Student Senate candidates campaign on change

A change is being asked for in upcoming Student Senate president and vice president elections, according to current first-year students.

“I didn’t even know elections were happening,” first-year Josh Potter said.

Student Senate President Amos Mainville and Vice President Kevin Kostyk have decided not to run for a second term in the 2010-2011 school year.

Last year, Mainville and Kostyk ran unopposed. This year, three candidates plan to duel it out for the president position, including Ana Devlin-Gauthier, co-president of Women’s Issues Coalition, current Student Senate Treasurer Nathan Martell and current Student Senate Secretary Peter Nyitrai. One student, current Student Senate Diversity Director Matt Brown, is running for vice president unopposed.

Brown said he would like to improve the efficiency and atmosphere surrounding Student Senate.

“I am running for vice president because I have a vision about Student Senate," Brown said. "The vision is that it could be run more efficiently. I would like to accomplish that vision. I feel like communication could be better between the executive board and students and the atmosphere could be made more welcoming.”

Gauthier says that she is running for president because she would like to see students be more involved with any changes that are made at the University, along with working to create new ways to distribute funds to clubs.

“I am running because I believe that students can have a much larger say than they currently do," Gauthier said. "I think Senate can be a platform for students to voice thoughts. If they really care about this institution they can have a say in how things happen.”

Martell expressed his desire to serve the student population.

"My basic platform is that I’ve been here a year, and last year I was honored enough to be Student Senate treasurer," Martell said. "I feel like I need to be involved at any school I’m at."

Martell added that he'd really like to create events that would improve school spirit, such as class formals and homecoming events.

Nyitrai said that he would like to make constitution and finance policies friendlier to clubs. According to Nyitrai, it currently takes about two years for a club to ask for a full budget.

"I chose to run for president because I don’t want to see the same old promises made to the student body," Nyitrai said. "I would like to see that change."

A group of first-year students expressed their desire for change in the upcoming election. They feel they should be more informed and hope future Student Senate leaders will do a better job reaching out to the first-year halls.

“They are our voice,” said Zach Howe, a first-year art major. "How can we know what’s going on if they don’t reach out to us? It’s like not giving the first-year class a voice.”

Student Senate did reach out to the first-year halls by asking that each hall be represented by a student and serve as that building’s senator. According to several students, the program has been a failure.

“If you don’t give the first-year halls a budget now, it won’t affect the current class,” Barresi Hall senator Brian Thistle said. “There is no incentive to attend,” he added.

Candidates for the upcoming Senate elections have one thing in common, and that is the promise for change. For those with questions as to what kind of change, Student Senate will be sponsoring a “Meet the Candidates” night at 8 p.m. on Feb. 17 after the Student Senate meeting. The polls open Feb. 21.

Look for more election coverage on http://www.thefiatlux.com/ for any forthcoming interviews, coverage of "Meet the Candidates" night and more.

Thomas Fleming contributed to this article.