All right Bobcats, the day is almost upon us! It's March 31st and the candidates continue to campaign their hearts out, and yet how many QU students really, I mean really and truly, care? As I sit here in the cafe surrounded by posters and table tents, I ponder this question.
The ability to elect an official to represent your opinions and beliefs to a government is something many Americans, particularly many young Americans take for granted. It is a right that we, as Americans, fought desperately for. And if you are a woman, or an African American, your ancestors had to fight even harder for that right. Voting enables governments-be it national governments or University governments- to change with the times and adopt the new ideas of their constiuents, which is this case is the QU community- each and everyone of the 5500 undergraduate Bobcats has the ability to change their "voice" tomorrow and I strongly urge you all to do so.
But how do you know who is right and who is wrong? Sometimes you simply know- an example of this from my personal life is when I first saw Barack Obama speak. It was before the primaries, before the "talking heads" of CNN, MSNBC, and all the other networks were disputing whether or not Hillary should have cried, before Rudy Guiliani threw his hat in and way before I was able to rationalize a day when I would have a president I could be proud of. I knew Barack was the man I would vote for before anyone else even knew if he was going to be the candidate. He had a quality about it, a quality that I now know to be similar to that of John F. Kennedy; a quality that makes people believe what he is saying and want to be better Americans and better people in general. And believe I am not saying that Barack Obama by any means tricked the American people, because I genuinely believe in him. I believe he can fix us, and so I exercised my hard earned right to vote on Nov. 4th and now live in a nation under a President I chose.
That feeling, of actively participating in government selection (which I know is not entirely true as there is still the electoral college, but a girl's gotta dream!!) is what motivates me to be a reporter, and a political one at that. Because let me let you in on a little secret Bobcats and Bobcat enthusiasts (Hi Mr.Clark!), political reporting is BORING. Most times you listen to politicians skirt the true answer to questions and sift through hundreds of pages of paper to simply find ONE good story, but it's that passion that I may help someone else feel inspired to vote and enforce change that drives me.
Now please don't let me make you believe that I am some saintly journalist who goes and finds the story and doesn't expect to be paid or anything, because that is not the case (How else could I ever afford MANOLOS someday, come on people!). But I am looking to inspire you today, my fellow Bobcats.
Read the campaign promises, check out what the candidates said at the debates, watch their youtube videos, all of which can be found on The Quad News, and try to find the one candidate for each position that speaks to you. Whether you know them or not, listen to them all, I beg you, because you have a chance to enforce a change of power here, a chance to make Quinnipiac what you want it to be, so don't forget midnight tonight, sign on to blackboard and vote. Vote for YOUR representatives, Vote for those who inspire you.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Closing Statements
N: First and foremost I would like to say that I would not sit back and wait while our QU experience is degraded and has been. I would like to cite for some of my goals- to have a conference with all SGAs in the Northeast. All should have internal efficiency reviews, hightened communications with the students/chronicle and quad news but also with the town of Hamden. People in this community need to know how we are working to change this campus. I have already starting to go through the budget and determine where the money is going. I think student awareness of SGA needs to be increased. We need to show students that we are doing things. I do believe in the continuity of goals that have been attempted. We cannot let our deals die, they need to be passed on. I believe in the Declaration of Students rights, to prevent some of the basic issues. I would like to summarize by saying- we are all told to live the legend and it's up to you to decide what that legend means. I would urge you to end the Status Quo, please find the group on facebook.
L: I want to be your student body president, not the student body president. I want to work for you. I plan to work with the administration and working with Programming to bridge the gap with SPB. I want to match the growth by increasing the representatives for the freshman class. I want to work closely with Multicultural affairs to make sure Tyrone's position is filled by someone important. I want student represenation is on that committee and we approve of that next director. Perhaps as a VP of Multicultual affairs. I want to make sure the teams cut come back and also make sure that the students who got cut have ways to continue their passions. I will be sure to represent you in the best professional light in the BOT. I will do my best and I swear I'll make you guys love your experience.
D: I would like to thank everyone for coming and would like to start by saying SGA organization is what the students make it. It is the motivation and the leadership qualities that the elected members have that drive the members to lead by example and finish their goals. I can tell you right now that I have begun working with the connecticut conference, and we have contacted 10 schools- we picked schools in the area, that are going to come together and we need to work with them to understand their ways for getting things done. We see a lot of issues that always get breezed over, things like that need to change and I know as SBP I will be able to lead by example. If administration says no we continue to go back, there is no "no" for any concern students have on this campus. Thank you for your time.
