Thomas Hada/Information Systems, Digital Art Specialization, Digital Art Minor/Junior, graduating class of 2014/21 years
1. Out of all the 16,000 students on campus, what makes you the most deserving student to influence the more $3.1 million budget funded by our student activity fee?
Stony Brook students are entitled to a portion of the Student Activity Fee, which they pay by attending the University. Clubs and organizations are an important recipient of the budget, and they should be informed about and helped through the process of receiving and keeping their shares. More importantly they should be accurately represented in the Undergraduate Student Government by addressing questions, concerns, and complaints each club and organization has so USG may become more effective and efficient. These are only some of the principles that I bring to USG with the intent to create a better experience for each and every student at Stony Brook, and that is why I am running for Vice President of Clubs and Organizations.
2. What experience do you bring to the position you are running for? Why are you qualified?
The experience I bring comes from my extensive background in Customer Service, personally helping others get the assistance they need and deserve, as well as from my time being a Stony Brook student. There are plenty of potential improvements that can make student life more enjoyable, and a fresh, insightful perspective coupled with this knowledge will make an enormous difference in our community.
3. Is this your first time getting involved in USG? If so, why are you interested in getting involved? If not, why do you wish to be involved again?
This is my first time getting involved in USG, and my reasons for getting involved can be found above. I want to make USG and Stony Brook a better place for academic and co-curricular activities, not simply during the rest of my time here but for all future generations of Stony Brook students.
4. What do you think is the best thing about USG and if elected, how do you plan to continue that?
The best thing about USG is its potential for the student body to listen to and help each other. I plan not just to continue helping our peers but to improve the assistance and communication between USG and the rest of the student
population. If elected, I will keep closer communication with our Clubs and Organizations, send emails to their whole e-board to facilitate collaboration, keep each club up to date with current bylaws and regulations through online reminders and personal meetings, and most importantly I will bring their questions and issues to USG meetings so that we may prevent confusion and unintentional bylaw violations for all clubs and organizations in future semesters.
5. On a scale of 9-10* (10 being the highest) how successful were the past two semesters for USG?
9. There is always something more we can do, for the nature of government is to work from precedent to improve our future.
6. What are USG’s biggest flaws, and how do you plan to correct those? For those currently in USG, what have you done to try to correct those flaws?
USG’s biggest flaws are its ambiguous bylaws and USG Code, and the complex processes clubs and organizations go through when applying for budgets and event spaces. I have seen clubs lose funding because they had not held an event the previous semester or because they were considered “over budget” on Campus Vine in a total that included money they were denied. I plan to correct this by improving communication between USG and club e-boards, by proposing amendments to current bylaws, and by helping revamp CampusVine and the USG website using input from our community.
7. Do you think it’s right for USG to give SAB the same budget next year despite a surplus of over 100,000 for this year?
USG should not give the SAB the same budget next year considering how much the SAB is over budget. The SAB budget comes from the money all students pay in the Student Activities Fee, and if the SAB is allowed to keep a large portion of the budget without spending it then our clubs and organizations suffer because of a lack of funding. If this surplus rolls over into the next academic year it should be primarily allocated to clubs.
8. Do you think that putting on successful campus events should be prioritized over increasing clubs’ budgets?
Students who are not in any clubs or organizations are just as important as those who are, so one should not be prioritized over the other. That said, clubs have been calling for more funding for legitimate requests and should therefore receive it, which includes requests to host campus events in collaboration with USG and Weekend Life.
9. Representing the student body sometimes means taking a firm stance against administration policies. How willing are you to speak up on behalf of the student body, even when it means conflicting with administrators?
I am highly motivated and willing to speak up on behalf of the student body in each and every situation. As a public representative it would simply be my duty to speak for the people I represent, and it should be an expectation for anyone running for USG.
*Please note we intentionally asked for a scale of 9-10.
The Press hasn’t received any survey responses for Kerri Mahoney
[/tab] [tab title=”Vladimir Piersaint”]Vladimir Piersaint. Health Science and Psychology. Junior. 21.
1. Out of all the 16,000 students on campus, what makes you the most deserving student to influence the more $3.1 million budget funded by our student activity fee?
2. What experience do you bring to the position you are running for? Why are you qualified?
I’ve held previous student leadership positions such as: LDS Fellow, Executive Leadership Team Member for Student African American Brotherhood, Resident Assistant, and President of Rise Again Haiti SBU Chapter. Through each of these leadership experiences, I’ve learned how to improve the community and influence others.
3. Is this your first time getting involved in USG? If so, why are you interested in getting involved?
If not, why do you wish to be involved again? Yes, this my first time getting involved in USG. I became interested after a senate meeting for my club’s SSC hearing. During that meeting I notice how difficult it was to just educating the members of the Senate of the clubs missions and purpose. At the end of that meeting I wanted to get involve with USG to help other clubs, that’s having issues
4. What do you think is the best thing about USG and if elected, how do you plan to continue that?
One thing I’ve enjoyed from USG was the Gala. I think that it should be an annual event. Not only is it a great fundraiser event and serves as great way for students to network with professors and alumni.
5. On a scale of 9-10* (10 being the highest) how successful were the past two semesters for USG?
9.
6. What are USG’s biggest flaws, and how do you plan to correct those?
For those currently in USG, what have you done to try to correct those flaws? I think the leaders in USG has little knowledge of our clubs and organizations. Each club and organization has it’s own identity, a different mission and serving different purposes.
7. Do you think it’s right for USG to give SAB the same budget next year despite a surplus of over 100,000 for this year?
Yes, because those funds provides the big events on campus. I think what needs to change is the students presence in these meetings.
8. Do you think that putting on successful campus events should be prioritized over increasing clubs’ budgets?
I think putting on successful campus events are good to gather the Stony Brook community together but our clubs are the building blocks of the community. If we continue to cut our clubs’ budget, the community will only diminish.
9. Representing the student body sometimes means taking a firm stance against administration policies. How willing are you to speak up on behalf of the student body, even when it means conflicting with administrators?
“Change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.” Through our confliction we’re find growth for our student body.
*Please note we intentionally asked for a scale of 9-10.
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