Platform Part One: Experience

Hope everyone's been having a great Tuesday--it's beautiful outside, and I've really enjoyed going outside and meeting people in the sun.

I'd like to tell you about the first part of my platform right now: experience.

My experience will allow me to get the most work done for the students out of any candidate. Normally after elections, the new SGA President and Vice President need 3-4 months to meet everyone on campus and figure out how to turn their ideas into actually helping students. I know this from having gone through this process last year as Vice President.

But since I already have worked with all of the major people on campus over the last year as Vice President, I can begin implementing positive changes for the students (student-centric changes) right away after elections.

The upcoming Danna Center renovations, which with my strong student voice can begin this summer, provide one example of the advantage of experience. The administration is considering a 5-phase renovation, which would begin with refurbishing the walls, furniture, and carpets, and end with a completely renovated exterior to fit in with the other buildings on campus.

Our student center needs to be made into a friendlier, more open area in which students can spend their free time, even late at night. With me as President, SGA will take the lead on convincing the upper levels of administration and Board of Trustees that the Danna Center renovations should be funded in the coming months. I have the relationships with all of the important players in the University that will allow the students the best chance of fixing up the heart of campus, the student center.

My experience will also help students as the University begins to try and improve academics at Loyola. This long-term project, beginning in the coming months, will try and adjust the Common Curriculum and make other academic changes in order to help improve student retention. As the process begins, my experience with academic meetings over the past year will help make sure that reforms are focused on the students, not on the interests of particular departments.

Since I already know all of the players involved, I will also be able to do a better job at making sure the realignment of Counseling and Career Services remains student-friendly. In a stressful post-Katrina world, the University needs to do a better job at offering mental counseling and job opportunities for students. I can help the University figure out the best way to make these departments provide better services for students.

Similarly, my familiarity with all student organizations, having worked extensively with them during Allocations, will help me encourage co-programming among student groups. Co-programming makes for better, well-attended events for all groups on campus. It also makes Loyola a more welcoming place for everyone.

What’s the key to making sure all of these initiatives receive the most dedicated and detailed attention? It’s my experience.

Thanks for reading! The next post will be later tonight, and will include the next part of my platform: Ideas.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to post a comment. I'll respond next time I look.

Bob Payne
SGA President Candidate