Hi, my name is Eric and I am running for Student Body President. Ever since I joined the Assembly my freshmen Fall, I have seen the organization repeatedly leave big issues to other groups, focusing instead on programming. We need a change of direction. I am the candidate who has the best plan to revitalize our student government. My plan calls for the Assembly to start tackling big issues rather than using precious time programming events. We need to make the Assembly a vehicle for bringing diverse opinions together to confront the problems on campus.
So let's get to work.
Student Assembly needs to change its structure before we can start to discuss policy again. Our current system gives us committees that overlap and forces the people who sign up for them to do needless programming. Did you know that we had three people serving on the Academic Affairs Committee this Winter? We need to re-imagine our committee system so that members feel like they are participating in making real changes to campus policy.
My plan will phase out the current committee system and replace it with issue-based committees that can develop comprehensive reports and recommendations to the administration on issues such as sexual assault, sustainability, alcohol and SEMP policy. The purpose of these committees is to get the Assembly talking about the issues again and to get others involved in the Assembly. Each committee will be composed half of Assembly officials, and half of experts in their fields. Take alcohol policy as an example. When I served on the SEMP advisory board in the Fall, I was the only member of the Assembly on that committee. The Assembly needs to take leadership on these types of issues because it is the only neutral body that can bring diverse groups of people together. My plan is the only one that provides a platform to bring these groups together consistently.
I am not an expert on every issue facing our student body. However, I know that my plan will create a system where the Assembly and experts can finally come together and students can speak to the administration with a more powerful voice a united voice.
I am the candidate who can bring change to the Assembly. I am honored and humbled that the Inter-Fraternity Council unanimously supported my platform and my campaign. I am also proud that yesterday the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, which is the executive council of all student athletes, chose to support my campaign of reform.
I hope on Monday, you too will choose to support my campaign. Student Assembly has not represented for you for too long. It is time to get the Assembly back to work on behalf of the whole student body.
