Desmond/Polk ticket has experienced leaders

As the Undergraduate Student Government's Co-Chief of Staff, Jamie Desmond has a wide range of experience in fighting for students' concerns. When elected to the presidency, she will build on this year's successes while correcting the problems, and not have to waste time by beginning at square one.

Without an outsider, USG gets stagnate. John Polk is the fresh eyes that we, the students, need in order to enhance USG's ability to serve us.

This ticket has proven to be successful leaders at Penn State. They will continue to put the students first. I support them wholeheartedly. Please, consider your options and vote Desmond/Polk on April 2.

Emily Martin
USG town senator

Lubkemann/Kramer announce their views

We are announcing our candidacy for the presidency and vice presidency of the Undergraduate Student Government. Why throw another hat into the crowded ring, you might ask? What do we have to offer that all the other candidates don't?

After reading the platforms of the candidates that registered for the election, we were disappointed by what they had to say.

There were some good ideas presented by well-meaning people, but they didn't represent many of the concerns of students. Addressing these issues should be the mission of student government.

We have the same concerns as all of you reading this letter. It won't help to propose grand solutions to our problems if they can't be implemented. Rhetoric is empty talk if you can't produce results. We are not part of the political establishment, but as fellow students who have been a part of Penn State for three years, we feel we can credibly represent your needs to the University bureaucracy.

We know what it is like to wait in lines at Ritenour, assuming it's even open. We don't read every page of assigned reading, and we can't afford to buy all our books. Have you had incompetent academic advisers? We have. Bad professors? Us, too. Do you even know what the student activity fee pays for?

Please write us in on your ballot when you vote in the upcoming elections. Vote for someone that stands for what you believe in! Let's get it done! Workable solutions for real problems.

David Lubkemann
senior-international politics

Erin Kramer
junior-advertising and administration of justice

PSUVO endorses Rummel/Ciesla ticket

I am writing on behalf of the PSU Veterans Organizations (PSUVO), concerning the upcoming Undergraduate Student Government elections. We, as an organization, are unanimously endorsing the Rummel-Ciesla ticket. Many members of USG claim to be concerned about students and organizations on campus. However, Kendra Cielsa has been our USG liaison for the past year and, to date, is the only member of USG to offer their support to our organization without asking anything in return.

As our liaison, Kendra's sole responsibility was to inform us of USG matters that concern us, but what she actually did was much more. Kendra has attended all of our meetings, come to our functions, helped with our fundraising campaigns, and even helped build our homecoming float.

Until now, I have never concerned myself with the USG elections, but this year is different. On April 2 I will cast my vote for Rummel-Cielsa! I strongly encourage you to do the same.

Julie A. Carter
President- PSU Veterans Organization

Desmond has worked hard for student issues

I was very disheartened by the article on the front page of the March 25 Collegian. This article contained a quote referring to Jaime Desmond as an "insider," who thus does not care about students. Not only is this statement illogical, immoral, and patently untrue, it is also very upsetting to anyone who has ever volunteered their time to serve the students of Penn State. Let me share with you some of the things Jaime Desmond has accomplished for students to warrant this "insider" status. Desmond initiated the Condom Co-Op campaign with the residence halls.

Desmond was the first person to staff the condom sales tables and the first student to sit on the Condom Co-Op committee. She was the original student to vote for the proposal. This certainly is not a student afraid to do the gruntwork or to stand up for student rights. Desmond was a leader in the implementation of the free weekend Loop for students. She has chaired blood drives, homecoming committees, dance marathon committees and served as a student representative on many administrative committees.

Desmond has never gotten anything in return except the feeling that she has left Penn State a better place than she found it.

I don't understand how someone who has worked so hard for students deserves to have all of her volunteer work thrown up in her face and be called derogatory names because of it. I think we should be thanking, not slamming those who help students.

Caroline Casagrande
USG town senator