L: I want to be your student body president, not the student body president. I want to work for you. I plan to work with the administration and working with Programming to bridge the gap with SPB. I want to match the growth by increasing the representatives for the freshman class. I want to work closely with Multicultural affairs to make sure Tyrone's position is filled by someone important. I want student represenation is on that committee and we approve of that next director. Perhaps as a VP of Multicultual affairs. I want to make sure the teams cut come back and also make sure that the students who got cut have ways to continue their passions. I will be sure to represent you in the best professional light in the BOT. I will do my best and I swear I'll make you guys love your experience.
D: I would like to thank everyone for coming and would like to start by saying SGA organization is what the students make it. It is the motivation and the leadership qualities that the elected members have that drive the members to lead by example and finish their goals. I can tell you right now that I have begun working with the connecticut conference, and we have contacted 10 schools- we picked schools in the area, that are going to come together and we need to work with them to understand their ways for getting things done. We see a lot of issues that always get breezed over, things like that need to change and I know as SBP I will be able to lead by example. If administration says no we continue to go back, there is no "no" for any concern students have on this campus. Thank you for your time.
Q and A President
Back on the laptop...
N: Wants to have students and government more accessible.
L: dealt directly with peers when working as a manager at Coldstone Creamery. I was fortunate enough to attend 5 leadership conferences with Quinnipiac- one of which was COSGA. I would like to see the SGA a little less formal- I think we could have one dress down meeting.
D: Quoted A New Day. Things don't get done in the organization unless hard work is done. The President must lead by example so that things get accomplished.
Question 2: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing QU and SGA and how do you plan to overcome these challenges?
L: Changes to the graduation and it really upset the students graduating 2010 and foreward. I need to walk in there and talk to President Lahey and tell him to stop making unilateral decisions. We need to show that we are professional and educate them and let them know we are here. As SBP I will do my best to do that.
D: I think a recurring theme within student government, we've had a lot of on going members come in and say we didnt know SGA has meetings on Wed at 4:15. We need to utilize VP of PR a lot more and demand respect from administrators. We represent over 5500 students and administrators cannot take the time and that is disrespectful, they need to be at our meetings and we need students of the public to be able to come and talk about the problems.
N: check Brendan's blog...
Rebutal :
L: I think what I pointed out is that we have to realize that if we dont go in a respectful way they will close the door on us. I feel if I go in there in a respectful way they will listen.
D: I think when we look at the whole administration issue you need to be very respectful, and you can also take the upper hand. We see a lot of things here at school, such as Caplin when he got the library open 24/7. There's a fine line between respect and demanding what you want.
N: I just want to say while what they have to say is nice and fine, but what I've seen is contradictory. The ways we have gone about it have failed us.
3. If elected President you are also a voting member on the board of trustees, what will your primary goal be.
D: We can see in residential life we have students putting $500 deposits down and then learning that they are living in York Hill. Dean asked for a repeat of the question. Basically what we need to remember is that this school is a business. The SBP needs to stick up for students and not focus on the business aspect of what they have to say.
--> they being, I am assuming the administration.
N: First off the BOT is a very interesting organization- they have already made their decision. I think that the BOT is where you will first learn of the changes that we need to take action on. Directly from the BOT the SBP should take that information and create a game plan. To the students its put in place to protect them.
L: As far as the BOT goes, it is very important for students to have to have a vote. It is very important to get students back on there, at least one more voting member and one not voting member.
--> Lou wants the university to treat us as a good business. I will put up a fight with them and make sure that they do have a voice.
Geary: a lot of audience questions. In order to keep it even we need to pick only a few. That being said Nick, 2 minute response to:
As the primary voice of the SB how do you plan to balance the commitment of represneting the opinion of the SB with working with the administrators?
N: My interests are solely 100% the student body, I am here to prevent a lot of the administrative problems that have been going on. I am going to put my whole heart into it.
L: We have over 60 presidents here, that represent 60 organizations, and perhaps we can pass legislations through them. I am here to represent the students, if they are here to give them business- we need to get them to listen to us. If we pick our fights and pick our battles, I think we'll win.
D: I think as an elected member of the SGA, you cannot have hatred towards the administration, the administration at this university are very intelligent people and they do specific things that they want to do in order to better the University. Having it at TD Bank University they will be able to save $100,000 without setting up the rec center. We need to help students understand this. We are not showing the kids all the information.
2. Based on past experience what demonstrates that you have the commitment to this position?
L: I have been very dedicated to the organization, I took the SGA position on and I decided I need to balance it with RHC, because that is where I stayed. I really enjoy working with the three organizations I work with. Once I am SBP I will work so hard for you guys and make sure that you are loving it all four years while being here, I think that's extremely important. I think we are in college, and we are mature adults and my loyalty will rely with student government and I would be so honored, so proud and so humbled to be your SBP.
