As the University of North Dakota’s Student government elections near, with election day on April 15, competing tickets, Blankenship-Rood and Thingvold-Martin, share what they want the student body to know about their campaigns.
Jonathan Blankenship, current student body president, majors in Commercial Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. For him, the role “has never been about the title. It’s about making sure every student at UND knows their voice matters and that someone is advocating for them.” His campaign is centered around SERVE, an acronym that stands for Support, Educate, Represent, Voice, and Enhance. His top priorities, if elected, include creating partnerships with local businesses to provide sponsorships for student organizations, advocating against tuition increases and funding cuts to help keep the university affordable, brining a free two-hour parking area on campus and reducing parking ticket costs, strengthening alumni-student connections, and recognizing the achievements of outstanding students across campus. Blankenship believes “it’s extremely important to have student leaders who have proven their abilities through their actions. That is what sets Blankenship-Rood apart.” The most important thing he wants the student body to know is that “Our students are always at the forefront of my actions, and you can trust that I will always lead with integrity, promote unity, and serve UND.”
Raya Rood, vice presidential candidate alongside Blankenship, is an Elementary Education major. Blankenship describes her as “an outstanding leader as the senator for the College of Education and Human Development” who is “committed to building meaningful connections and advocating for students.” She and Blankenship met through their involvement in student government and connected over their shared leadership values. “We both believe in building strong relationships, listening to student perspectives, and making sure the student government remains accessible and connected to the campus community,” she said. Rood believes one of the biggest strengths she brings to the team is her ability to build relationships and make connections. She approaches leadership “with a focus on listening, encouraging others, and helping the people around [her] succeed.”
Mason Thingvold, opposing presidential candidate, majors in Management. Describing his motivation for running, he said, “I want to leave UND better than I found it. Making a real, lasting impact on students’ experiences now and in the future matters to me.” An off-campus housing student senator, he believes he and his running mate, Kaleb Martin, are most qualified because they “bring experience, leadership, and a drive to improve UND.” While he says he has respect for the current leadership, he believes “it is time for a fresh perspective and a stronger focus on execution.” Thingvold’s campaign is centered around BOLD, which stands for Build Community, Opportunity for All, Lead with Integrity, and Deliver Results. He says his primary goals include advancing an indoor turf-dome recreation project, expanding on-campus jobs, creating more internship programs for students, and creating a centralized UND app featuring an AI assistant as a student resource for events, communication, and student feedback. “Our priorities focus on tangible results that students will notice,” he said. Thingvold also plans to address safety concerns he has noticed, including “providing better lighting, improved sidewalk maintenance, and consistent snow removal.” “Most importantly, remember that as your representatives, we stand with you,” Thingvold said. “This role is not just a title; it’s a responsibility to advocate for, collaborate with, and ensure that UND is a place all students are proud to call home.”
Kaleb Martin majors in Finance and Accounting and is running alongside Thingvold. The two connected while serving on UND’s interfraternity council. “Mason has always been a mentor to me,” he said. If elected, Martin believes “the most important responsibility as the vice president is to be an advocate for the president.” “Mason has a lot of good and realistic ideas,” he said. “These aren’t just initiatives we’re proposing to get elected. These are initiatives that we are putting into action right now.” Martin further emphasized Thingvold’s focus on action, saying, “We aren’t making empty promises for votes; we are proposing and implementing realistic and achievable goals.”
UND’s Student Government supports students through representation and legislation. It financially supports bussing around campus, student organizations, and other programs and services on campus. This year’s elections will be held on Wednesday, April 15, and all students enrolled at UND are eligible to vote. Online voting will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Grace Larson is a Dakota Student Contributor. She can be reached at [email protected].
