Favorite Plank: "Petition The President Initiative. In order to keep UNI close to the students and to make sure no hot-button issue goes unresolved or unaddressed, we will start an initiative wherein a petition of 250 current UNI students would receive a response from our administration within one week of the petition being turned in."
Least Favorite Plank: "Fix Financial Aid. In our time here at UNI, we don't think we've met a single student who hasn't had an issue with their financial aid, and many have had recurring problems receiving the money they need to get an education. We will work to bring student concerns to the Financial Aid Office and see if we can solve any systemic problems so that students have access to their aid money with as little frustration and interference as possible."
Unique Plank: "Create A Student Voice App. As part of our promise to be the voice of the students, not the megaphone for the administration, we will create a Student Voice app that allows students to weigh in on important issues either online or through their mobile devices. We would regularly update the app with questions about bills and resolutions on the senate floor, as well as any major university decisions to give students a chance to give their input."
Platform Theme: They're different. You know it, they know it and they're not ashamed of it. In fact, they see it as a positive, never shying away from criticizing previous NISG administrations for acting on behalf of the university administration, rather than the student body. They see NISG as being flawed and want to draw attention to the issues that NISG has seemingly neglected, in their opinion.
Fight for Dead Days at UNI
Not going to happen. They can keep fighting for them, but I don't see them ever being implemented. It was even presented to the faculty senate this year and turned down.
Add Tables and Benches to Green Areas of Campus
The idea seems simple and achievable, but I'd like to know which specific areas they'd like to see these benches and tables added.
Student Cancellation
This one concerns me. Who in NISG will determine if weather conditions merit a campus-wide refusal by students to go to class? Will professors honor that refusal or count it as an unexcused absence? I think it sets a dangerous precedent and risks creating tension between the university administration and NISG.
No UNI Tuition Without Taking Classes
I can see where they're coming from on this one, but I don't see it happening. If you're enrolled, you pay tuition. And I don't see the university wanting to lose that tuition.
Political Involvement on Campus
This one is a no-brainer. More people need to stay informed and exercise their right to vote.
Create a "Student Voice" App
This sounds like a very interesting idea and a move towards getting students more involved by reaching them through technology. My only question would be the logistics of creating such an app.
Petition the President Initiative
They borrowed a page from President Barack Obama's playbook on this one and I love it. I think it provides a great avenue for students to have their issues and concerns addressed.
Fix Financial Aid
I'm sorry, but this one is absurd. I would hope that the full-time staff members and student employees of the Office of Financial Aid are doing everything within their power to streamline their services, and I have a hard time believing the candidates would be qualified to fix any "systemic problems." This plank is pandering, plain and simple.
LGBT Center
Out of the three tickets, this is one that I would count on to get it done. They have a vested interest and, as executive members of UNI Proud, they've been on the frontlines fighting for this one for a long time. This is clearly a high priority for them.
Offer Open Housing and Bathroom Options
I think this could cause more problems than it solves. Can anyone live in gender neutral housing? Would members of the LGBT community get priority placement?
Student Groups and Accommodations
I can't argue with this one. Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes.
Offer Free HIV Testing at the Student Health Center
I would think that the Student Health Center would already offer this if not for financial constraints, so I assume the sticking point here would be the cost of such testing.
Safe Space Ally Orientation
Another initiative that I can't argue with. But, as these types of planks begin to add up, I feel as if David and Katie are putting all their eggs in one basket. They advertise themselves as being a voice for students, but their platform seems focused on specific groups. They can't neglect the majority and expect to win this election.
Establish a Racial/Ethnic Diversity Orientation
Another no-brainer. I'm all for keeping everyone more informed.
Veterans' Issues
This isn't so much a plank as it is David and Katie expressing their support for veterans and the creation of the forthcoming veterans' center.
Women's Empowerment
Female condoms, self-defense classes and support for the Women's and Gender Studies program are what David and Katie have to offer in this regard. But the support for the Women's and Gender Studies seems more like a personal opinion and threatens to undermine the value of other minors.
Being A Sustainable, Green Campus
This is an area that is similar to the other candidates' platforms, but David and Katie do offer a few unique ideas, such as paperless professor evaluations and the presence of a regular farmer's market on campus.
