Presidential Profile: Candidate Christian Sawka
Presidential Candidates
Christian Sawka. Business major and psychology minor from Coquitlam, B.C.
What are your goals for that position if elected? Integration, my goal is to work on bringing Student Life, Recreation Services, and TWUSA closer together. I believe we need to work with each other more instead of working against each other indirectly. I was an RA my second year and I believe in the potential that this campus has when we work together.
Photo by: Alejandra Yaya
What do you think is the most important issue TWU students face that you would like to work on? I believe the most important issue is building up this community whether it is between residents and commuters, Student Life and TWUSA or between different faculties. I believe that is the most important issue face this student body today.
How would you like to see the TWUSA budget spent? Wisely, with accountability and with a clear direction of how the student fees should be spent in accordance to what the students need.
Do you think student leaders should be required to sign a statement of faith? I do not believe that at TWU all student leaders should be required to sign a statement of faith. However I also believe there are some student leadership positions that perhaps should require a statement of faith and some that should be open to non-Christians and should not require a statement of faith.
Why should students vote for you? I believe you should vote for me if you believe I can do the best job. Most of the people reading this will know who I am and where I am from. I was an RA in my second year, I am on TWUSA in my third year and intend on continuing to serve this community into my fourth. Why you should vote for me is because ultimately I want to serve this student body by any means and if you believe I can do the best job in serving you then vote for me.
I am not certain I have confidence in a presidential candidate who is unable to use proper spelling and grammar.
I would second the first comment. I would also challenge Christian’s comment about student leaders not having to sign a statement of faith. The reason that Trinity is different from every other University other than that we are known as a Christian University is that our actions speak louder than our words. (At least they should be.) As ambassadors of this University, if a person chooses to represent the school in some way, for example student leadership, they should be held accountable to representing everything this school stands for.
Hey, Christian here.
First off spelling is not my greatest strength in this world sadly I am working on it!
Second I do not believe that every single person in student leadership should have to sign a statement of faith. A statement of faith is different then signing the community covenant I believe every person should have to sign and follow the community covenant BUT Trinity Western University itself does not require people to be Christians. Upon entering this university you do not HAVE to be a Christian. Yes this is a Christian University but if we are granting people acceptance who are not Christian’s then why would we not allow them in student leadership. Yes there are some positions that should require a statement of faith like: RA, CA, CF, D-Group leader and other positions along those lines. But here is a question back to you why should someone not be allow to write for the school newspaper because they do not sign a statement of faith? Does it make them any less likely to be able to write the news?
You mention that our actions should speak louder then our words but even on this Christian campus we are faced with hypocrisy. If I am elected to be an ambassador as you call it I will profess my faith as I do already. I agree with you people should be held accountable to what this school stands for. But this school does not require you to be a Christian to enter so therefore how can we say they should not be allowed in any form of student leadership because of this.
This is not a simple yes or no answer. Because there is not black and white on this issue. Should everyone who breaks the covenant not be allowed to be in student leadership? Should everyone who struggles in their faith not be allowed to be in student leadership? This school according you stands for Christians who’s actions speak louder then their words and are strong Christians. IF that is the standard is there anyone left?
Thank you,
Christian
You have a kind and honest heart, completely devoted to the student body.
You are ambitious, full of hope and desire for making Trinity the best it can be.
I believe in your leadership and support you as President of TWUSA 2011/2012.
I would agree that the covenant and statement of faith are very different things, and I am not passing any judgment on those who do not choose to follow it to a tee.
By signing a statement of faith, individuals are ensuring that their beliefs match up with those of this University. People from outside the TWU community often have questions addressing what TWU is all about, and any person is a position of leadership should be able to address those questions to the best of their ability. If a person in leadership does not hold the same beliefs and priorities, what does that say about us?
By all means I would encourage those who don’t have a faith in Jesus Christ to attend TWU, and take advantage of the opportunities available here, but again, those are different than serving in leadership.
Anonymous 1 and 2 – I’ve been paying attention to the elections at Trinity, even though I no longer go there. I really care about the future of this university as it is a very good institution, and I want the best for it. But your comment appears to be targeted towards one person, because if you read the comments by the other candidates, there are grammar and spelling mistakes everywhere there as well. Luckily for us all the presidential position does not list spelling and grammar as a requirement, or there would be no president, and all the candidates would lose to no candidate. And no on really wants ‘no candidate’.
