Meet Cass and Mike, candidates for UGBC President and Vice President. Voting starts today so make sure you VOTE! Check out why these two should be your next Pres and VP in their interview with HC BC!
Cassidy:
Hometowns: Orinda, CA = Yay Area! (Bay Area…)
School/Year: LSOE ‘16
Majors: Applied Psych and Human Development; Management and Leadership in CSOM
Previous UGBC positions: spring ’14, appointed class of 2016 senator. This year = Director of mental health in Student Initiatives, senator in the Student Assembly
Why do you want to run for Pres?
I think the leadership positions I’ve held, within and outside of UGBC, combined with the passion I have for seeing change happen is what will make me a great president. I care about our community, and I’m inspired by the potential UGBC has to positively affect students’ lives, and I know that I have the desire and the ability to lead the organization to make that happen.
Mike:Hometowns: Scituate, MA
School/Year: A&S 2016
Majors: Econ and Poli Sci
Previous UGBC positions: Chief of Staff of Student Assembly, member of executive council my sophomore year
Why do you want to run for VP?
I believe Cassidy and I have the experience and vision to make UGBC more relevant and ingrained in the daily life of Boston College students, and the platform to make a tangible impact on our community.
The Serious Stuff:
How did you two meet?
C: We met on the LeaderSHAPE retreat(everyone go on LeaderSHAPE!) our sophomore year and worked together on a UGBC campaign soon after that. We’ve been friends ever since and have a really close and trusting relationship.
M: When we disagree on something we’re really upfront with each other about it and move on. Past presidents and vice presidents have compared this experience to signing a year-long marriage contract with your running mate and I certainly see why this week! Although I’m hoping marriage has some more benefits than this arrangement.
What are some key components of your platform?
C: We address many important issues on our platform, but some key points are mental health, the freshman year experience, and addressing tangible student life issues. We want to increase access to resources and stimulate the conversation surrounding topics that are difficult to talk about – we see that as one of the big roles of UGBC that we want to prioritize if elected.
M: We also want to focus on the diversity issues that are so important in our community, from the University’s response to the events of the summer, to making BC a welcoming and inclusive community for our LGBTQ community, and focusing on students with disabilities and expanding the resources on campus available to them. We also want to look at issues of sustainability and ways to improve things like recycling on campus. We definitely encourage people to check out our platform on www.cassandmike.com to read more.
Why are you running for UGBC President and VP?
We are running because we think it’s time UGBC comes out of the office and into the quads. UGBC is an organization that has enormous potential for positive change. Fun fact: the Pulse program was actually started by a previous UGBC president. We have the ability to see really great things come out of UGBC. But we want – we need – the students to be on board! We want the students to care about the election – it does matter, it does impact your BC experience. UGBC is supposed to advocate for the entire student body. I think there have been really great initiatives and ideas presented, but unless we’re able to connect with the student body about these things, we’re not able to see change.
What can you do to make a difference at BC?
So many things! Like we said, UGBC is a body that can advocate for the things that affect students – we try to address as many of these as possible in our platform. We want to see more BC Ignites events happen next year, because they’ve been invaluable conversation starters – this year, we had Ignites on mental health and socioeconomic status, and this semester there are two more planned about racial diversity and alcohol use on campus. We also want to institute programs and initiatives that can be widespread by utilizing social media – we want to bring back What I Be. We will implement a video project highlighting the many faces of AHANA students and faculty on campus, because there is a disconnect and misunderstanding of what AHANA means. We want to start a video project to highlight the lives of student athletes; among many more. We want everyone to love their BC experience, we want people to be able to graduate with pride of how BC inspired them to accomplish things they care about – and we want to push this for our UGBC administration.
What kinds of changes do you want to see be made on the BC campus?
Mental health needs to be something that people are confortable talking about and addressing. There is a lack of education and a lack of awareness about mental health and mental illness. But the reality is that every single person on this campus is affected in some way by mental health issues – every single person has mental health! And we want to increase the events and initiatives that will educate people on these different things – trainings for all Registered Student Organization (RSO) leaders, optional QPR sessions, institutionalizing the BC CHATS peer mentorship program with a long-term goal of it becoming a peer counseling program; these are all changes that we can make specifically focusing on mental health. And that’s just one area of our platform that we have tangible action plans for!
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Oooh good question! I think there are a couple components to this. For one, Mike and I both have leadership experience within and outside of UGBC, and I think that is really important in forming the people we are as leaders. We both know how the executive side of things work within UGBC, but we also have both started our own very successful organizations and have been involved in every process of those organizations coming to fruition (TWLOHA-BC for me, Model UN & Eagle MUNC for Mike). For me personally, I completely identify with the students who want nothing to do with UGBC, or who are apathetic to learning about what it is that UGBC does, because I was that student, my entire freshman and part of my sophomore years. I want students to feel the same kind of hope and encouragement that I felt last year when I became intrigued with the potential UGBC has to affect positive change on campus. Another is that we’re super relatable and open to criticism and suggestions! I think UGBC has a tendency to see itself as “above” other students, and that’s just not fair. You can be the leader of a large organization but still be approachable and open to new ideas – that’s another strength both Mike and I plan to bring to UGBC.
Why should students vote for you? And why should student vote in general?
Students need to vote!! This is probably one of the hardest things to accomplish every year, because people just don’t see the point (like I said – I was that student, too). They think UGBC has no effect on their experience at BC. I want to urge people to consider that that’s not actually the case. The leadership of UGBC will have a big impact on what is accomplished and what issues are prioritized. If people vote for Mike and I, they’re voting for two students who are passionate about the students’ voices being heard, and who are passionate about making real change happen.
The fun stuff:
What is one quirky or fun fact you have learned about your running mate since beginning your campaign?
C: Mike has this really weird habit of rubbing his hands together. Like a lot. When he’s nervous or in interviews, you just hear the “chhh chhh” of his hands against his jeans. Sorry to put that out there chief. Oh also, I call him Chief Keefe…which I learned is a real human with a not-so-hot track record, so maybe I should stop doing that…
M: Cassidy is not basic. And she can walk on her hands for way too long. She asked if we could film our intro video on her hands…I said no.
What is your current guilty pleasure?
C: My guilty pleasure in general? Dark chocolate. And Cabernet Sauvignon.
M: Takeout food. Because I haven’t cooked for myself in three weeks…
If you could meet one person (living, deceased, real or fiction) who would it be and why?
C: Ellen Degeneres!!! She is so awesome. I want to meet her and talk to her and see if she is as cool as she is on her show.
M: John Lennon! And FDR. But I’m pretty happy with the people in my life. I also want to get drunk with Bill Clinton. I’m all over the place. Ooh and Neil Armstrong, I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut. I want to hang out with him.
Coffee or tea?
C: I love tea! Especially chamomile and peppermint. But I will always go for coffee, especially iced with splenda and a lil milk.
M: Coffee. Absolutely.
O’Neill or Bapst?
C: …what is the library though? Just kidding, sort of. I’d go with O’Neill – Bapst is beautiful but too intimidating.
M: Bapst duh. I can’t do human interaction when studying.
Favorite sports team?
C: Any Olympic gymnastics team.
M: Red Sox.
How did you spend Valentine’s Day?
C: I went to the KSA/CSA culture show, which was awesome! To all of you who did kung fu, please teach me how. Then I had a Galentine’s with the roomies.
M: I spent the morning delivering hundreds of candy grams that Cassidy made! Then I went to the KSA/CSA culture show and hosted a formal for all Model UN members