D: I think when you join any organization, something you really have to be is dedicated to anything you do. I would never take on these tasks unless I was loyal and dedicated 100% of my work. I would never simply take on a task to put it on my resume. I have a love that goes more beyond many students at this school. I love being a bobcat and I love walking down dorm road and seeing our awesome campus. I promise that I will give 200% to the better of the SB.
N: I was the first, and probably the only member to take the time during my very first training session to site down with the older members that have their own experiences. I was the first one to take those experiences when formulating a game plan and I could stand up here and talk about Sig Ep, the honor society----------> had a choking spell and didnt catch this!!!
---------> An audience member asked how the candidates involvment in fraternities, will, if ever affect them if elected SBP. This question, in my opinion, was directed at these students because the audience might be concerned about finances. I think this question was a good question because all of the candidates are involved in fraternities.
Final Question- 90 sec. response.
How do you feel you can judge the effectiveness of SGA while at the same time giving 100% to helping the students?
N: I think the answer is a no brainer because I am evaluating the effectiveness by working for the students. I will always give 100% to students. SGA has risen as a by-product of students desires to enact real change on this campus.
L: To basically judge the SGA and giving 100% to the students- you have to see what they are thinking. There are a lot of people unhappy here and therefore I consider it a little ineffective. I plan to walk down dorm road and saying hello- that will help, by getting to know the students. One of my goals is to attend all organizations meetings at least once a semester. That's how I would judge the effectiveness of SGA.
D: I think the best way to have a better relationship with SB is to have better results. The backbone is the VP of Student Concerns- www.quconcerns.com- we will look at them and we will come back. We simply sugar coat the answers, we sugar coat everything. If elected as SBP you will see that no is no the answer, and we will keep fighting. We really need to remember that the students come first and the student concerns come first, don't say no we can't do this just so we can say we got a concern done.
N: Wants to have students and government more accessible.
L: dealt directly with peers when working as a manager at Coldstone Creamery. I was fortunate enough to attend 5 leadership conferences with Quinnipiac- one of which was COSGA. I would like to see the SGA a little less formal- I think we could have one dress down meeting.
D: Quoted A New Day. Things don't get done in the organization unless hard work is done. The President must lead by example so that things get accomplished.
Question 2: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing QU and SGA and how do you plan to overcome these challenges?
L: Changes to the graduation and it really upset the students graduating 2010 and foreward. I need to walk in there and talk to President Lahey and tell him to stop making unilateral decisions. We need to show that we are professional and educate them and let them know we are here. As SBP I will do my best to do that.
D: I think a recurring theme within student government, we've had a lot of on going members come in and say we didnt know SGA has meetings on Wed at 4:15. We need to utilize VP of PR a lot more and demand respect from administrators. We represent over 5500 students and administrators cannot take the time and that is disrespectful, they need to be at our meetings and we need students of the public to be able to come and talk about the problems.
N: check Brendan's blog...
Rebutal :
L: I think what I pointed out is that we have to realize that if we dont go in a respectful way they will close the door on us. I feel if I go in there in a respectful way they will listen.
D: I think when we look at the whole administration issue you need to be very respectful, and you can also take the upper hand. We see a lot of things here at school, such as Caplin when he got the library open 24/7. There's a fine line between respect and demanding what you want.
N: I just want to say while what they have to say is nice and fine, but what I've seen is contradictory. The ways we have gone about it have failed us.
3. If elected President you are also a voting member on the board of trustees, what will your primary goal be.
D: We can see in residential life we have students putting $500 deposits down and then learning that they are living in York Hill. Dean asked for a repeat of the question. Basically what we need to remember is that this school is a business. The SBP needs to stick up for students and not focus on the business aspect of what they have to say.
--> they being, I am assuming the administration.
N: First off the BOT is a very interesting organization- they have already made their decision. I think that the BOT is where you will first learn of the changes that we need to take action on. Directly from the BOT the SBP should take that information and create a game plan. To the students its put in place to protect them.
L: As far as the BOT goes, it is very important for students to have to have a vote. It is very important to get students back on there, at least one more voting member and one not voting member.
--> Lou wants the university to treat us as a good business. I will put up a fight with them and make sure that they do have a voice.
Geary: a lot of audience questions. In order to keep it even we need to pick only a few. That being said Nick, 2 minute response to:
As the primary voice of the SB how do you plan to balance the commitment of represneting the opinion of the SB with working with the administrators?
N: My interests are solely 100% the student body, I am here to prevent a lot of the administrative problems that have been going on. I am going to put my whole heart into it.
L: We have over 60 presidents here, that represent 60 organizations, and perhaps we can pass legislations through them. I am here to represent the students, if they are here to give them business- we need to get them to listen to us. If we pick our fights and pick our battles, I think we'll win.
