After weeks of candidates campaigning in the Brickyard, shaking the hands of strangers, and pleading for votes, Student Government elections have almost arrived. At midnight, you will have the chance to voice your opinion in this election that stands to determine the next student leaders of the University.
Are you prepared to vote for the best candidates? Do you even know the issues surrounding the campaigns? More importantly, do you know what the actual platforms of the candidates running for positions like student body president, chief justice, senior class president, UAB president and senate president?
When polling opens at midnight, the power to elect will be in your hands. In order to better prepare you for this decision, Technician composed a voter guide to enable you to learn more about the candidates vying for your votes.
Student Body President Candidates
Ches McDowell (junior, political science)
“I believe student government has been working for the administration and not the students… A student body president should be working for the students. “
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I have been involved in numerous leadership roles throughout campus. I am president of College Republicans and was endorsed by the last three presidents of College Democrats. I know what students want and what they are concerned about. I have paid my way through college and work two jobs. I can relate to students on campus.
What are your top platform goals?
I am concerned about books and athletics. These issues are something that all students have to deal with and can relate to. I would like to set up a textbook rental system like Appalachian State University and make textbooks tax-free. I would also like to have a new online ticketing system, make loyalty points more fair, extend tailgating hours and give students more incentive to come to sporting events early.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
My door is always going to stay open. I am still going to be on campus and I will continue to eat in the dining halls, attend sporting events and participate in student groups. I am here for students and I want to make sure students are represented.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
Walking out of the football stadium my freshman year and bragging to my dad about beating Carolina. My dad is a huge Carolina fan.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
The Roast Grill/Melvin’s
Matt Woodward (junior, applied sociology)
“I have a vision for this University and where it should go, and I think I have the tools and resources to really heighten our University.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I’ve had a lot experience in different organizations. I’m the only candidate that’s worked in UAB, IRC, and Student Government and I think what sets me apart is that I have a certain perspective on how to make SG a more effective program.
What are your top platform goals?
I think refocusing Student Government to make students feel like they’re being represented is really key. A lot of students don’t feel like their student body representatives do anything. That’s something that we need to look at, as well as looking at the issue of involvement – how do we engage students back into our campus?
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
It’s kind of about thinking outside the box and trying to reach students where they’re at. I think it’s also about how you’re going to get the message out about what you’re doing, about what Student Government is doing and what the issues are on campus – that’s going to be key. Thinking outside of the box, a lot of students want one web site that has all of that information and not just a text – maybe something like a video blog or something on YouTube.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
Wolfpack Welcome Week – There’s a ton of events and you get to meet a lot of people.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Jimmy John’s
Kelly Hook (junior, political science)
As cliché as it sounds, I know how we can create a united Wolfpack.
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I like to think I have the most experience out of the candidates. I worked alongside the current Student Body President as the Executive Branch Chief of Staff. I’ve seen how things operate for a long time and I know how we can do it a lot better. I’ve been the Howl for Haiti project head since January and I’ve learned since then that the organizations on campus really want to be involved as a collective group – they just need a reason.
What are some of your top platform goals?
Information overload is something we can all identify with. Between Moodle, Vista and all those online programs, we’re always having to on all of them and check assignments. I’ve been working with OIT and the creators of the platforms. We can create a face page where you can just log on once and set up a notification system for when assignments are due. That’s something feasible that I know I can do that can help everybody. Things have been way too focused on administration and they need to be more focused on students.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
I want to talk to classes and organization meetings and talk about the resources Student Government has available that would enable them to get things done. I want to always talk to people, on the Brickyard and during my office hours. Everybody in the Cabinet is as directly linked to everyone in the office as whoever wins the election would be, so students should be aware of who their 12 commission heads are. They would be out and about as well. Also, Student Government has never really been to all of the events on campus. If there’s something going on as Stewart Theater, there needs to be someone from Student Government there, showing support and talking to people afterward.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
Howl for Haiti. Being able to help others and seeing the organizations of the campus come together was the most amazing and rewarding experience for me since I’ve been here.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Mitch’s Tavern
Matthew Gromlich (senior, plant biology)
“I believe my previous involvement with IRC, Greek Life, the Honors Program, Student Senate, and the Arts Village brings a more holistic view of N.C. State that other candidates do not have.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I do not think that you have to major in political science to be an effective student body president. I am qualified for this position because I am a hard-worker and I am dedicated to making this campus thrive in the years ahead.
