Opinion
Kansan
Ann Premer, Editor
Gerry Doyle, Managing editor
Angie Kuhn, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Published daily since 1912
4A
Jamie Holman, Business manager
Sara Cropper, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Monday, April 12, 1999
Student Senate elections
YOU impresses editorial board with post-election action plans
Editor's note: The members of the Kansan editorial board interviewed the presidential and vice presidential candidates from each coalition for about an hour and a half on separate occasions. The editorial board is made up of 17 students of all ages, majors, living and student organizations, and backgrounds. The board includes the Kansan editor and managing editors. Voting was by secret ballot, and the pair who received a majority of the votes was chosen to be endorsed. Ryan Koerner, editorial editor, and Jeremy Doherty, associate editorial editor, did not vote.
A grasp of how to enact their campaign ideas secured the 1999 Kansan editorial board endorsement for Korb Maxwell and Dede Seibel, YOU candidates for president and vice president. After interviews with Maxwell and Seibel and Seth Hoffman and Mary Liu, Delta Force candidates for president and vice president, the board concluded that Maxwell and Seibel would be the most effective student leaders.
The board endorses them as next year's president and vice president and recommends that all students participate in elections Wednesday and Thursday.
Maxwell and Seibel have backgrounds with student government, administration and the Kansas legislature that KU students need in leaders, and they also have the action plans for implementing what students want.
Student concern is at the center of the YOU platform. Maxwell and Seibel determined their platform issues by surveying students. This beginning shows a commitment to what so many candidates promise: a student-centered Senate administration.
This commitment shines through in their take on the recreation center proposal. Maxwell and Seibel have not taken a stance for or against the proposal. They said that their actions, if elected, would depend solely on the student response during elections, verifying that the student voice will dictate their actions after the elections.
Safewalk, an after-hours campus safety and escort program, also was important issue for the YOU candidates. Seibel's outline for the program, through cooperation of Student Senate, Student Affairs administration and the KU Office of Public Safety, was sound. Her discussion of re-implementing the program's advisory board and following through until implementation showed Seibel's grasp of and energy for the program.
Maxwell and Seibel also were committed to the implementation of public transportation. Maxwell has a clear understanding of city and state government and the desire to work with both groups to make integrated transportation available to KU students.
Maxwell and Seibel also discussed the need for more student outreach. Roving Senate meetings, an idea that has been tested
a few times this year,
is a main goal of the
candidates. The board
was pleased with
their determination
to take Senate to the
students instead of
making the students
come to Senate.
A final factor was the amount of experience that the YOU candidates would bring to the positions. Although previous Senate experience was not the board's only priority, Maxwell and Seibel bring more than five years of combined experience with Senate and its committees, Student Legislative Awareness Board and university governance as well as student organizations. Their familiarity with legislation on both the campus and state levels will serve students well
✓ Korb Maxwell
YOU presidential candidate
Seth Hoffman
Delta Force presidential candidate
√ Dede
Seibel
YOU vice presidential
Mary
Delta Force vice presidential candidate
Although Hoffman and Liu did share many of these concerns, such as the implementation of Safewalk and a commitment to public transportation, the board thought that YOU's concrete, post-election ideas better suited Maxwell and Seibel for the positions.
Hoffman, a Pearson Scholarship Hall resident, and Liu, a McCollum Hall resident, are representatives of student groups that have not led Senate for several years. The board did not see the decision for YOU as a recommendation of the status quo because Maxwell and Seibel demonstrated a drive for bettering the University of Kansas that will not allow them to settle for the status quo.
We believe that Maxwell and Seibel can and will make their campaign ideas — the concerns of students — heard. They have the energy and experience to implement new initiatives, reach out to students and improve Senate and campus life.
Editor's note: The Kansan editorial board surveyed the 116 Student Senate candidates. They were asked to submit their name, year in school, major, previous Senate involvement, and campus and community involvement.
In addition, they were asked to answer the following questions in about 25 words;
How can you best represent your constituents?
What would you do to show Student Senate?
Candidates who did not respond to surveys are listed by name only. Candidates who did not have their photo taken are not pictured.
tion. Candidates' coalition affiliations and incumbent statuses were not listed during voting. Ryan Koerner, editorial editor, and Jeremy Doherty, associate editorial editor, did not vote.
13. Thirteen members of the editorial board, including the Kansan editor and managing editors, voted at a regular meeting on April 7. Information from candidates who submitted surveys after this date is included, although it was not part of endorsement selec-
A check mark indicates an endorsement by the editor on board. The board did not necessarily endorse a candidate for each available seat. Only candidates who received a majority of votes were endorsed. Because there was a tie between two candidates in the School of Architecture, three candidates were endorsed for two seats.
A check mark indicates an endorsement by the editorial board.
