And they're off ... the race begins
'yourSGA's' platform stresses outreach, unity, traditions and going green
A group of students coming together to strengthen the Virginia Tech community, traditions and environmental initiatives believes the passion it feel for its four platforms: outreach, unity, traditions and going green, will set them apart from the opposing group during the SGA elections.
"I believe the four of us live our lives and are running this election by the schools motto 'Ut Prosim:" that I may serve," said Emily Mashack, a presidential candidate. "That is why we are doing this. We aren't doing this for the position; we're doing this for the school ... that we may serve our student body."
Mashack, who has been a member of SGA for the past three years, currently directs all the organization's major programs including Hokie Effect, Hokies on Fire, Big Event and Relay for Life.
"That really showed me that I did have the capabilities to oversee a large group in more of a directorial position," Mashack said.
While holding a current executive position with SGA, Mashack also participates in a number of other organizations, including the Student Alumni Association, Chi Omega, the American Medical Students Association, and Women's Club Water Polo. She said the diversity of organizations that she's involved with would allow her to view the student body through many different lenses.
"I believe that I have the knowledge, and that I'm here for the right reasons," Mashack said. "I've got my heart in it."
The other candidates include senior Steve Smith for vice president, sophomore Sharone Christmas for treasurer, and junior Ashley Gray for secretary.
Smith, who currently serves as SGA's Co-Director of fundraising, is especially eager about reinforcing Tech traditions through his candidacy.
"I'm just so passionate about Virginia Tech, it's so important in my life," Smith said.
One of the major focuses of "yourSGA" will be the environment, as all four members hope to work strongly with the environmental coalition to boost campus efforts in that area.
"I believe that's a place that the university needs to grow in, and that's why we chose it," Mashack said. "It's a very popular subject today, and it concerns me that Tech hasn't taken the initiative; so as the student body we're choosing to, and I think that's going to make a difference."
As a candidate for secretary, junior Ashley Gray said she understands that her position is not as intimidating to others, so she hopes to provide more support to the other positions and to be present at more meetings, not just select ones.
"I feel like people want to talk to the secretary more, and I find myself to be a very unbiased and honest person that people can come to with any concerns," Gray said. "I want to be there for the student body."
Another platform of "yourSGA," unity, will involve co-sponsoring events and promoting weeks, such as Diversity Week. The members' goals with this will be to learn from the various organizations about what is or isn't working, while strengthening the unity of the campus at the same time.
"We have a lot of school spirit; our platforms are bringing up new ideas that haven't really been touched on," Gray said. "We have a lot of issues we're bringing up that are important in society today."
'The Total Package' aims to support, build, enhance and inform
A close-knit group of candidates in the SGA elections refers to itself as a "team" rather than a "ticket" because it feels its members are supportive enough and communicate consistently enough that they could fill each other's shoes at any given moment.
"It's obvious to say that the fellow members of my team and I share the same passion for this organization, see room for improvement and want to make a difference both in SGA and in the community," said Jennifer Vaziralli, a presidential candidate.
Her ticket, "The Total Package," has each member focusing on one of its four platforms: to support, to build, to enhance and to inform. Vaziralli also said one of the major characteristics of her ticket is to boost SGA's communication with the Tech community, as its members feel this is the root of implementing change.
One of the focuses within "The Total Package's" campaign is to improve SGA's use of funds. Junior Rianka Urbina, candidate for vice president, explained that much of SGA's money from T-shirt funds, for example, isn't being put to use.
"We sit on our money when it can be invested and go into stocks, and into CDs, and into something that will help SGA in the future," Urbina said.
Vaziralli also said that she plans to start a crisis endowment for universities that experience tragedy with some of SGA's funds, adding that this would have provided support to the SGA at University of North Carolina after its president was killed.
Candidate for treasurer, junior Kendall LaRue, concurred in an e-mail statement where he proposed "a financial portfolio manager position where the person in that position has the responsibility of investing the SGA funds in different financial venues to meet present and future needs of SGA."
Candidate for secretary, junior Meredyth Kenney, is focusing on the platform to inform, because she feels her background as director of public relations has given her the experience necessary to succeed in that area.
"We decided, what better way to reach out to everybody than to expand my role? I'm the only person doing PR for a huge organization right now, and there is only so much one person can do," Kenney said. "Most people don't understand what the SGA does for them, and I mean honestly, we do a lot."
Currently SGA hosts forums for students to express concerns of the university, but Vaziralli said she'd like to hold forums where SGA can focus on what it can do better as an organization as well.
The members of "The Total Package" feel they will rise above the opposing ticket because of their cohesive, yet individual expertise as a group, Urbina said. They are so close, in fact, that the members seriously consider whether they will continue with their position if the ticket were to split after voting.
"I'll be frank, I won't work with anyone but them," Kenney said. "So if I win, and they don't, I'm going to give up my position."
Vaziralli also stressed the unity of their ticket by explaining how they originally came together.
"There was no rock-paper-scissoring about who would be in what position; it was a given to say that we each recognize not only our strengths, but also our weaknesses," Vaziralli said. "We're real. We're not perfect, but we see room for improvement in ourselves."