What are your top platform goals?
My major goal is to work with transportation to make parking and busing more efficient and effective. This can be done by looking at not only the routes, but the stops on the routes themselves. I would also like to work on a dual-campus parking permit so that students (undergraduate and graduate alike) will be able to move freely between campuses.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
I promise to remain accessible throughout my presidency. This accessibility can be established through “Dinner with the Executive Cabinet.” Every Tuesday night from 7:00-8:00 p.m., my cabinet and I will be in Fountain Dining Hall, available for people to come talk to us about anything and everything. I believe this will provide an atmosphere where people will feel comfortable approaching SG with new ideas, issues, and concerns.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
This past spring, N.C. State hosted the North Carolina Association of Residence Halls (NCARH). Being a hall representative to the Inter-Residence Council (IRC), I was encouraged to apply. There were 20 delegates from N.C. State who were chosen to participate in this amazing conference. We not only went to other programs, but were able to put on our own programs and present those to students across North Carolina. Walking around campus with our State flags and Wolfpack apparel cemented my love for this great institution. I knew I was where I belonged.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
I Heart New York Pizza.
Scott Goldsmith (sophomore, political science)
I’ve been a Student Senator for the past year. There were a lot of issues I really wanted to focus on, but I realized there was only so much you advocate for. Student Body President has many more opportunities to bring about changes. I want to be able to do more.
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I’ve been a Student Senator and a peer orientation ambassador, so I’ve been here talking to new students as they come in. I’ve been an RA on campus and lived off campus. I think I see the perspectives of several different groups of students.
What are some of your top platform goals?
One thing I want to change is advising. I’ve been working on it within the Senate, but it’s a lot easier for the Student Body President to get face time with the administration and faculty. We’re trying to get student input into how students want to fix advising. I also want Talley to be paid for by private funding to help decrease the cost to students. I was personally for Talley, but as soon as I saw how the referendum came in, I decided to go against it. I gave a speech to the senators telling them to let the student referendum stand, but obviously they didn’t do that.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
I don’t want to be a Student Body President that just sits back in the office and answers e-mails. I want to have a weekly meet-and-greet with the top members of Student Government in the Brickyard and hand out coffee to students on their way to class. If they can stop and talk for five minutes, they can tell us what concerns they have. I also want to implement a poll on Student Government’s Web site and see which issues are most important to them. That way, we’re not blowing full steam ahead with something students don’t care about.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
The Barrel Monster incident because it brought us national attention. Sure, beating Carolina in football was great, but people in California didn’t know about us. But after the Barrel Monster, people all over the country knew about us.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Jasmin
Zachary Lego (junior, aerospace engineering)
As a non-member of Student Government last year, I thought students needed to know more of what was going on, both in the Senate and in the University.
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I was in the Student Government in high school and I’m the president of the Raleigh Methodist Foundation and I was selected as a community builder last year when I lived in Lee Hall. As an engineering student, I’ve learned how to manage my time.
What are some of your top platform goals?
The main things I’m running on are transparency and unity. Because I haven’t been in Student Government, I don’t know exactly what you can and can’t accomplish yet. But I know that as students, we really don’t know what’s going on in our Student Government. They made decisions that maybe we didn’t like or we weren’t informed enough about. I’d like to achieve more transparency so students know what’s going on. I also feel like a lot of the colleges on campus, and even the majors within the colleges, don’t know what’s going on with the others, so I’d like to be the person that bridges the gap between them.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
Meetings, boxes around campus so people have the opportunity to voice their opinion, and sending e-mails out all the time so people know what we’re doing. I’ll probably have a web page or a Facebook group where people can post their ideas. I’ll go out to a different campus one day a week for an hour or two and just hang out and people can come talk to me about issues, anything. I’m a good listener.
Favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street:
Two Guys
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
When we rushed the court against Wake Forest last year. I got to high-five Tracy Smith.
Student Senate President Candidates
Sarah Center (sophomore, science education)
“I care a lot about our Student Senate and I love being a member of it. I think we can change it to involve the students a bit more, but I think it’s a great organization and I love working with the senators.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
Currently, I’ve been in Senate for one year now. I’ve been the secretary, the public affairs chair, and a senator. I’m also going into education, so I’m going to be a teacher. I’m used to being in roles where I’m leading people like this, where you have to be in front of people and organizing things.
