SMC candidates take on communication as platform
By MOLLY McVOY
Saint Mary's Editor
Communication is the focal point of the platform for Michelle Nagle and Kristen Matha, the one and only ticket running for Saint Mary's student body president/vice president.
"Accountable and accessible are the two words that sum up our platform," Nagle said.
Nagle and Matha hope to increase their accessibility to the student body with the goals laid out in their platform. One of their goals is to institute a State of the Student Address at the beginning of each semester. Nagle and Matha hope this will give the student body the opportunity to understand what student government is accomplishing each semester.
"What happens now is that candidates come out with a platform at the beginning of the year and then the student body forgets about it," Matha said. "We hope this changes that."
In addition to the State of the Student Address, Nagle/Matha are planning to put up a bulletin board where they will post the agenda of the upcoming Board of Governance meeting. They also hope to update the student government Web page and hold breakfasts in the dining hall where students can meet with their administration.
"Things like this would be very powerful to give students a voice," Nagle said.
Nagle and Matha hope to reopen the student government office and hold office hours to increase their availability to the student body.
"We're trying to have uniform ways for the student body to know what's going on," Nagle said.
In their new administration, Nagle and Matha want to include a Holy Cross representative on Board of Governance.
"They're just picking up a student government and we want to do what we can do to mentor Holy Cross in forming a student government," Nagle said.
The ticket also hopes to institute a welcome back event for students returning from abroad.
"We want to give abroad students a way to get involved," Matha said.
If elected, Nagle and Matha will come into office in the wake of several major issues between the student body and the administration. The campus is currently debating whether to host both the Vagina Monologues and the Keenan Revue. The students will be asked to give their opinion on the Keenan Revue on the ballot during Monday's elections.
Nagle and Matha said that both are tough issues but they are unclear as to what steps should be taken. They said that voices outside the student body, including the administration, alumnae and donors need to be heard before any decision can be made.
"As a student body, we need to understand what role the administration has," Nagle said. "As a private institution, we have to look at donors, the Board of Trustees and the Parent's Council."
"We have to take into consideration how alumnae feel," Matha said.
Student body elections will be during the day on Monday.
All News Stories for Thursday, February 1, 2001
