The upcoming election for the 105th Student Government session’s student body president and vice president presents NC State students with a dire choice between two tickets: Isaac Carreno and Anil Gordon or Taquan Dewberry and Adam Womble. 

Typically, Student Government (SG) elections feel inconsequential, but with NC State’s heightened political climate — marked by the Trump administration’s war on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the ongoing search that could install a Republican sock puppet as chancellor and the fallout from SG’s failure on R29—this election will be pivotal in shaping how the student body fights back against the onslaught on marginalized students.

After reviewing both campaigns, The Nubian Message cannot fully endorse either ticket, as both candidates have cracked under pressure from university administration and engaged in political maneuvering that has ultimately harmed marginalized students. 

However, the Dewberry-Womble ticket has shown a greater willingness to challenge NC State administration, while Carreno’s approach suggests a preference for maintaining institutional relationships over advocating for student interests. For these reasons, we recommend — but do not fully endorse — the Dewberry-Womble ticket.

Our hesitation is not due to a lack of experience — both Carreno and Dewberry have held leadership roles in Student Government. 

Instead, it stems from their failure to demonstrate unwavering commitment to student interests when it mattered most. Both Carreno and Dewberry claim to support DEI, yet neither has a flawless record. When asked by The Nubian Message about how they would oppose the rollback of DEI during the Student Government debate, each made notable concessions.

Carreno responded strongly yet failed to articulate specific plans beyond “strategic advocacy.” Dewberry, while more direct in his stance, admitted to having individuals on his campaign team who previously voted against DEI legislation.

Both candidates for president supported protecting DEI measures. However, Dewberry’s answer was more encouraging than Carreno’s. Carreno said he was comfortable “advocating for DEI and making a commitment that diversity, equity and inclusion matters at NC State University.” While a solid stance, Carreno’s only given way of solving this issue was by not “alienating the people who do ultimately have the power to make a difference,” and with “strategic advocacy.”

On the other hand, Dewberry, while still not saying specific actions he would take, emphasized action. Dewberry specifically mentioned ensuring students are aware of the Student Success Centers as one way of doing this. Dewberry said, “What we need to do is make sure that we’re charting a path forward together as an institution, instead of just simply advocating for it.” Ultimately, we believe Dewberry had a stronger, though still imperfect answer.

More concerning, however, is that both candidates have cracked under pressure from university administrators, choosing to prioritize institutional relationships over representing the voices of the student body. Both candidates for SBP played a role in the blocking and eventual veto of Resolution 29 (R29), the “Call for a Permanent Ceasefire Act,” and their responses to this controversy have been inadequate to say the least. 

Resolution 29 (R29) was backed by over thirty student organizations and was introduced in April of 2024.  The resolution, if passed, would have meant student government would “acknowledge the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a direct result of actions taken by the Israeli Defense Forces.” It would also recommend the university call for a ceasefire in Gaza and provide educational resources on the conflict.

The day before the fast track failed to pass, Dewberry held a secret meeting with twenty-two other senators, basically telling them to vote against the legislation. He said the university advised them not to vote for the bill and that it was in their best interest to table it. Ultimately, the bill failed a fast-track vote. 

R29 eventually was passed in September, but was vetoed by the student body president, Allison Markert, who Carreno is vice president for. It was truly devastating not only to all the supporters for Palestine but for the Arab community. All that work and progress was for nothing. The trust between the student government and the student body has not recovered. 

The student government is supposed to be looking out for all students, but with this legislation not passing, it showed that the student government didn’t care about Palestine. They showed that they were afraid to get their hands “dirty” and stand up for people who needed help.

The former Markert-Carreno administration showed they didn’t care enough about genocide—families getting wiped out and people getting oppressed—using excuses like the bill did not align with the shareholders or it was antisemitic and made Jewish students feel unsafe. Dewberry, as student senate president pro tempore, and Carreno, as the student body vice president, choose to prioritize institutional relationships over representing the voices of the student body. Fearmongering and cowardice have guided their decisions more than true student advocacy, as demonstrated by their handling of R29. We believe that Dewberry is the only candidate who has shown remorse for his role in R29’s non-implementation, along with a shift in his voting history.

Conclusion

Hinging our endorsements (and recommendations) on the outcomes of R29 may come off as a “one-issue” decision. However, our decisions to endorse Naila Din for Student Senate President and Lance Williams for Treasurer (and to only recommend Dewberry-Womble) are rooted in the power of language.

Language and rhetoric are vital mechanisms for solidarity. To recommend carries very different politics and implications than to endorse. A recommended candidate is capable, but the jury ultimately remains out on whether they will honor their commitments. 

An endorsed candidate is not only capable, but they have earned our confidence and trust — their loyalty to the student body is stronger than their commitment to protecting the interests of university stockholders. 

We believe Dewberry and Womble will fulfill their duties to the marginalized student body better than Carreno and Gordon; however, Din and Williams have proven through action that they will defend marginalized students to the full extent of their ability.

As these are Student Government elections, there are few other value judgments that we can make about these candidates. Very little separates the candidates’ positions — only their specific plans for the positions. Resolution 29 gives us a unique opportunity to judge our representatives in ways the student body normally cannot. 

As Arab and Muslim student organizers have been suppressed for their activism, student governments and publications are privileged enough to hide behind institutional protections. Therefore, as the voice of Black and marginalized students on campus, solidarity means treating our rhetoric critically and following through on our commitments to the communities who need us most. 

There is an element of cognitive dissonance that comes when you vote for a candidate that has not always represented marginalized students on campus to the best of their ability. 

Ultimately, The Nubian Message cannot fully endorse Dewberry or Carreno in good confidence because neither has earned our trust. While we acknowledge the work Dewberry has made to correct his public image, his administration will have to contend with that dissonance as they move forward. 

We encourage all voters to take their decision seriously because it will shape NC State’s response to the Trump administration over the next four years. Your vote will have an impact.