After the hubbub behind our article about the platform of Cadavillo, Pop, and WPKP as a Cabinet for SGA 2015-2016, we realized we needed to showcase more than one side of the story. After all, multiple people are running and another group that has teamed up together has called themselves “Vincentians United.” Here is a little more about their platform so that you can make an informed decision come election days (starting May 18th!)
Cabinet of Student Government Association:
President – Luke Kula
Vice President – Michelle An
Initiatives:
1. Providing Student Support ((financial, physical, emotional, environmental))
a. Financial: Prepaid Metra Passes for commuters struggling to make ends meet; an emergency fund that can be applied for in case of a lost Ventra ($50 replacement fee)
b. Environmental: Making sure that students feel safe on campus
2. Creating Common Campus Community
a. DePaul is often seen as a commuter school. Kula and An would like to celebrate this dynamic of DePaul by celebrating Blue Demons no matter how far away they rest their head at night
3. Campus Safety
a. Create an advisory board run and staffed by students to improve Public Safety utilization
4. Vincentian Values
a. Creating more service opportunity to live our school’s mission–instead of only having Vincentian Service Day twice a year
5. Student Voice
a. Making all voices heard, not just the voices of SGA
Vice President of Treasury – Joseph K.
Initiatives:
1. Incorporating student feedback and streamlining the SAF-B application process, thus increasing the accessibility of funding for all campus student organizations.
2. Critically thinking about the SGA operational budget and ensuring every dollar spent can most benefit the entire DePaul Community
3. Fighting for the overall financial feasibility of DePaul on behalf of current and future Blue Demons
Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs – Tyler Solorio
Initiatives:
1. Focusing tailoring academic for a non-traditional generation of students with non-traditional struggles
2. Develop a means of students evaluating Majors to help further reform the programs that make DePaul great
3. Pushing for social media platforms as a means of developing the student community, such as developing textbook sharing programs
Executive Vice President of Operations – Lindsay Salter
Initiatives:
1.Building campus affinity by establishing plentiful and more transparent methods for students to safely voice their opinions, questions and concerns in the ways in which DePaul operates.
2. Establish easier ways for student organizations to reach students (and vice versa) by updating the methods that are used to communicate on and off campus events
3. Enhance DePaul’s mission of sustainability.
Executive Vice President of Student Affairs – Cara Anderson
Initiatives:
1. Establish a trustworthy, transparent relationship between the student organizations and SGA; ensuring that student government is more accessible, personable.
2. Develop affordable student safety initiatives in coherence with DePaul public safety.
3. Implementing new First Year Student programs and fine-tuning the current one’s to increase Vincentian pride.
The DePaul Community is very fortunate this year. Not only do we get to have a say as part of the general population ((at most schools the only people who are allowed to vote on the student government board are people involved in the student government!!)), but we have great candidates to choose from. I can honestly say, after talking to Vincentians United, as well as their opponents, that there is no wrong choice in this election. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to log on and vote next week! After all, you have the unique opportunity to cause a change in Chicago, in Lincoln Park, in our little microcosm of DePaul. Don’t let the opportunity pass and show your support for your fellow Blue Demons who are willing to give every ounce of their free time to make your experience as a student easier. *throws a Blue Demon and drops the mic*