What are your top platform goals?
Mainly, I want to see students become more involved again. I feel as if Student Senate has gone away from the student aspect. We do a lot of work, but I feel like that work doesn’t stand outside of those four walls of Senate Chambers. I feel like we need to become students again. We need to go to our students and go out and be with our constituents, rather than just doing Student Senate.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
The Student Government office can be a bit intimidating, so I want to hold office hours around campus. For example, going to sit at Port City Java for a couple of hours and invite senators to come sit with me to talk to students. Or maybe have some senators get together and go to a movie together at the Student Cinema so that we’re seen on campus.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
I love football. It’s probably that first time I went to a football game and went tailgating. Seeing everybody that excited was just so much fun.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
El Rodeo
Stephen Kouba (junior, political science)
“I feel like my leadership experience has really prepared me for the role that student senate president has…I want to advocate for students.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I think I’m the most qualified candidate for this position because of my experiences both in and out of Student Government. I served as an intern in the North Carolina General Assembly for 10 months. That path has really given me a great experience about effective ways to run a true governmental organization. I have the experience.
The qualities that you look for in a senate president is someone who’s strong but mindful, someone who’s willing to stand up for students but also listen. I am not going to be a senate president and stand at that podium and non-objectively defy the will of the students.
What are your top platform goals?
My platform goals are to bring the senate back to the students, advocating for relevant issues, reforming the fee processes, and improving the development of express bus routes – both between Centennial and Main Campus and around Main Campus itself.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
That should be the number one goal of any senator and Senate president: to be accessible to students. By literally taking the Senate out of Witherspoon and putting it on campus by putting it in population centers – having meetings in dorms, having full Senate meetings in the Brickyard, having committee meetings in the dining halls – we can increase our visibility and transparency.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
One of the best memories that I’ve had is the fact that I’ve had been able to attend every Carolina/State football game since I’ve been here the past three years, and we beat them three years in a row, and that’s been great. Being involved in the Belltower Campaign and seeing that come to fruition was awesome also. I have a lot of great memories at NCSU. I could point to a few. Beating Duke this year and going to stand outside the Belltower and hoop and holler for an hour – that was pretty special. Being involved in that kind of passion and exuberance. All of that was pretty special.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Sylvia’s Pizza
Michael Robinson (graduate, physiology)
“I’m mostly running for this position to help reform Student Government.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
Mostly experience. I was the most senior member of Senate, with the exception of Kelli Rogers. I’ve been on the appropriations committee, which is a major thing as we give back money to student groups. The things that most people actually see us doing, I’ve been involved with for a year. I’ve been involved with University Affairs, which is the committee that arguably deals with the administration the most and getting stuff done particularly for the students in dining and transportation. I’ve been on two University standing committees, so I’ve actually worked with the administration.
What are your top platform goals?
Reform the treasury – there’s lack of accountability right now and students who’ve been around for a while know that we’ve had five different treasurers in the past three years. [I want] to change that so we’re good quality students to run it and that there’s accountability to see where all the money is going.
Increase appropriation funding for student groups and streamlining that process to make it faster. I’m not sure if we can do that due to limitations from the University, but I want to try.
Make the Senate more participatory in the University, and not being reactive. [I want to] actually go out and initiating things instead of just sitting back.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
Kelly’s actually extremely accessible, mostly through her office hours. I’m an instructor, so I’m used to having my door open and having students wandering in and out with questions. I’ll have an open door policy in the office. Student Government, in general, has accessibility through the web site and Facebook, and Twitter. There’s definitely a way to get in contact all of us.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
After my first year of teaching, I had a student come back and said that I actually helped him out in other classes, and I saw that teaching actually affected someone.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
East Village
Senior Class President Candidates
Kristy Craig (senior, political science)
I’m really passionate about N.C. State. I’ve been working a lot on the senior class of 2010 gift, and it really made me realize how much I love N.C. State and spending time with the students.
