Candidates were asked the following questions:
1. How do you plan to spend and/or allocate your budget this coming year? What do you think would be an appropriate use of students’ money?
2. What are you hoping to add and improve about UT in the coming year? How will you make your mark?
3. What does being an ethical leader mean to you and how would you go about serving in that capacity?
4. Do you realize that your image as a leader will be scrutinized, even when you are off campus. What are your thoughts about this?
5. What types of improvements do you plan to make to SG regarding community service?
6. (Presidential Candidates only) SG needs a charismatic president who will be on campus, meeting / talking with many groups (administrative and faculty), and student groups. Will you be able to meet these needs?
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Ali Mathe, presidential candidate
1. [I’d like to see] a big concert with SP … [I’d like to] spend on programming for the students, such as Campus MovieFest, International Fest and the NY Times … and things students want such as the 12 spin bikes we bought for McNiff.
2. Many people consider UT to be apathetic … [I’d like to] increase involvement.
3. [It means] doing what is right, serving the students by spending their SG fee on them or things that will benefit them, by giving back to campus and by making SG an organization and tool that the students can use to enhance their time and experience at UT.
4. As a student leader, especially President, you are a constant representation of the entire student body, both on and off campus. As a representative of the student body, I know I will be expected to present myself in the most reponsible and respectful fashion. I also feel that leaders are looked up to by their fellow students, which means they must set the right example in academics, campus activities, and social situations outside of school.
5. [I’d like to make the] General Assembly more active with the P.E.A.C.E. Office, get more involved by encouraging the G.A. to bring things to various drives, and advertise the many P.E.A.C.E. office opportunities for organizations on campus.
6. I do have the time. [I’m in] senior standing right now and only have to take the bare minimum of credit hours next year to graduate on time. I’m readily available to everyone on campus. Those who know me know that I have a lot of positive energy and always like to be doing something to keep busy.
Tom McKissock, vice presidential candidate
1. More student oriented programming – this is vital because it’s the students money, and I want to allocate the budget to better serve the University. An idea that I want to pursue next semester is providing free STD testing to undergraduate students. Currently, a full test costs $75.
2. I hope to improve and develop a better relationship with the administration. I will make my mark by giving the campus a voice that can be heaerd. I have already heard that students want more sections in their classes and I want to make it my first priority to encourage the administration to hire more faculty to accommodate our growing student body.
3. Being ethical is following values, morals and respecting the opinions of the UT students. I believe being an thical leadr is essential to being a successful vice president. I believe being ethical corresponds with allocating the budget that best serves the student body, and not self-fulfilling expenditures.
4. Living and appearing in appropriate manner is extremely important because as vice president I would be representing the University of Tampa. I believe I possess a positive image to the student body, administration and faculty and value to uphold it as vice president.
5. I plan to form a closer relationship SG congress and the P.E.A.C.E. office, change the role of congress to incorporate community service projects and plan to develop projects that reach out to the community around us. Currently, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship meet on Sunday nights to use leftover meals to feed the homeless. I want to work with this organization and expand it to a large scale project that includes the entire campus.
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Jordan Rubin, presidential candidate
1. To be honest, I would not run for office having already determined what I plan to allocate my budget on in the coming term. What I would do is run for office with an understanding that there is always room for positive change. Often times, this change requires monetary funds in order to execute or put into action. Once I take office, I then find it to be the proper time to analyze each aspect of our campus to further ensure that our budget is being used in the most efficient member.
2. When entering any kind of organization, my main, long-term goal is to leave it in a better place than that which I found it. I am hoping to bring to UT a greater sense of unity and community, unlike one we’ve ever seen before. I plan to run a determined, passionate and inviting student government that leaves room on the table for input from the students. I will make my mark day by day, by proving my commitment and dedication to the betterment of this campus community.
3. Being an ethical leader means to me the type of leader you are, and the code of conduct by which you follow. Leaders face a unique set of ethical demands, considering the idea that UT is a moral institution based on a code of conduct and a right way to carry oneself. In going about serving in an ethical capacity, I will be willing to act on a definte sense of ethical standards, bearing in mind that in order to fully encompass an ethical behavior I must look at situations from every possible perspective, and to “lead with integrity.”
4. My thoughts on this are that it is wonderful. As president, I will be pleased to represent our University on every encounter I experience throughout my day. It will be my honor and my pleasure to serve as our president, and it’s something I will represent in a positive manner wherever my interactions and experiences take me. Everywhere I go I will walk with a smile on my face, knowing that I represent the reclaimed student body at the University of Tampa.
5. Our campus is involved deeply in community service. From a student government point of view, what is left to do is further give students reason to involve themselves. Student Government’s role is to do whatever possible to increase the number of community service hours that our student body is generating, preferably through volunteer involvement and non-compulsory hours.
6. 100%. When elected, every ounce of effort outside my schoolwork will be put towards SG. The thing I look forward to is representing our student body in the most amazing way possible. Everywhere I go, each one of our students and the fact that I represent each one of you will be on my mind. I have the time an availability to give this position my all.
Felicia Serano, vice presidential candidate
1. I can say put a certain percentage of money here and so much there, but that would be associated with costs that go with issues this year. As of right now, I feel as though more money should go to activities on campus that include not just organizations but something that everyone can be involved with. At the end of the year, I want to conduct a survey and listen to students and see where they think their money should be going and from there determine how the budget should be distributed.
2. As vice president, I want to work with Jordan to take this university to a place it has never been before. As of now, students love UT for the weather, their friends and the lifestyle. There are hardly any students who love UT for the school spirit it has. My future achievement will be the obligation to help unify our student body to the fullest, giving us a greater feeling of the school. I want my absolute love and adorat
ion of this university to be shared with the entire student body.
3. Being an ethical leader means being honest, holding integrity and being able to set moral goals based on the needs of everyone, not just of one. My integrity is my reputation and I am ready to solve the issues in our community that need to be addressed which haven’t been in the past. I believe in having no secrets, and making decisions together.
5. I feel that we need to get more students involved. As of right now, P.E.A.C.E. does a great job promoting community service, but they can only do so much. It is up to the students to get involved, and with my future achievement of getting students involved, the community service should follow. We need to get students to want to get involved. Let’s put more emphasis on what our students are trying to say. Allow us to lead by those who lead best, and lets work together to bring positive change to this campus through the voice of our students.