. They both have a passion to grow student involvement within our university.
Assadi has been in SGA for three years and currently holds the position of chief of staff. In this position, he has worked closely with current president Kristen Guy. “I want to be challenged; I want to be held accountable, and I want the students to push me to grow,” Assadi said.
He spoke of a five-tiered campaign plan, which includes a plan to reward academics and involvement with scholarships. Assadi feels strongly that each student should be viewed as “more than just a number.” He spoke excitedly about maximizing Towson’s funds to reach all students, not just those who qualify for FAFSA and college grants.
“Because of my experience within the SGA, I am the most qualified candidate,” Assadi said.
John Graf is the other candidate who has turned in a petition as of Monday. As current treasurer in the SGA, Graf has a vision for financial change as well. He wants to maximize the funds which SGA is in charge of so that they may continue to build on the growth SGA has seen in the past year.
His optimism in the power of the SGA is evident. It is important to Graf that the “students voices come in the right manner.”
Whatever the outcome may be, this election season is sure to be exciting, with the first two presidential hopefuls bringing a lot of experience and optimism for the table.

Lede Practice

Can you rewrite this lede in less than 20 words and active voice?

• Lede #1 Roger Datolli, 67, of 845 Conway Road, a retired attorney and husband of Mayor Sabrina Datolli, who is serving her fourth term as mayor, was injured in a three-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon around 3:20 p.m. in the afternoon at the intersection of Warren and Davidson avenues, suffering a broken leg and several broken ribs when the car he was driving was struck broadside by a pickup truck driven by Jerry R. Harris, 31, of 2245 Broadway Ave., and then was pushed into the path of another vehicle.

"Roger Datolli, husband of major Sabrina Datolli, was injured Thursday in an accident, suffering multiple injuries when three cars collided."

• Lede #2
  Wondering whether or not it was legally possible and if they could muster enough votes to support their desire to see changes implemented in the downtown historic section of the city, city council members Sandra Gandolf and Alice Cycler at the regular monthly city council meeting raised the issue of having the city's planning and zoning commission look into the possibility of creating a local board to oversee changes to buildings within the six-block downtown historic district.

"City council's Sandra Gandolf and Alice Cycler voiced a desire for a board to oversee changes in historic district buildings."

In this lede, the attribution is emphasized. Rewrite it to emphasize the news instead, limiting the attribution to a few words at the end of the sentence. 30 words, active voice.

• Lede #3
  At a news conference held at the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., Monday afternoon, the head of the agency told reporters that the Senate's approval of a plan to store nuclear waste material in the Nevada desert near Las Vegas will provide a safe haven for more than 77,000 tons of radioactive waste.

The Senate's approval of a nuclear material storage plan will provide a safe haven for over 77,000 tons of radioactive waste near Las Vegas, the head of the Department of Energy said Monday.

A little background....

Hello! Thanks for stopping by my very first blog. Be patient with me. I can guarantee this will improve over time! My name is Rachel and I am a Mass Communication major here at Towson University.

I just transferred here and have not decided where Mass Communication will take me...Journalism? Advertising? PR? I hope to know after this semester.

Last summer I interned at a newspaper and it was a great experience, so I obviously have some interest in journalism. Advertising is appealing too; I would love to write the ads that make people stop and think.

Right now I am just gaining some knowledge and I’m going to try and learn as much as I can! Bye for now!