D: I think as an elected member of the SGA, you cannot have hatred towards the administration, the administration at this university are very intelligent people and they do specific things that they want to do in order to better the University. Having it at TD Bank University they will be able to save $100,000 without setting up the rec center. We need to help students understand this. We are not showing the kids all the information.
2. Based on past experience what demonstrates that you have the commitment to this position?
L: I have been very dedicated to the organization, I took the SGA position on and I decided I need to balance it with RHC, because that is where I stayed. I really enjoy working with the three organizations I work with. Once I am SBP I will work so hard for you guys and make sure that you are loving it all four years while being here, I think that's extremely important. I think we are in college, and we are mature adults and my loyalty will rely with student government and I would be so honored, so proud and so humbled to be your SBP.
D: I think when you join any organization, something you really have to be is dedicated to anything you do. I would never take on these tasks unless I was loyal and dedicated 100% of my work. I would never simply take on a task to put it on my resume. I have a love that goes more beyond many students at this school. I love being a bobcat and I love walking down dorm road and seeing our awesome campus. I promise that I will give 200% to the better of the SB.
N: I was the first, and probably the only member to take the time during my very first training session to site down with the older members that have their own experiences. I was the first one to take those experiences when formulating a game plan and I could stand up here and talk about Sig Ep, the honor society----------> had a choking spell and didnt catch this!!!
---------> An audience member asked how the candidates involvment in fraternities, will, if ever affect them if elected SBP. This question, in my opinion, was directed at these students because the audience might be concerned about finances. I think this question was a good question because all of the candidates are involved in fraternities.
Final Question- 90 sec. response.
How do you feel you can judge the effectiveness of SGA while at the same time giving 100% to helping the students?
N: I think the answer is a no brainer because I am evaluating the effectiveness by working for the students. I will always give 100% to students. SGA has risen as a by-product of students desires to enact real change on this campus.
L: To basically judge the SGA and giving 100% to the students- you have to see what they are thinking. There are a lot of people unhappy here and therefore I consider it a little ineffective. I plan to walk down dorm road and saying hello- that will help, by getting to know the students. One of my goals is to attend all organizations meetings at least once a semester. That's how I would judge the effectiveness of SGA.
D: I think the best way to have a better relationship with SB is to have better results. The backbone is the VP of Student Concerns- www.quconcerns.com- we will look at them and we will come back. We simply sugar coat the answers, we sugar coat everything. If elected as SBP you will see that no is no the answer, and we will keep fighting. We really need to remember that the students come first and the student concerns come first, don't say no we can't do this just so we can say we got a concern done.
Dean Czerwonka
D spoke about the ties between student government and the administration. He said that although the bridge is already built, but it doesn't always work. He also wants to have students create a residence committee.
He has great ties with the administration, which he believes his opponents don't have.
You need to remember that when you elect a president they should be working with you to make the campus the best campus it can be - paraphrased quote.
Louis Venturelli
L created quite a bit of laughter with his relaxation technique of breathing stretching shaking and letting it out.
L believes the best way to make students more active and involved by going out on dorm road. He wants to have a two question survey and have students speak directly to their president, he plans to be quite accessible. He plans to give the students an opportunity to simply speak with the students.
L spoke of his involvment with the administration and showed students that he will have a way for them to speak to their administration.
Nick Rossetti
Rossetti speaks of changing the status quo and making students responsible for their actions. He also urges students to be more involved. He wants sga to help to mitigate the actions of the administration and also within sga itself.
And now...what you have all been waiting for!
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES!!!
Finally the time has come, and as Geary predicted it is about 10:10 p.m. and we are ready to hear from Dean Czerwonka, Louis Venturelli, and Nick Rossetti.
Since my hands are QUITE tired I am going to represent the candidates by D, L and N. These are your candidates for SBP, you need to be well informed, so see what the candidates themselves have to say by visiting The Quad News. I will try to give you as verbatim an account as possible, but if not, I will be sure to give you an accurate and fair description of each candidate and their views.
N left, L center and D right.
I'll be blogging from the blackberry now, as it's quite hard to hear on this side of the cafe.
Finally the time has come, and as Geary predicted it is about 10:10 p.m. and we are ready to hear from Dean Czerwonka, Louis Venturelli, and Nick Rossetti.
Since my hands are QUITE tired I am going to represent the candidates by D, L and N. These are your candidates for SBP, you need to be well informed, so see what the candidates themselves have to say by visiting The Quad News. I will try to give you as verbatim an account as possible, but if not, I will be sure to give you an accurate and fair description of each candidate and their views.
N left, L center and D right.
I'll be blogging from the blackberry now, as it's quite hard to hear on this side of the cafe.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
