Correction: A former version of this article stated that Brandon Baltzell is the president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Baltzell no longer holds that position.

Matthew Conklin, a candidate for president of Student Government Association, and his running mate, Brandon Baltzell, understand they will face challenges if elected to be the leaders of SGA.

 “One thing that I don’t like at WSU is that there is sometimes student apathy,” Conklin said. “That comes to students not knowing of the relevance that different opportunities can have towards their lives.”

This lack of interest and improving student involvement is one of the changes they want to address as SGA president and vice president.

“We want to empower the voice of the student body,” Baltzell said. “We believe that the keys to doing that are through our collective experience as leaders on campus, and the relationships we’ve formed.”

Conklin is the president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and is the treasurer for SGA. He said he would not give up his position as president of his fraternity if he were elected.

Baltzell is a former president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Interfraternity Council.

Both come from different backgrounds and experiences.

Conklin is from Winfield, Kan. and has an agricultural background.

He is studying economics and history and has traveled to China, the Middle East and the United Kingdom for school and service.

Baltzell is an Eagle Scout from Baldwin City, Kan. He studies business management and finance.

Through his participation with the Scouts, Baltzell has climbed six mountains in the U.S higher than 14,000 feet.

Their life experiences are the basis for their campaign, “Empower Your Voice,” which has three facets: service, advocacy and inclusion.

Service relates to their leadership experiences on campus. They both feel they are “qualified to lead” and have improved the WSU community through their service.

With advocacy, they want to make students aware of the resources available to them — SGA funding, organization support and more.

Inclusion refers to making sure students and organizations know what SGA is doing for students on campus.

“It’s involving the student body,” Conklin said. “Keeping us accountable with town hall meetings and bi-weekly addresses to the student body and student organizations.”

But beyond the campaign name, Conklin and Baltzell do not have a party name for their candidacy.

They made this decision because previous SGA campaigns have chosen a party name to run with, but after they were elected, the party name was never used again.

Conklin said by using only their last names, they can create a sense of “accountability and professionalism.”

“We want to set the standard that if we are elected, we will be held accountable with our names,” Conklin said. “Because the name will last. It will be the Conklin and Baltzell administration leading SGA.”

Both are leaders on campus and are close friends who have worked together in various campus organizations.

“Brandon and I balance each other quite well,” Conklin said. “This relates from us having known each other for the past three years.”