ARCHITECTURE
KEY
Junior in architecture
Alison Beck ✔
junior in architecture
KU Habitat for Humanity construction chair and regular site volunteer; Owl Society; Order of Omega; American Institute of Architecture Students, treasurer; Student Council studio representative
I would like to help diversify Senate's image and perspective. I offer a fresh face and many new ideas. Because of involvement in a wide variety and amount of activities I will offer an educated and strong insight on important campus and community issues.
✓ Endorsed by Kansan
Through my current responsibilities in the School of Architecture, I have already worked to provide opportunities for the students. In doing so, I have learned a lot about what still needs to be improved in Senate and is involved in Senate is the next step in making a difference.
I would try to recruit new people to join committees, which will bring new ideas. A lot of students are tired of seeing the same people.
options from my constituents and will do my best to represent them in Senate. I will stick to my word and get the job done.
I would make sure the students know who represents them and work to voice their concerns.
Independent candidate
I will listen to the opinions and sugges-
Finance committee:
Black Student Union;
Campus Connections;
Housing Orientation
Team; Ellsworth Hall
government; social
chair; director of presentations
Nick Owings
Elijah Dixon
Freshman in architecture and civil engineering
Sophomore in communication studies and
- YOU candidate
Enioll Dixon ✔
political science
concerns and questions. In turn, I will serve as their active voice in Senate and on campus. In specific, I would like to do things such as improve advising resources as well as help promote the School of Education Student Organization to make it a much larger and as a result, more active organization.
■ I plan to meet with both the Architecture Student Council and Alpha Rho Chi professional fraternity weekly to help define ways I can get to know architecture students' problems on campus.
Campus clean-up, Blood drives, The Villages a children's home in Toneka
■ I would stay open minded and not let the coalition issues stop me from fulfilling my job to the best of my ability.
Amv Stillwell ♦ ✔
Alpha Rho Chi professional Fraternity, 1996 pledge class vice president and 1998-99 vice president, 1997-98 social chair; American Institute of Architecture Students; Lawrence Community Theater Haunted House chair
I would make sure everyone knew who their student representative is and make those representatives easily accessible to their constituents. We should talk more, communicate more with our fellow students to make sure problems are being solved.
vin Hall and am very accessible to all students in the School of Architecture. I want to be in the position to help my fellow students in making the School of Architecture a better experience for everyone.
I am always in Mar-
BUSINESS
Junior in architecture
I plan on working together to make compromises so everyone can be as happy as possible with the ways things are running.
Ryan Francisco $ \bigcirc $ Junior in business administration
Listen to the students and bring their
2 seats
thoughts to the Senate.
Business senator;
Finance committee;
International Affairs
committee, vice chair;
Alpha Delta Pi sorority,
1997-98 treasurer; Order of
Omega, vice president for
programming,
1997-98 vice president
Leslie Peterson ✔
Senior in business administration and Spanish
Elizabeth Smith ▲
Incumbent
I would like to see Senate be more visible on campus — whether it be through moving more meetings out of the Kansas Union or by creating an open forum where students can gather and tell senators what issues are important to them.
Matt Wachel ✓
Senior in education
for administration; Hawk Club, treasurer
Not only will I support and assist business school groups desiring funding or policy changes, but I will also be sure to keep my constituents in mind when voting on each Senate issues.
■ By being a senior and having had two years of experience in the School of Education. I will be able to relate to both the first-year students as well as the second- or third-year education students.
Students Tutoring for Literacy, site coordinator; Jubilee Cafe; Jazzy Band; Concert Band; Pep Band; Marching Band; section leader; Panhelenic Association Scholorship Chair; Kappa Delta sorority, scholarship group; Program Employee
EDUCATION
I plan on making Senate more proactive. I plan on discussing
Kerrv Connellv ✔✓
Senior in education
Junior in middle/secondary education
group leader; Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society, executive board; Golden Key; Order of Omega Owl Society; vice president
issues that relate to the School of Education at the School of Education Students Organization meetings.
ENGINEERING
Sarah Hill ▲ ✓
I would like to set up a network where my constituents feel free to communicate their
Freshman in chemical engineering incumbent
- Engineering replacement senator; Student Rights committee; All Scholarship Hall Council, Sellars Hall representative, Sellars Hall, social committee; All Scholarship Hall Council's freshman leadership development pre
3 seats
I would like to set up office hours in Koch Lounge for the engineering senators and make it a policy to visit each engineering organization once a semester to ensure student input.
gram; American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Alternative Spring Break; Health Adventures Mentor at Lawrence Memorial Hospital; Cross Rhythms College Choir
Senate needs to be more student-oriented, by publicizing and encouraging committee participation and doing a better job of meeting students' needs instead of worrying about partisan agendas.
Katherine Marchin ▲
Katherine Marchin
Freshman in mechanical engineering
KU Rock Climbing club; KU Women's Soccer club
To best represent my constituents, I will be in constant communication with them. I will especially be dealing with issues important to students in the School of Engineering. These
include computer lab hours, dean stamp requirements and the new engineering building.
