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NEWS
[ Tuesday, March 13, 2001 ]

USG candidates officially declare campaign goals

Collegian Staff Writer

The candidates for the Undergraduate Student Government presidential and vice-presidential elections officially declared candidacy yesterday.

Six presidential candidates along with their running mates applied for the undergraduate student body leadership positions.

The candidates had to obtain at least 500 signatures from other undergraduate students to be eligible to run.

The presidential and vice-presidential candidates offered their platforms last night.

  • Katelyn Belyus (sophomore-liberal arts) and Tom Murtaugh (sophomore-business administration) said they wanted to be more accessible to students. They decided not to use their last names to let students feel like they were closer and friendlier to students.

    Katelyn and Tom, as they will go by, said their main focus will be on making the university more democratic. They said they want to work with the University Park Allocations Committee to have all of their positions elected.

    "It's our money, it should be our opinion where it goes," Murtaugh said.

  • CLARIFICATION: An article in The Daily Collegian Tuesday unclearly stated an Undergraduate Student Government presidential candidate’s platform.

    They also want to work with the Office of Judicial Affairs and make the university more environmentally friendly.

  • Terry Burke (senior-aerospace engineering) and Benjamin Gerald's (senior-architectural engineering) theme is "representing you, working on what you want."

    Burke said they have five major platforms including university diversity, women's affairs and health awareness, town relations, academic life and student health education.

  • The candidates
    Katelyn Belyus
    Major: Liberal arts
    Year: Sophomore
    Running mate: Tom Murtaugh
    Platform Goal: University democracy

    Terry Burke
    Major: Aerospace engineering
    Year: Senior
    Running mate: Benjamin Gerald
    Platform Goal: Diversity and women’s concerns

    John Linde
    Major: Mechanical engineering
    Year: Junior
    Running mate: Nathan Murphy
    Platform Goal: Tuition freeze

    Robert Michaels
    Major: Political science
    Year: Junior
    Running mate: Claudia Lum
    Platform Goal: Less administration involvement in student body

    Matt Rokita
    Major: Chemical engineering
    Year: Junior
    Running mate: Sushil Nanavati
    Platform Goal: Better communication between students, USG and administration

    Justin Zartman
    Major: Political science
    Year: Junior
    Running mate: Amanda Hudnall
    Platform Goal: Housing and availability of ESACT credits

    He said they want to work on expanding the Ritenour building.

    Burke said they want to focus on making diversity and women's concerns social issues that involve the community more.

  • John Linde (junior-mechanical engineering) and Nathan Murphy (junior sophomore-earth and mineral science) said their theme is "Students First." They have three major platforms but their main goal is to put a freeze on tuition.

    "It's a big goal, but it's a goal that needs to be addressed," Linde said.

    Their second goal is to get the Monday after Easter off for students. Linde said it would be a good day to have off because it would be a break before exams.

    Their third goal is to create a system for students to use community service to count as general education credits.

  • Robert Michaels (junior-political science) and Claudia Lum (freshman-pre-medicine) said their main goal is to have less administration involvement in the undergraduate student body.

    The pair's goals include bettering security on campus by adding more blue lights, having UPAC completely elected to their positions and increasing Greek involvement in USG.

  • Matt Rokita (junior-chemical engineering) and Sushil Nanavati (junior-computer engineering) said one of their major platforms is to better communication with the students and USG and USG with the Administration.

    They want to go back to the "first come, first serve" process of obtaining on campus housing.

    They also want to improve the security on campus.

    "No one should have any qualms about walking around on campus anytime, anywhere," Rokita said.

  • Town Sen. Justin Zartman and Amanda Hudnall (junior-industrial engineering) said their campaign theme is "Putting Students First."

    They said because of the frequent unavailability of Exercise and Sport Activities credits, they would like to try to give students class credits through their use of the workout facilities and fitness classes.

    Another one of their platforms is bringing back a safer means of transportation from the fraternity areas to campus and north of campus. They also would like to broaden the diversity awareness of students.

    Students can see candidates debate from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Heritage Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center.

  •  

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    Updated: Friday, March 16, 2001  1:52:46 AM  -4
    Requested: Friday, July 25, 2008  5:22:54 PM  -4
    Created: Wednesday, May 07, 2008  6:33:10 PM  -4