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As the candidates for the president and vice president of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) vied for student support, UGBC Senate hopefuls also tried to garner backing to spend the next year representing their respective classes. Though the candidates had different platforms, the legislative campaigns centered on constitutional reform and engaging the average student in UGBC affairs.
"I feel like there's not a good connection between UGBC and the students - a lot of students don't know what's going on," said Matthew Sage Withrow, Senate candidate and A&S '06. "They need to understand how these elections pertain to them and that it's not about a distant student government."
Withrow, a transfer student from the University of Wyoming, feels that his upbringing in Arizona separates him from the usual New England native.
"I have a unique perspective to offer the University," he said. "It's good to offer a diversity of opinions throughout the student government."
Diversity is a key factor for Katrina King, A&S '07, as well.
"As an AHANA woman on this campus who is not Catholic, I feel that we need to represent voices that have not been represented as well," said King.
Her values, she said, will also help her become one of the 2007 Senators. "I think it's good to have someone with strong beliefs in this position," she said. "I will work to represent more voices on campus outside of the majority on campus."
With her representation will come action, King said.
"I'd like to focus more on AHANA and GLBT needs; I don't want to just create committees, I want action to happen," she said.
Colm Willis, A&S '08, is also looking for more action after spending a year in the Senate.
"We got some work done this year, but we need more time to do it," he said. "A lot of the same guys are running again, and if we are together next year I think we can get a lot more done."
Willis wants to work with officials from the Plex to expand intramural sports, especially for freshmen. He also hopes to redraft the constitution, if reelected, within the first month in office.
Amending the constitution is central to the campaign of Nyck Bernier, A&S '07. "I have been working all year on the constitution, which we're actually fixing," he said. "We want to make it more fiscally responsible because we are upset at way UGBC distributes money."
Along with Mike Sheehan and Jon Trainor, both A&S '07, Bernier has been canvassing the campus urging sophomores to vote for all three candidates. "The campaign has been going pretty well," said Bernier. "We have hit every sophomore dorm at least twice, and we've been talking to people and have found a lot of support."
John Wheatley, A&S '08, also saw the value of his campaign efforts. "It's tiresome sometimes knocking on all those doors, but it's worth it," he said.
Wheatley said that the school is in need of "major reforms," with problems in basic student life issues such as diversity and transportation.
These contentious issues have been with Elizabeth Winiarski, A&S '06, for the past two years as a senator. She said that she wants to continue to work toward improving structure and enhancing communication among committees, the president and vice president, and legislative directors.
"We need to do everything we can for the student body as well as prove our legitimacy as a student organization. We're here for the student body; we want people to use us as a student resource," she said.
Running for the 2006 Senate are Paul Tellier, Philip Abraham, Ryan Brown, Brigitte Hamadey, Eamonn Kelly, Winiarski, and Withrow, all A&S '06. Brett Wilzbach and Thomas Wells, both CSOM '06, are also running.
Running for the 2007 Senate are Rose Chou, Whitnie Low, Megan Connelly, Sheehan, Trainor, King, and Bernier, all A&S '07. Jimmy Guzman, CSOM '07 is also running.
Running for the 2008 Senate are Julia Toepfer, Patrick Nugent, Mike Fabbri, James Walsh, Kevin Boland, Liam Colum, Tim O'Brien, Michael Cannella, Joe Feeney, Emily Todd, Kenneth Kroog, Jonathan Doerr, Sean Kelly, Willis, and Wheatley, all A&S '08. Nick Lawler, LSOE '08, is also running.
Students can vote for up to five senators from their class on Agora today and tomorrow during normal Agora hours.
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