Seriously?
I agree with Josh
To respond back to anoyomous about the statement of faith I would agree and disagree about it still you make a great point about the leaders of this campus having to be an example. The biggest draw back for me is that if TWU does not require a statement of faith from the students should certain leaderships positions. For example last year Ashiba was a active Muslim and she won junior rep should she have been required to sign a statement of faith? The biggest thing for me that it comes down to is this, a statement of faith would be effective in most situations. Yes but there are going to be people who would sign that statement of faith and lie about it to get it. What example does that set? Or there will be people who sign that and do not live accordingly to a statement of faith. This is why it is a debate for me because even if we make every student leadership position sign one will it ultimately make the biggest difference. It comes down to peoples actions not one lone statement, one lone statement without actions is dead. This is the statement I live by (try to):
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17
So would a statement of faith really make everything better or would it just increase lying about our faith struggles? Please comment back would love to hear your thoughts.
“Yes but there are going to be people who would sign that statement of faith and lie about it to get it. What example does that set? Or there will be people who sign that and do not live accordingly to a statement of faith.”
This situation is going to happen and does happen all the time, but that doesn’t mean it’s a better idea to just sign off and say it’s not important. TRYING to set an example is better than not having one and hoping for the best.
I’m not trying to say that these individuals wouldn’t be qualified for the positions, nor that they wouldn’t do a good job. What I’m saying is that Trinity is a Christian University. Our statement of faith is part of what sets us apart, as well as the standards that we attempt to uphold. As Christians, we are held to a higher standard, and those individuals in positions of authority are held to the same standard that the rest of the student body is.
I agree that action needs to accompany words, so that is sort of my point. If we don’t live up to our own standards, we aren’t really setting any kind of example either.
I agree with you, it is just a difficult to just say yes to everything right? There was an interesting debate that went on last year which was is Trinity Western and evangelical issue. I am in favor of the statement of faith for everyone, I am in favor that we should up hold Trinity Western standards, but the problem I still have is if Trinity does not require people to sign a statement of faith should ALL student leadership. I have mentioned this before that most positions should require a statement of faith but I do not think everyone does. This will always be an area of discuss this is a grey area at Trinity hense why Jason Brandl asked it :)
Hi,
Christian… Please may I have three complete sentences on why you should be our President. Please don’t mention the statement of faith, as I think that it is an argument that doesn’t need extra attention.
Thanks.
Three Sentences eh?
The reason you should vote for me is because I am not just a member of TWUSA, I was a RA my second year and know what this campus is like outside TWUSA. I want to bring the experience into building up integration between TWUSA and other departments of this campus. I want to focus on building up and integrating this community.
Hopefully those are complete sentences.
For the statement of Faith it is not a cut and dry yes or no. You are accusing Christian of saying that the statement of faith shouldn’t be required, when in fact that is no what he is saying. Why are you no talking on here to the other candidates about their position on it? Those candidates who have an outright yes or no answer. Why not ask them why they believe there shouldn’t be a statement of faith?
Good work on those sentences Christian!
Two things.
1)The way Christian is being treated in this election and on this forum is repugnant.
2)If the person ripping down his posters has been seen and will receive appropriate retribution.
Hey “Pissed”
Thanks for the support but it is alright I would rather have people up here bashing me, or ripping down my posters because it means one thing. It means atleast people care enough about elections/TWU to do something. Maybe they can find something more constructive though.
Thanks,
Christian Sawka
Dear Pissed,
Grammar is important. We’ve been told that spelling counts since elementary school. It’s not an attack to point out that basic grammatical errors occur. Good spelling is as easy as putting the comment through Word before posting.
I don’t see anything else in this forum that is ‘repugnant’. The only thing I can think of saying is that of the three sentences, two say the same thing.
Dear Pissed
I’d also like to add that if you were to look at the comments on Nathan Giede’s page, people are calling into the question the way in which he affords to go here. There is more of a reason to be “pissed” about that.
Elections over in a hour :) Vote