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Hello Wolfpack Nation, my name is Scott Goldsmith. You’ve probably seen the signs across campus and have gotten sick of all the campaigning by now, and as a candidate for Student Senate president, I’ll agree. Campaign season is a very drawn out ordeal, however, despite the rhetoric and barrage of yard signs, it really does matter who you decide to rank as your number one choice on March 29.
While I have the experience to be the next Student Senate president, there is one fundamental question you should ask yourself when casting your ballot. Which candidates can work together? This is a subject that is all too commonly missed during campaign season around campus. As individual candidates jostle for the chance to be placed number one on your ballot, ultimately, if the student body as a whole hasn’t selected individuals that can work together to represent you- the students- the two weeks of yard signs and campaign speeches were for naught.
Student Senate candidates may overwhelm you with a laundry list of great innovations to come from their campaign. For them, that is what they will indeed be working on in the months ahead once they take office. It is the job of the Senate president to guide and support the 64 senators elected from across campus. It would be my job, if elected, to make sure your senators have the resources needed to accomplish what you voted them into office for, based upon that list of campaign ideas.
Having served in the Student Senate for two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to work on a wide range of issues: from funding student groups on the appropriations committee, to advising as chair of the Senate Academics Committee. I also had the chance to serve on the Fee Review Committee, made largely of university administrators and whose co-chair is the Student Senate president.
Experience aside, at the end of the day it does really come down to how well the Student Senate president can work with other candidates for student body president. The two offices have many of the same responsibilities. With huge budget cuts looming on the horizon which won’t be finalized till summer, who gets chosen to serve on the Tuition and Fee Review Committees is of utmost importance. With so many programs facing termination, from pre-law to the ag-institute, it is vital that when you cast your ballot you select a team that will faithfully represent the student voice in the coming year. As you vote on March 29 I hope to count on your support by selecting Scott Goldsmith for Student Senate president and allowing me to be part of the team that will fight on your behalf during this test of the Wolfpack Nation.
Scott Goldsmith is a junior in political science. He is currently a senator in the student senate representing CHASS and is a candidate for Student Senate President