Jay Bundy
UPUA presidential candidate
Christopher Brink
UPUA vice-presidential candidate
www.teambundy.com
Main Platform Goals
Please visit www.teambundy.com and check out our 100-Day Plan. Give us 30 seconds of your time to vote and three months to change your world. Finally, give me a ring sometime, come over and play with my puppy -- it's always a good time.
What's the biggest issue facing Penn State students today? How would you work to resolve it?
The biggest issue facing Penn State students today is a lack of effective representation. Establishing an effective executive office, facilitating student-centered policy and maintaining accessible and student-centered modes of communication such as policy committees, an open Internet forum and newsletter will effectively advocate for the interests of the students at large.
On the other hand, the lack of student engagement and the prevalence of collective apathy is a major issue any student organization is constantly struggling with. Our plan for real advocacy will take apathy head-on at its root -- the lack of value placed in the voice of any individual student.
What would you like to see accomplished within your first month in office?
Within our first month in office we expect to complete over one-third of the totality that is our 100-Day Plan. This will include much of the establishment of an effective executive office, the formation of student-centered policy subcommittees and a formal proposal for a symbolic structure as requested by the Black Caucus. We'd also like to see every single elected representative of the UPUA, including myself, attend a seminar with student leadership consultants as well as participating in a retreat to develop a more durable group dynamic.
How would you make sure the administration hears the student voice?
I am confident that the Penn State University administration is more than willing to listen to logical, well-presented and well-intentioned ideas from any elected officer of the UPUA. To the extent that the administration is uncooperative, we will ensure that our appointed officers are literally showing up in Old Main every day to advocate for students -- whether the administration "makes time for them" or not. Team Bundy is concerned with being effective, not being liked by the administration.
How would you work to increase student participation in UPUA?
Establishing an effective executive office that is appropriately compartmentalized will automatically engage many more students in the democratic process at various levels. In furtherance of this effort, our policy subcommittees will be composed of students first and foremost ensuring students' engagement at every step of the decision-making process. Finally, we will undertake measures such as the creation of a strong Web site featuring an open public forum and the establishment of a bi-weekly newsletter, so that students will have more information at their fingertips and a greater opportunity to participate.
Jay Chamberlin
UPUA presidential candidate
Mitchell Belding
UPUA vice-presidential candidate
www.ReunitePSU.com
Main Platform Goals:
Ensure UPUA successfully advocates student interest
Examine the constitution and make necessary changes to guarantee all members of the Penn State family fair representation
Hold monthly open meetings where any student can make a presentation to the body
Make the distribution of football season tickets more fair
Improve the quality of teaching assistants
What's the biggest issue facing Penn State students today? How would you work to resolve it?
We believe the most significant issue facing the Penn State student body is the lack of diversity on our campus. By this we mean both the lack of representation of underrepresented group interests and the low percentage of these groups in the student population as well as in our faculty. We will work to resolve this issue by advocating fundamental changes to the "Framework to Foster Diversity," as prepared by the Office of Educational Equity, with an emphasis on the recruitment of both students and faculty with diverse backgrounds. In addition, we will make changes to the UPUA constitution to provide more effective representation of minority interests.
What would you like to see accomplished within your first month in office?
During the first month, we need to lay the foundation that will allow this organization to be successful. That means accomplishing a basic set of tasks. We need to make sure that all vacant seats in the association are filled; all standing committees, subcommittees and associated committees are staffed and chaired; the association staff is appointed; a meeting schedule is devised; and a budget prepared. In addition, we will establish a Web site for the purpose of informing the student body and soliciting feedback. Beyond that, we will begin the process of reviewing and amending the constitution to improve the fairness of representation and seek to form working relationships with the leaders of other student organizations and members of the Penn State administration. While these may seem to be simple goals, without these steps the organization will not be able to successfully advocate student interests.
How would you make sure the administration hears the student voice?
We will make sure the administration hears the student voice by organizing mass letter-writing campaigns, working with administration officials to resolve concerns and, if necessary, organizing large student demonstrations to illustrate our desire for change. Ultimately, we hope the administration will consult UPUA, and thereby the opinion of students, on any university policy change.
How would you work to increase student participation in UPUA?
First and foremost, we must establish the credibility of the association. We will do this by showing we are independent of the administration and by accomplishing a series of small goals, such as modifying the constitution. Once we show that UPUA is able to fulfill its purpose, people will be more inclined to participate and join our cause. We will also seek to inform everyone of our goals and our accomplishments, while actively recruiting people who want to help us make Penn State the best university possible.
Michael Hines
UPUA presidential candidate
Harry Saylor
UPUA vice-presidential candidate
Web.mac.com/hinesandsaylor
Main Platform Goals
Continue and improve upon the commitment Penn State holds to the growth of students inside and out of the classroom
Create a strong student government
Improve University Park programming
Promote diversity
Foster community service
What's the biggest issue facing Penn State students today? How would you work to resolve it?
The lack of a student voice on this campus. We need to get up and running as fast as possible so students on campus can have representation in every facet of university life.
What would you like to see accomplished within your first month in office?
Getting a strong constitution approved and the structure of the government straightened out so we can start working on the issues that face our students as soon as possible.
How would you make sure the administration hears the student voice?
We will make sure to have good working relationships with all necessary administrators and meet with them often to update them on the issues at hand.
How would you work to increase student participation in UPUA?
We feel if we work hard and show that we are a successful organization that is getting stuff accomplished for students they will see this and start participating on their own.