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
Starting out, I’ve been involved with N.C. State since my freshman year. I’ve worked with Kelli Rogers very closely. During my sophomore year, I was director of the athletic commission. I worked with Sidney Lowe to actually come up with that, and seeing how many students turned out for that, I would like to be able to capture that again for the senior class, not only for basketball, but for everything.
What are your top platform goals?
Senior class unity; two end-of-semester job fairs that would take place at the beginning of December as well as the end of April. These job fairs would be open only to seniors, but seniors from all majors; Senior Class Spring Break- Many of the seniors I spoke with this year simply went home for spring break because the cost was too great or there was no one willing to organize a trip.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
The main way is through the council that I would like to see the senior class comprised of because right now there divided by college, but I would like to make sure that there’s diversity within the organizations. I would like to make sure that all students are represented not only by the college but by their campus organizations. I would definitely have my email address and phone number out there. It will be our senior year, and I want to make sure that everyone has a say.
Favorite restaurant on Hillsborough St., memory at NCSU
El Rodeo (casual)
Porter’s (formal)
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
My freshman year, our game against Appalachian State University because my best friend went to App State…just going out to the tailgates and enjoying N.C. State Athletics for what we actually have.
Margo Sauter (senior, mechanical engineering)
“I decided to run for senior class president to have programs for the senior class so they can have an enjoyable last year to and to help build relationships with the alumni.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I’m currently the Union Activity Board President, so I understand the leadership aspect of how to run that council, budget money effectively, and how to publicize and get student opinions incorporated into our events.
What are your top platform goals?
I really just want to focus on having the SC doing more trips together. I really want to focus on life outside of college, more or less, so they understand what the alum base is. We need to work on growing that, since we’re really small compared to some other universities.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
I would try to have office hours or be available at a certain place every week, so that students could come and meet up with me if they need something. I definitely want students opinions, so we’d probably do surveys and stuff as well to get the majority of the senior class’ opinion.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
Last summer, I was planning the Friday Fest concert, so my best memory would probably be Friday Fest 2009 having my three months of work go out to a wonderful concert that 5,000 students enjoyed.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Melvin’s
Student Body Treasurer Candidates
Buddy Bryson (sophomore, sociology)
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I’ve been involved with the Student Senate this year. I worked closely with AgroLife – I was their student treasurer this year. I’m running so I can try to help the transparency issue with Student Government. Students know their fees are going to Student Government, but it disappears after that. I want them to see where their money is being spent.
What are some of your top platform goals?
Responsibility. My responsibility for filling my position, the responsibility I have for the Senators, making sure the executive counselors are spending their money correctly, just overall responsibility. I’m being elected to this office to represents students in financial matters, so I want to make they have input on those financial matters and that they know what’s going on.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
I’ll hold office hours and make sure people know how to get there. Facebook, Twitter, e-mail – all those technologies people use on a constant day-to-day basis, I’ll be available through.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
Going to football games. I was never a big football fan before I got here, but it’s so much fun. You can forget about classes for a few hours and just enjoy the moment.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Zaxby’s
Kyle O’Donnell (sophomore, nuclear engineering)
“I’m choosing to run because my role in the appropriations committee and in the finance committee has shown me inefficiencies in the way that Student Government operates. “
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
Buddy and I are both excellent candidates. I’m the least concerned about my own race as far as how students will be served. Although I have the experience of appropriations and finance committee, Buddy’s the treasurer of CALS, so both of us have prior experience. I have done over 200 hours with Student Government with appropriations. There is a disparity, but he is still familiar with the process.
What are your top platform goals?
The most important platform to move forward is not only checking receipts for the amounts, because that’s what is currently done for appropriations, but checking for the amount and what is appropriated. Another platform would be to enforce receipt deadlines. Currently, we have deadlines and we create a black list…but you can still send in receipts even though in the appropriations packet it says you can’t turn in receipts once the appropriations start.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
It’s very important to go to the various student groups. Currently there’s a spot on the University Student Center Board of Directors for the treasurer, which interfaces with Student Government’s position with Witherspoon, the new Talley, Price, and etc. That position is currently unfilled. We should first start off by filling positions that the treasurer is assigned….Instead of being reactive and waiting for people to come looking, I want to use my experience as American Nuclear Society’s webmaster to maintain a near-real-time webpage that shows what we’re spending money on.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
I most enjoyed this past summer session. During SS2, I worked on a summer camp program for prospective college students to come and learn about the College of Engineering during a three-week program…I enjoyed being a medium to facilitate their learning about N.C. State. As a result, several of the kids have decided to apply to State, and a few are coming to the program.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Jasmin Mediterranean Bistro
Will Lamb (junior, communications)
“I’m running for this position because as the UAB’s Film Chair this year, I’ve seen what a fantastic organization it is. I know where it’s at now and I know where it needs to go. “
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
I’m currently serving as the UAB’s Film Chair and am an Army ROTC cadet here at NCSU. Of all the UAB’s Committee Chairs and Executive Board members, I am the only person returning next year. As such I have a thorough understanding of where the organizations stand and what kinds of leaders it needs to get the UAB back in the game.
