Former SGA presidential candidate continues to lead

Tyler Nepote, a Wichita State junior studying finance and management, sat outside next to the sand volleyball court behind the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house. Inside the building, about 20 young men cleaned up the remains of the previous evening’s social event.

“It’s a glorified babysitting job,” said Nepote, president of SAE. “But really I love it. At times it’s stressful because you’re responsible for 48 18- to 21-year-old guys.”

When Nepote started at WSU, he considered a few different fraternities before choosing SAE.

“I thought there was room for growth,” Nepote said. “Like I could join here and have my voice heard quicker.”

He knew from the start that he wanted to eventually become SAE president.

“My goal when I joined the house was to be president,” Nepote said. “To help it improve and to leave a legacy.”

Two months into his term, Nepote speaks confidently about the future of SAE and Greek life in general.

“I think just helping guys go Greek is rewarding, even if they didn’t pick your house,” Nepote said.

His drive to improve the system also led Nepote to run for SGA president, despite having never served on SGA.

“The whole reason I ran was so that people would be interested in SGA, that my point would get across, that it would be an eye opener for those already in SGA and that the people on my ticket got their voices heard,” Nepote said.

Nepote ran for Student Government Association president last spring under the banner of the Shockers for Results party.

“No one was going to challenge the other party,” Nepote said. “And I didn’t want it to be so easy for them.”

He and his vice presidential candidate, Jon Abrahamsen, lost the election to SGA President Luis Carbajal and Vice President Olivia Sullivan.

Nepote may be quick to question the SGA status quo, but remains positive about the current SGA administration. He believes that transparency is improving under Carbajal and Sullivan.

“Most of the work that Olivia does goes unrecognized,” Nepote said.

Nepote said that Sullivan went out of her way to provide the student body with directional signs around the Rhatigan construction. He also said Sullivan and Tessie Arambula, SGA treasurer, are examples of hard-working individuals within the SGA system who take on the existing bureaucracy along with limited pay.

“SGA is really serving its purpose this year,” Nepote said. “I’m happy for them. I hope they continue it.”