Candidates discuss thoughts on administration
By KIFLIN TURNER
Assistant News Editor
Strengthening the ties of communication between the students and the administration ranks at, or near the top of a list of priorities formulated by student government tickets running for office in nest week's election.
Finding a face to address the concerns of the students is essential in making the first step towards taking active initiatives according to presidential candidate Libby Bishop.
"We really want to be proactive and we want to have students feel like student government cares about what they have to say and we want to do that by coming towards the students instead of just letting the students come to us," said Bishop.
Creating a student government web site with polls, keeping a suggestion box, and being available after dorm masses are some of the ways the Bishop/Foley ticket plan to reach out to the student community in increasing communication and harnessing ideas.
"After getting a wide range of student opinion we'll know what students want," Bishop said. "Once we have better communication with the students, I think we will be so much better equipped to communicate with the administration."
Presidential candidate Scott Palko and running mate, P.J. Mercanti cited their student-based philosophy as the foothold of their platform.
"Being a ticket we believe is based on student life and the students wants, needs and concerns — we're trying to have the students tell us what it is they want," said Palko.
To initiate student dialogue and involvement Palko advocated enabling an e-mail address where the students could post concerns.
"One of the very first things we plan on doing when we get into office is having an e-mail address set up," said Palko. He further stated that they would personally read and sort each message and then group them accordingly to comprehensively address similar issues.
"We have accountability to get those things done and students can look towards us trying to accomplish those things — they know what it is we're going to be working for in the next year," said Palko.
The ticket also plans on writing a weekly or bi-weekly column in The Observer to inform students of any developments in student government and the stance of the administration on various issues.
"We're a firm believer in using the means of communication that already exist as far as Scholastic and The Observer are concerned," said Palko.
Presidential candidate Nikki McCord and vice presidential candidate, Nick Williams both plan to continue to talk to student groups around campus in the coming days to gain additional feedback.
McCord said that it is imperative to establish an active voice and role in communicating the needs of the student.
"They want well-educated people who are going to firmly state the needs of the students who are not so much going to overturn their authority, but work with them to express the desires of the student body," said McCord. "We plan to work with the administration in the areas that students bring to us in the changing climate on campus."
Brian Moscona, current student body vice president and presidential candidate, and his runningmate, Keri Oxley have declared communication with students and administration as their top priority. From a new web site to a new committee called KOOBAM (an acronym for the candidates initials), much of their platform is about communication.
"[Many campaign promises] are happening in student government now and students just don't know," said Moscona. "That's why communication is one of our biggest goals."
As a member of the current administration, Moscona said he has already established a relationship with many administrators, but understands the need for students to be aware of administration's motivations.
The Bishop/Foley ticket also believed that their collective student government experience granted them the ability to act as qualified representatives to the administration.
"We feel like we have a more accurate perception and perspective because of our extensive involvement in student government," Bishop said.
Provided that they take a proactive approach by speaking with administrators on a personal basis, Foley stated that open and personal dialogue would enable them to work on their ideas and ensure implementation.
"We've gotten great responses from the administrators we've talked to on each of the issues," said Foley. "We've been both happily surprised at when we were researching our platform at how open the administration was to our ideas and wanting to discuss them with us. I think that that is a great way to start it off because they already know what we want and we made sure that what we'd like to work on is feasible."
McCord also emphasized the feasibility of their own platform and the likelihood of gaining administrative approval to implement them.
"The best thing to remember is that our platform is simple. We don't have any grandiose ideas that aren't going to work," McCord. "We're working on a platform that is simplistic and beneficial to the student."
Creating a platform that is feasible, realistic, and in demand is the most efficient way to go about getting goals accomplished according to some tickets.
McCord stated that the idea of having a free movie shuttle providing transportation to students would necessitate the financial support of the administration.
"[It's] definitely going to require the help of the administration because we are going to need funding," said McCord. In addition, McCord also plans to resurrect SafeRide and has already begun discussion with Father Mark Poorman vice president of student affairs, and assistant vice president of student affairs, Bill Kirk.
"They think that Safe Ride is an excellent idea," said McCord.
One of the issues on Palko's campaign ticket that would require extensive administrative review is the consideration of implementing air conditioning into the dorms.
"We plan on initiating the process," said Palko. "It's our goal to start the process for air conditioning not so much as have air conditioning in every dorm in one year."
The changing policy on tailgating is a recent issue of concern in assessing the quality of communication between administrators and students. After the fact, it later came to light that the student population was largely unaware of the revised policy.
McCord reported that Kirk was willing to listen to the concerns of the students. Foley also stated that they had previously spoken with Kirk on the issue.
Foley also said that in light of the mass student confusion and the revision of the tailgating policy, their platform supports the idea of taking out an advertisement in The Observer to have Poorman or Kirk write a letter explaining the policy and the reasons for the revision.
According to the Bishop/Foley ticket informed and continuous dialogue between both student and administrator depends on how well student government acts as a mediator in relaying the position of the administration as well as conveying the concerns of the students on issues.
All News Stories for Thursday, February 7, 2002
