By Olivia Krauth–

The Cardinal invited all SGA candidates to fill out a survey so voters can learn more about them before elections. While several responses were edited for the print edition due to space constraints, the following are the full responses from each candidate.

Voting opens Feb. 15 at midnight and runs until Feb. 18. To vote, go to Ulink, click student services, find the ballots link on the right-hand side and follow the instructions.

SGA PRESIDENT:

Nathan Groneck
Q: What is your year?
-Junior
Q: What is your hometown?
-Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Q: What is your major?
-Political science, philosophy
Q: What is your past experience with SGA?
-None
Q: What other RSOs are you involved with on campus?
-Cards United Against Sweatshops, mock trial
Q: What are the top three things you would like to do if elected to this position?
-Expand the living wage policy to student workers and part time subcontractors; work to bring down the cost of student housing and tuition; fight sexual assault on and off campus, including abolishing the mandatory reporting by faculty so students can have confidentiality with professors they trust.

Aaron Vance

Q: What is your year?

-Junior

Q: What is your hometown?

-Vine Grove, Kentucky

Q: What is your major?

-Political science

Q: What is your past experience with SGA?

-Task Force Freshman, Assistant Political Coordinator, Political Coordinator, Chief of Staff

Q: What other RSOs are you involved with on campus?

-McConnell Scholars Program, Phi Kappa Tau, College Democrats, Arts and Sciences Peer Advisors, Pi Sigma Alpha, Order of Omega

Q: What are the top three things you would like to do if elected to this position?

-1. Fiscal Policy – As president, I want to work to develop and implement solutions to continue to shore in our Student Government budget. Faced with the potential of serious cuts at the university, we must work to make sure the student experience continues to be affordable and enjoyable. That being the case we need to work streamline and make the services that our student government offers efficient and economical. As well, as a Student Government, we must continue to serve the interest of our student with regards to the impact of funding cuts from the state. As the Kentucky budget continues to come together, the inevitability lies in the fact that we will be faced with cuts, and as a student government proactive conversation and advocacy efforts will be necessary to supplement and carry on the fight for increased higher education funding.

2. Campus Development – These past couple of semesters have seen the launch of initiatives ranging around variety of projects. With many new campus developments coming to fruition starting in 2016-17 to include the start of construction of a new academic building, continued development of affiliated properties and importantly the SAC Renovation. With all of these projects and many other student input and student direction are going to be critical in creating and provide the wanted spaces, resources and services our growing student body demands.

3. Growth and Student Involvement – Beginning this past year, programming to develop and build the strength of RSOs has been a success for the office of Student Involvement and Student Government. Continuing to provide services and resources to develop and afford continuity for RSOs will help afford their longevity and strengthen the impact of their missions. As well, encouragement and development of student resources through plant fund allocations will help to provide affordability in areas of diversity, inclusion, student involvement and safety.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT:

Amanda Nitzken

Q: What is your year?

-Junior

Q: What is your hometown?

-Louisville, Kentucky

Q: What is your major?

-Political science, minor in Middle Eastern & Islamic studies

Q: What is your past experience with SGA?

-My first year in SGA I was a Task Force Freshman and I worked with the Services Vice President. The following year I was placed on SGA staff and worked as the Associate Services Vice President. Over the past two years, I have often served as a proxy in senate meetings.

Q: What other RSOs are you involved with on campus?

-I am the current President of Sigma Kappa Sorority, a member of Order of Omega, Rho Lambda Honor Society and a raiseRED participant and volunteer. Previously, I have served on many sustainability committees, volunteered my time as an Honor’s Shadow Host, participated in Habitat for Humanity, tutored at Cochran Elementary with Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and worked as a REACH Ambassador.

Q: What are the top three things you would like to do if elected to this position?

-If elected to be the Student Body Executive Vice President, I would first and foremost like to modify the student ticketing policies. This year, EVP Caitlin Durgin improved ticketing immensely. Set for the upcoming year, season tickets for basketball and football are tied together in one package, but not available separately. I would like to break up the package deal, but still maintain the new guest ticket and transfer policies. I would also work to abolish the requirement that students who wish to purchase bowl tickets must ride a common carrier bus to the games. By allowing students to choose their own mode of transportation and length of stay, student attendance at such important games could increase immensely.

Secondly, I would like to host educational workshops for the senate so that they can understand how and why they should write legislation. While the Top Four has a strong agenda, the senators should ultimately be the individuals making the decisions in senate meetings.

Finally, I would like to improve campus diversity by hosting an annual “Teach-In” event sponsored by the Student Senate. These Teach-Ins would be day-long events open to the entire community. At these events, there would be faculty, staff, guest, and student panels facilitating honest discussion about diversity at U of L. These discussions would openly address the main concerns of students and generate community-wide action plans and solutions.

ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT:

Vishnu Tirumala

Q: What is your year?