■ My goal for Senate is that it be a progressive, informed and active group that gives students a means to improve this campus to the best of its ability necessary to do this as the ones I'll make.
Marlon Marshall ✔
Sophomore in computer engineering Incumbent
■ Student senator;
University Council;
University Affairs committee;
Transportation Board;
Multicultural Resource Center board;
Organization and Administration committee;
Online Enrollment task force. Beera
ation task force; National Society of Black Engineers; Engineering Student Council; Black Student Union
I have been interested in starting a listserv for the engineers, so they can tell me their concerns, and I can take them to Senate.
As a current senator, I am not interested in changing Senate, just improving Senate.
and a campus beautification project
Sonva Mohseni ●
Sopnomore in chemical engineering
American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Engineering Expo, chemical engineering biomedical committee chair; KU Medical Research Lab, intern; Alpha Chi Omega sorority
My constituents focus on matters pertaining to academics, there
fore, my primary concern would be regarding policies dealing with academic issues.
Elected senators often forget about their constituents and focus more on personal agendas. My goal would be to remain mindful of my constituency when deciding issues of legislation and policy.
FINE ARTS
leum Engineers, vice president
I would try to streamline the process for approval of Senate actions. I would like to directly work on the online enrollment issues
3 seats
Brady Rodgers ♦
Sophomore in petroleum engineering
I will work to further the interests of engineers on a campus wide level by finding funding for the established organizations. I will also help new organizations get started.
University Affairs committee; Board of Class Officers, sophomore class treasurer; Board of Class Officers, freshman class president; Engineering Student Council; Habitat for Humanity; Children's Miracle Network; Society of Petro-
Cindy Bracker
Senior in music education
■ Finance committee;
K choral society,
fundraising chair and
senate liaison; Golden
Key; Assistant to the
Band Director at South
Junior High School
- I think it's important for students to understand that Senate is there for them, I think
a lot of people think of Senate like a high school student council, a group that thinks it has a lot of power, but doesn't,' and that's just not true.
KU Band
"I'd like to work to make Senate have more influence across campus.
Junior in music education
Randy Foster ●
Above all, I will fight for more money for all areas of the fine arts.
Provide a stronger voice for the School of Fine Arts.
Melitta George ▲
Melitta George ▲
Sophomore in piano performance
My focus will be arts advocacy, educating the public and the Senate about the needs
ot artists and fine arts students.
Choral Scholar; Cath-
Lawrence College;
Catholic Campus Center; Templin Sixth Floor, president; Lied Center; usher; KU Symphony Orchestra; violinist
I want to make the Senate more aware of the lack of funding for fine arts activities. Hopefully, more arts groups will receive funding next year.
Jennie Hornbaker ✔
Jennie Hornbaker
Junior in interior design
Being in the school and working in the office. Especially understand how the school's separate departments and activities warrant somewhat different approaches.
Basic Studies Ambassador for Art and Design; Sorority, personal development manager, property manager; Alternative Spring Break; SUA Special Events committee.
Shawn Pence ▲
Senior in music education
One immediate obstacle of Senate concerns the level of apathy students have because of the reputation of Senate on campus as being unapproachable. Students should become comfortable with the fact that they need to be heard.
Kappa Kappa Psi National Band fraternity; KU Marching Band, section leader; Jazz Band, Pep Band; Concert Band; Vocal Jazz Ensemble
i will keep my constituents informed about issues that affect them and ask for their
input regarding current issues and any new ideas they may want Senate to explore.
I want to make information regarding students' opportunities to voice their opinions more available so that all students have a role involved in the decisions that affect them.
Hugo Alberto Vera ✔
Graduate student in opera performance
University of Michigan Student Senate, fine arts representative; University of Utah Student Senate, fine arts representative; KU president; Chairman of president; Chairman of Music; Phi Mu Alpha Sinifonia; KU Opera Theatre; KU Men's Glee
Club; KU Chamber Choir; Director of Music, Residence Halls Musical Production; Student Alumni Association; Amnesty International
I can represent my constituents through awareness of the lack of organizational funding that is given to the School of Fine Arts. Not only on the University level but also on the state level. The School of Fine Arts is often ignored, not only on the passing of funding but also on the passing of funding in the Senate.
To make them aware of the needs of the School of Fine Arts. Through awareness of various performing organizations and how each one enriches the University.
GRADUATE
12 seats
First year graduate student in business administration
Al Boulware ✔
Phi Delta Theta fraternity, president, vice-president; Interfraternity Council Judicial Board; Greek Presidents Forum, co-chair BIO Blood Drive Natural Talent executive board
Because I went to
KU as an undergraduate and was involved in a lot of activities I made good relations with the