What are your top platform goals?
Since the UAB’s core leadership will have to be built from the ground up, it’s going to be extremely important getting the right people in the right places. An organization like this doesn’t run without good leaders, and that’s what I’m going to give you. By the time my year as the Film Chair is up, I will have offered 45 free movies through our campus cinema. This free mantra is something I want to pursue. You already pay for these events with your student fees, why pay more?
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
Leave our Talley office door open, seriously. That thing is always locked, and with our new office arrangement, I see no reason why the Berlin Wall should stand between you, and the UAB leadership inside.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
Believe it or not, when my parents first left me at my dorm freshman year. The band was nearby practicing, and as I saw my parents’ car disappear onto Western Boulevard, the N.C. State fight song filled the air.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Waba
UAB President Candidates
Scott Richardson (senior, business administration & psychology)
“I want to help UAB grow and help reach out to more students so that students can benefit from UAB just as I have.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
Of all the candidates, I have more experience. I’m the only one that’s been a member of the executive board, so I’ve gotten to see the big picture, whereas some of the other candidates who may have some experience with UAB only really saw one committee.
What are your top platform goals?
One of my main goals is reaching out to students. I feel like right now a lot of students don’t know what UAB is. I really would like to reach out to students because every student on campus pays a student fee that goes to UAB, and I want to make sure that students are aware of that so they can really get something back from UAB also.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
Reaching out to students is a really good start. It hasn’t been one of the top priorities the past four years, so I would really want to make that my top priority as far as being available to students. My email would be on the web site. The UAB office is in Talley so anytime students needed anything, they could come to the office by finding out when my office hours are. One of the main things I would do is have more meetings with students outside of the committees. Right now, a lot of times committee members are the only people who really hear about anything that’s going on in UAB. I’d like to have some more meetings outside of the committees.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
When I finally decided on what my major was going to be. Then I had some direction as far as where I was going. When I first came to N.C. State, I came into First Year College and I was there trying to find out what I wanted to major in.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
I Heart New York Pizza
Student Centers President
Marycobb Randall (junior, business administration)
“I’m running again because I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been doing, and I think that continuity and position would be an advantage to some of the things that we’re working on.”
Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?
N/A
What are your top platform goals?
The biggest thing is Talley. That’s currently in the planning phases. We’ve had a couple of student events already this spring semester. I’ve had a lot of experience working with the design team and students, bringing them together for collaboration.
I really want to work with the Source Office and to continue to improve their function, their role, and how they can help student organizations. I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. I want to make the reservations and events process in Tally and any of the student centers easier. It seems you have to go one place for catering and one place for room reservations – it’s really spread out. I would like to consolidate all of this. Another thing that we’ve done, and I’d like to continue doing, is incorporating Campus Enterprises.
How are you going to remain accessible to your constituents?
With the board, their website has a big link where students can send comments or questions that go directly to my email. I respond to every email that I get. Our meeting dates are posted on there, and everyone is welcome to come to that. Everyone that serves on our board serves as a liaison back to their parent organization. So there are a lot of channels for communication.
What is your favorite memory at NCSU?
Krispy Kreme Challenge – I’ve worked on their public relations committee that last couple of years, and we’ve been able to bring in a lot of great groups that have really been able to support the race and give more money to the children’s hospital. I guess my greatest memory would be standing on top of one of the entrance walls by the Belltower that they just completed, and looking back at Hillsborough Street seeing the 6,000 people, and when the buzzer rang, watching everyone go.
What is your favorite restaurant on Hillsborough Street?
Global Village
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