-Sophomore

Q: What is your hometown?

-Corbin, Kentucky

Q: What is your major?

-Political science, philosophy, minor in chemistry.

Q: What is your past experience with SGA?

-Currently: Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, A&S Senator. Formerly: Taskforce Freshman, Assistant Communications Director, VP of Freshman A&S Council

Q: What other RSOs are you involved with on campus?

-Arts and Sciences Council, Resident Assistant at Kurz Hall, Honors Scholars, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity

Q: What are the top three things you would like to do if elected to this position?

-As Academic VP, I would first focus on building on what we’ve already invested in: continue building renovations, more study spaces across campus and more flexibility with your gen eds. I’m also interested in making academic advising an easier process (potentially online). This would also include working with the Services VP on making ULink easier to navigate from “what if” reports to getting a transcript. Lastly, I’m interested in building a scholarship and internship databases for students. This would be a central directory where ideally students (or RSOs) could go to get grants or funding. A separate internship database would have serve a similar function for those looking to gain field experience.

Jeremy Ball

Q: What is your year?

-Junior

Q: What is your hometown?

-Manchester, Kentucky

Q: What is your major?

-Economics, political science

Q: What is your past experience with SGA?

-Executive Staff, Associate Executive Vice President

Q: What other RSOs are you involved with on campus?

-McConnell Scholars, Student Orientation Staff, Cardinal Host, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Campus-Y

Q: What are the top three things you would like to do if elected to this position?

-1) Revamp the programatic requirements within the A&S College so that students are taking more classes that will benefit them. 2) Look at how U of L can implement more programs for students at a high risk of dropping out, including low-income, minority students and students with substantial “W’s” on their transcript. 3) Work with the U of L administration in the crafting of the new General Education Program that highlights a number of needed academic courses, but is more conducive to a student’s future endeavors.

Meredith Cooksey

Q: What is your year?

-Junior

Q: What is your hometown?

-Louisville, Kentucky

Q: What is your major?

-Chemical engineering

Q: What is your past experience with SGA?

-I have served on the Speed School Student Council (SSSC; the Speed School engineering branch of SGA) in different roles since my freshman year, most recently serving as the vice president. As VP, I was also a senator on SGA. During my sophomore year I served one semester as a full time SGA senator for the SSSC president. I was on the Appropriations committee this year as well. Additionally, I have had other positions within SSSC.

Q: What other RSOs are you involved with on campus?

-As a student I have been involved in a variety of RSOs which have given me insight into student needs. I am a Cardinal Ambassador, giving campus tours to prospective students and families. Additionally, I serve as a university shadow host. I sat on the Speed School Academic Affairs committee during my sophomore year, overseeing the judicial academic process. I am involved in my sorority, Delta Zeta and served as a Gamma Chi for Panhellenic recruitment last summer. I was a REACH Ambassador mentor my sophomore year helping students transition into college and was on the Student Activities Board Campus Life committee my freshman year. As part of my job as VP of SSSC I have the ability to sit on the Speed School Alumni Council.

Q: What are the top three things you would like to do if elected to this position?

-If elected AVP, I would work to implement changes that would benefit both current students as well as future students of the university. My primary goal would be to reward student success. A few ways in which I would look to reward student success would be increasing the knowledge of the SGA student of the month program with more social media presence and signs on campus. The other way I would look to reward success is with working with faculty to find a way in which students could benefit from getting an A+ in a class, potentially by offsetting an A- grade. Additionally, I would like to see the rest of the library renovated, especially the third floor. As a tour guide I’ve learned what prospective students look for in choosing a college; updated, effective and comfortable study spaces are on the top of the list. I would also work with the Services VP and individual building departments to make study spaces for students to use in between classes in academic buildings. In my vision these would include charging outlets as well as plenty of work space. Finally, I would continue the work of the past AVP in revamping the general education requirements for students. I would work with faculty to audit classes and their general education requirements to help provide the best education for U of L students.

SERVICES VICE PRESIDENT:

Lauren Greenwell

Q: What is your year?

-Junior

Q: What is your hometown?

-Bagdad, Kentucky

Q: What is your major?

-English with a minor in political science

Q: What is your past experience with SGA?

-I have been a Senator for the College of Arts and Sciences for the past two years (my sophomore and junior year).

Q: What other RSOs are you involved with on campus?

-I am involved with the Arts and Sciences Council, GAMMA, Chi Omega sorority, a writer for The Odyssey and I am a Cardinal Ambassador.

Q: What are the top three things you would like to do if elected to this position?

-Firstly, I would want to establish an Intro to SGA program for Gen 101 classes as well as reach out to incoming freshman on getting involved with SGA. I also want to add more services and options to our new University app! And last but not least, I want to improve our safety measures on campus as well as implement initiatives that will allow students to feel safer on our beloved campus.