Final Thoughts: David and Katie are different, that is for sure, but I fear they might be differentiating themselves a little bit too much. You can be different, but you have to be relatable too. I understand wanting to be a voice for the minorities they feel that NISG has neglected over the years, but you still need to put some effort towards the issues and concerns of the majority of students. I do have to give a lot of credit to David and Katie for keeping their platform simple and focusing on the issues that they know the most about, but that also exposes the limited scope of their platform. In addition to that, David and Katie do address a few issues that are popular among students, but those issues are more often than not ones that we won't see solved any time soon. David and Katie are clearly passionate about a lot of things and that is great news for people who share their concerns, but the real question lies in their ability to appeal to the masses.
What do you think?
Not going to happen. They can keep fighting for them, but I don't see them ever being implemented. It was even presented to the faculty senate this year and turned down.
Add Tables and Benches to Green Areas of Campus
The idea seems simple and achievable, but I'd like to know which specific areas they'd like to see these benches and tables added.
Student Cancellation
This one concerns me. Who in NISG will determine if weather conditions merit a campus-wide refusal by students to go to class? Will professors honor that refusal or count it as an unexcused absence? I think it sets a dangerous precedent and risks creating tension between the university administration and NISG.
No UNI Tuition Without Taking Classes
I can see where they're coming from on this one, but I don't see it happening. If you're enrolled, you pay tuition. And I don't see the university wanting to lose that tuition.
Political Involvement on Campus
This one is a no-brainer. More people need to stay informed and exercise their right to vote.
Create a "Student Voice" App
This sounds like a very interesting idea and a move towards getting students more involved by reaching them through technology. My only question would be the logistics of creating such an app.
Petition the President Initiative
They borrowed a page from President Barack Obama's playbook on this one and I love it. I think it provides a great avenue for students to have their issues and concerns addressed.
Fix Financial Aid
I'm sorry, but this one is absurd. I would hope that the full-time staff members and student employees of the Office of Financial Aid are doing everything within their power to streamline their services, and I have a hard time believing the candidates would be qualified to fix any "systemic problems." This plank is pandering, plain and simple.
LGBT Center
Out of the three tickets, this is one that I would count on to get it done. They have a vested interest and, as executive members of UNI Proud, they've been on the frontlines fighting for this one for a long time. This is clearly a high priority for them.
Offer Open Housing and Bathroom Options
I think this could cause more problems than it solves. Can anyone live in gender neutral housing? Would members of the LGBT community get priority placement?
Student Groups and Accommodations
I can't argue with this one. Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes.
Offer Free HIV Testing at the Student Health Center
I would think that the Student Health Center would already offer this if not for financial constraints, so I assume the sticking point here would be the cost of such testing.
Safe Space Ally Orientation
Another initiative that I can't argue with. But, as these types of planks begin to add up, I feel as if David and Katie are putting all their eggs in one basket. They advertise themselves as being a voice for students, but their platform seems focused on specific groups. They can't neglect the majority and expect to win this election.
Establish a Racial/Ethnic Diversity Orientation
Another no-brainer. I'm all for keeping everyone more informed.
Veterans' Issues
This isn't so much a plank as it is David and Katie expressing their support for veterans and the creation of the forthcoming veterans' center.
Women's Empowerment
Female condoms, self-defense classes and support for the Women's and Gender Studies program are what David and Katie have to offer in this regard. But the support for the Women's and Gender Studies seems more like a personal opinion and threatens to undermine the value of other minors.
Being A Sustainable, Green Campus
This is an area that is similar to the other candidates' platforms, but David and Katie do offer a few unique ideas, such as paperless professor evaluations and the presence of a regular farmer's market on campus.
Final Thoughts: David and Katie are different, that is for sure, but I fear they might be differentiating themselves a little bit too much. You can be different, but you have to be relatable too. I understand wanting to be a voice for the minorities they feel that NISG has neglected over the years, but you still need to put some effort towards the issues and concerns of the majority of students. I do have to give a lot of credit to David and Katie for keeping their platform simple and focusing on the issues that they know the most about, but that also exposes the limited scope of their platform. In addition to that, David and Katie do address a few issues that are popular among students, but those issues are more often than not ones that we won't see solved any time soon. David and Katie are clearly passionate about a lot of things and that is great news for people who share their concerns, but the real question lies in their ability to appeal to the masses.
What do you think?
Perhaps this is me being a neglectful student (which I don't think is the case), but just who is Katie? The other five candidates are seen all across campus. KaLeigh has made an image for herself. Blake has made an image for himself. David has made an image for himself. Who is Katie?
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