Mock Campaigns, Real Leadership

It's no secret that the future prosperity of any organization lies in the hands of its newest recruits. And rather than waiting for students to grow into leadership roles, the Freshman Leadership Forum branch of Arkansas' Associated Student Government places them directly into an executive simulation that challenges them to think, collaborate and campaign as high-ranking members of ASG in only their first year. 

The Freshman Leadership Forum is a crucial branch in ASG, as it lays the foundation for future leaders on campus through their pillars: leadership, service and mentorship. Many of these FLF constituents go on to hold distinguished positions across campus—whether that be within ASG or another institution benefiting campus.  

And what is distinguishing about the Freshman Leadership Forum is the way this organization provides leadership opportunities through practice, not just participation.  

This past week, FLF had its annual Executive Simulation, an immersive experience in which members participate in a mock ticket campaign modeled after the U of A's Associated Student Government election process. Through structured debates, strategic social media promotion and the creation of a ticket built around specific pillars, participants gain a hands-on understanding of what it takes to run for executive office.  

"The simulation is a great way for FLFers to grow their communication and leadership skills, as well as to get the feel of what running for ASG exec positions in the future would look like. It's also tons of fun and often FLFers favorite part of the entire year," said FLF Assistant Coordinator Dylan Hall.  

Not only does the simulation introduce freshmen to the process of electing prominent campus leaders, but it also fosters excitement and engagement leading into the official ASG general election held in late February and early March, when the university's next executive team is formally elected. 

Each ticket shapes their campaign and their promises to the student body around their pillars. Our current executive team focused on transparency, safety and community. Their goal is that by the end of their term, students would feel more informed about ASG's position and impact, trusting in their campus safety, and, overall, feel more connected as a student body. They set the standard for what a successful campaign looks like, one that the FLF participants can model after—all while devising their own pillars and simulated plans to make a positive impact on campus. Candidates were chosen over the winter break, and five tickets were formed, each containing the usual president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and campaign manager. Over the past few months, these freshmen, with the help of their assigned FLF staff mentor, have formulated their vision and plan for their mock campaigns. It is a time of brainstorming, reflection and critical thinking as they evaluate what they could do to make campus better. 

I had the pleasure of attending the Executive Simulation this past Wednesday. The beginning was occupied by time for "hard launching" their campaigns (tabling with posters as peers asked questions about their ticket), and the latter with intense debates using real questions that are asked in the official election. The meeting concludes with a vote from all who attended, and then the selected "judicial committee" (also consisting of FLF members) find and bring to light any violations of protocol throughout the campaign, and then the reveal of the "new exec," as the winning ticket celebrates.  

These freshmen continue to astonish the rest of the ASG staff with their new initiatives, wise words and profound statements on bettering the campus.  

To recite a few from each campaign: 

"We envision a campus where diversity is not just welcomed, but valued—where every student feels seen, supported and included." - Cooper Oxford, We are One ticket. 

"We are running on support, advocacy and safety [...] I like to think of support as you're making known what's already existing, and advocacy is fighting for the things that don't yet exist." - Austin Thieme, For the Students by the Students ticket.  

"We think that we can maximize each of your experiences on campus by enhancing your learning space and building a connected community—as a leadership team, we promise to lead with integrity, transparency and grin every day." - Jayden Johnston, Advocacy for All ticket.  

"I want you to remember the unity that ASG provides and know that our purpose is to create that unity campus-wide." - Reese Smith, Unite AR ticket.  

"Students deserve leaders who listen and respond, whether they are deeply involved on campus or just getting started." - Shreya Bhalla, AR Legacy ticket.  

At the conclusion of the debates, the mock judicial team, selected by FLF staff, reviewed each campaign, addressing any errors or deductions before tallying the final votes. After a nail-biting tie for president and a subsequent run-off election, the winning ticket of the FLF Executive Simulation was officially announced. 

The elected leaders include Austin Thieme of the For the Students by the Students campaign as president, with Malana Eurete as vice president, along with Cooper Oxford of the We Are One campaign as treasurer and his running mate, Ella McCentire, as secretary. 

Beyond the final results, the simulation showcased the talent and ambition of all involved, with each ticket contributing energy, innovation and purpose to the experience. 

Watching the Executive Simulation unfold, it became clear that leadership at the U of A is not defined by titles, but by intention. The members of FLF showed that when students are entrusted with responsibility and encouraged to lead with purpose, they rise to the occasion. Through collaboration, courage and care for their peers, these emerging leaders are already shaping the campus they call home. The future of ASG is not approaching—it has already arrived.  

To learn more about what each ticket ran on, students can check out the campaign's Instagram accounts, where they shared their platforms, goals and vision throughout the campaign.