A new president and provost will lead the University next year. With this transition, strong student leaders are needed to relay undergraduate concerns to the new administration.

Brad Haartz and Doug DeLong have this vision for the Undergraduate Student Government.

Haartz and DeLong will be most effective as USG president and vice-president respectively next year because their platform reflects long-term goals for pressing student issues.

The candidates' awareness of the need for an open budget, more attention to concerns of underrepresented groups and better education for students differentiates them from the other tickets.

Both candidates have traveled to Harrisburg to lobby for an open budget and against tuition increases. They recognize that currently the budget is not open because it is not line-by-line, thereby preventing people from seeing how the University prioritizes its funding.

Haartz and DeLong have not said whether they support releasing individual salaries, but they want to go to the University Faculty Senate for faculty input. They are committed to making more budget information public, and have said they will do more than just talk to achieve this goal.

Regarding underrepresented groups, the ticket's platform espouses the widest variety of goals. Other platforms have reiterated some of these ambitions, such as inclusion of sexual orientation in the University's non-discrimination policy and a fair housing ordinance and reconstruction of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

Haartz and DeLong also advocate greater attention to Hispanic and Latino students, and are concerned that the cultural diversity requirement proposal will not provide enough quality courses for students. They have received an endorsement from the Lesbian and Gay Student Alliance as well.

The candidates state they want to increase student representation on the University Board of Trustees, as well as other administrative committees, because those groups create University policy. Haartz and DeLong are aware of the channels to go through for change, and want to increase student input in those areas.

On the subject of education, only Haartz and DeLong have strongly opposed the construction of a classroom building on Pollock Field. They say the proposal is not enough because it will create larger classrooms, which hardly enhance an undergraduate education. These two seem to have the right priorities in mind.

Haartz and DeLong do not belong to secret societies and pledge that they will not; they are willing to concentrate foremost on their campaign goals. Furthermore, both candidates oppose closing meetings to the public, and have said they would walk out on a meeting if the other members voted to close it.

The decision seems obvious. Vote for Haartz and DeLong for strong representation and defense of students' needs to the next administration.