African-American candidates embrace role model status
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
Editor's Note: This is the fourth of a five-part series examining differnt issues in this year's student body election.
In March 1970, when Dave Krashna won the Notre Dame student body presidential election, he set a precedent in two ways.
Krashna won a majority of votes in every hall and shattered all previous records — capturing 63.6 percent of the vote, with the next ticket winning only 28 percent.
Perhaps more importantly, Krashna was the first African-American to be elected student body president. Krashna paved the way for minorities in Notre Dame student government, and this year, two tickets include African-American vice presidential candidates.
Vice presidential candidate Yogeld Andre, who is running with Demetra Smith, said it is important for everyone, not just minorities, to get involved in student government. When he decided to run for office, he did not think about the fact he was a minority, but simply wanted to serve the community.
However, Andre said he does understand that he will be a role model for current minority students on campus, as well as incoming freshman.
"I think it will be important to show incoming minority students that a minority is student body vice president," Andre said. "A lot think it is all Irish and Catholic here, and I would be able to show them that you can get more involved and make this more of your home if you choose to."
Vice presidential candidate Nikki McCord, who is running with Ryan Becker, said she knows the office holds a lot of responsibility.
"I would feel honored [to be vice president]," McCord said. "I know that there are issues that separate us, but I want to look beyond those … I hope I can serve as a visible symbol that Notre Dame is an accepting community that is open to new ideas and experiences."
McCord said relationships she has developed with Multicultural Student Programs and Services director Iris Outlaw and assistant director Kevin Huie, and also the bond she has with Father Malloy's assistant Chandra Johnson, will be beneficial in fulfilling the Becker/McCord campaign promises.
"From being in a close relationship with these individuals, I will be more aware of what students want from the University on the student government/administration level," McCord said. "I would work with them to implement those ideas."
Andre, who is from New York but was born in Haiti, said his diverse background will be beneficial when serving as student body president.
"I've always been able to experience different cultures, and I try to embrace everyone," he said. "I thinking coming from a different background will help bring new issues forward."
Despite the fact that Andre has not been in Notre Dame student government, he sees being vice president as an extension of activities in which he has already participated.
"For someone who's always been involved in student government, you see it as a natural progression [to run for student body president]," Andre said. "But both Demetra and I, who have always been active in our communities, we see this as a way to get involved … I thought this was a good way to serve the student body in a way I haven't before."
McCord said she is not running simply because she is a black female, rather she also wants to serve the Notre Dame community. However, McCord does have a pride for her ethnicity.
"I've always identified myself first as a black female. I think it is important to have your identity and know who you are," she said. "After I figured out who I was, I knew I could do anything at this University I wanted to. I have the same opportunities as any student here."
McCord said she learned Notre Dame is an accepting community when dealing with racial issues when she ran for freshman class council.
"When I won, I knew I was part of the Notre Dame community, and that people looked at me as Nikki McCord, and not a black female," McCord said. "There has never been a day when I didn't want to be a black female — that's who I am, and who I want to be."
All News Stories for Thursday, February 8, 2001
