Jordan and KaLeigh Platform Analysis

Quick Hits

Favorite Plank: “Work Together with the Senates and Executive Directors of Iowa and ISU”

The most important job that the Student Body President and Vice President have is to speak on behalf of the students to the Board of Regents. Knowing that, going into their term, they would have constant communication with our counterparts in Iowa City and Ames makes a whole lot of sense. Steps like these are what it takes to make sure UNI tuition does not go up, which should be every candidate’s #1 goal.

Least Favorite Plank: “Essentially, we will ask that the DOR set up a rewards program where, for example, with every $100 of dining dollars that are purchased the DOR will give an extra $25.”

Setting up a Dining Dollars rewards program sounds good, but I question the possibility of it. Call me crazy, but I just can’t see the DOR giving up 25% of the money they make on Dining Dollars without having to increase prices.

Unique Plank: “We will work in conjunction with the city of Cedar Falls to get a traffic light system or other device put in place so that traffic can flow smoothly and reduce the risk to students crossing the street.”

This is in regards to the heavy traffic on 23^rd street. I have never heard this idea and I think it possibly could help significantly. I can’t count the number of times I’ve almost been hit by a car that simply didn’t notice me.

Platform Theme: Based on the comprehensive and detailed approach they took, I think that this platform was Jordan and KaLeigh’s way to tout their experience on campus and in NISG.  


Jordan and KaLeigh's platform can be found on their website: http://jordanandkaleigh.com/wordpress/

Specific Analysis

Accountability, Transparency, and Visibility

All three candidates this year are looking to continue Spencer and Ian’s idea of a weekly president’s column in the NI. I think the column has been great; however, I’m not sure it’s reaching as many students as it can. Jordan and KaLeigh look to expand on it with an NISG blog. Based on the success and views of this blog, nisgelections.com, I can see this method of communication getting more views than the column in the NI. A blog has the potential for the entire executive branch, senate, and student body to chime in on what is going on in NISG. If they promote it correctly, it can be very successful.

In my time on the Organization and Finance Committee, one of the things I found that most every organization struggles with is transitioning new leaders/executives. NISG is no different. I love to see Jordan and KaLeigh address the need to set standards for transitions to ensure that their projects can get completed even after their term is up.

Green Policies

This is the section where Jordan and KaLeigh show how much research they have done. On-campus composting and a detailed “Save the Baskets” campaign go to prove that.

Campus Life

I’m not sold on the idea of an application for a Calendar of Events. This idea was tossed around by candidates last year and ultimately led to nothing. I don’t see myself, or my peers, downloading an app to find out what is going on around campus all the time. Students don’t want to go searching for what’s happening all the time; if that were the case then there would be no need for an app. Effective event advertising is about showing students what is going on without them having to take the proactive approach of searching for it. That being said, I think that a large calendar in the Union (and it needs to be HUGE) is a superb idea. The Union gets thousands of people walking through it every day; having a calendar that is hard not to notice would be perfect.

I love the Disabilities Initiative and Veteran’s Affairs sections of this platform. I attended the first meeting of the veterans student organization earlier this year and was surprised to find out how many issues our veterans face on campus. I’m glad to see these two groups of people addressed, as they normally are left off NISG platforms.

Transportation

Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t understand the need for 24/7 commuter parking. All of the buildings on campus are closed after 1 a.m., so what could a student be doing on campus so late? Obviously there are special circumstances where a few students may be on campus, but I don’t think it’s enough to open an entire parking lot.

As comprehensive and detailed as this platform is, I’m pretty surprised to not see any ideas for more parking. B lots are full, and the students who pay for those passes routinely can’t find a space to put their car. I wonder how this administration would address that problem.

Academics

Hearing the planned collaboration with Career Services, Financial Aid, and the Faculty Senate is good. Building those relationships helps NISG make the changes and do the things they want to do on campus.

Student Political Involvement

Registering students to vote at orientation is a brilliant idea. Not enough students vote in city elections. Using orientation to make it easier to vote will help UNI students have more of a voice in the city.

Community Building Initiatives

Getting student organizations to sponsor events with local businesses is a risky endeavor. Organizations cannot receive funding if they take place off campus, so I’m not sure NISG would be able to help organizations who choose to do this. That’s not to say that this would be a bad idea, just that many organizations depend on NISG to fund events. If they had it at a local business, NISG could no longer do that.