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Q&A with the candidates
1. What problems do you think are the most important to students on campus?
2. What specific plans do you have to correct these problems?
3. What kind of personal experience will you bring to the office?
Kevin Ballew
Fourth-year
Information systems
1 The pressing issue for students is the disconnected relationship between themselves and their monetary distributive governing body: Student Government. I argue that it is because of this clouded representation of students’ interests that students today have no outlet for their criticism, no recourse for grievances and no single unified presence from which to voice their minds. For all matters, whether it be a parking issue, dining issue, or housing issue, all can have effective change done unto them if the student body chooses to do so.
2 Reconnection of students to their respective senators is key. Each senator, representing their college, already has the groundwork laid in place to be a voice for their colleagues. All that is needed is a plan that will solidify the link. As president, I would push for each senator to hold regularly scheduled open forums where members of their college could come and have their voices heard. I would further push that colleges make known to their undergraduate body the names of their representing senators, completing the link between senate and the students. The goal, ultimately, is to make Student Government for the students once again.
3 If elected president, I would bring the knowledge and experience of various student groups which I have served in some capacity over my years so far here at UMaine.
My experience as a Hall Governing Board president assures my understanding of what it is like to live on campus and the issues dorm residents face. Having been a senator for the engineering college, and the engineering college caucus chair, assures that I am familiar with governmental procedures and practices. Furthermore, having served on the Executive Budgetary Committee, I am knowledgeable about how monies are spent within the government, and the practices that go along with them. Finally, being involved with Greek life, and recently serving as president to the Inter-Fraternity Council, assures to all that I have the capacity to lead, while remaining vigilant to the concerns of the persons who installed me into office.
Priyanth Chandrasekar
Fourth-year
Electrical engineering
1 Improving the facilities offered to students: keychain MaineCards, more hours for the library and for dining in the Maine Marketplace. I’d like to convert unused meals to money usable at the Marketplace and convenience stores. Changing the academic calendar to be more student, staff and faculty friendly, and providing one extra move-out day in residence halls are other ideas I’d like to implement.
Transportation has been a key issue for off-campus students. I intend to introduce two new BAT bus pickups at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Also, for commuters I would like to market an off-campus housing guide to help students planning to live off campus to compare rates and locations. For parking, I’m looking into the possibility of creating more temporary (20 minute) slots, and a lottery system for permits. I’d also like to see discounts for students at movies, restaurants and bars in the Old Town and Orono areas.
2 Correcting complicated problems requires dedication, hard work, and most importantly, networking skills. Being an RA has taught me to build relationships and this goes a long way in networking. I am a well-networked student and intend to use these resources to benefit the student body. I am very easygoing and easy to talk to, and many people feel that this is my biggest advantage.
3 Individual accountability, delegation, and collective responsibility form the pillars of my leadership style. I became an active member of the UMaine community in my freshman year. I was a senator in my third month at UMaine and this led to various other officer positions, like president of the International Students Association and becoming a Senior Skull.
Being a new member in the executive body will add fresh blood and new ideas. I have worked with a variety of organizations on campus and held numerous leadership positions. These experiences, coupled with my passion and love for the University of Maine, qualify me to serve as your next president. I intend to bring back the “student” in Student Government. It’s not my platform. It’s your platform and your voice. How do you want to be heard?
Derek Mitchell
Third-year
Journalism & political science
1 Students are most impacted by the costs associated with attendance at the University of Maine. Ever-increasing tuition, rising costs of food and textbooks, and the cost of living in the UMaine community challenge students to innovate new ways to afford an education.
2 If elected, I will work with the faculty and administrators to assure that students have access to professor evaluation data. Students should not need to rely on http://.ratemyprofessor.com to make critical course selection decisions; whether a professor is ‘hot’ has little bearing on your success in the course. College is a major investment, and like the stock market, it would not be wise to invest without investigating and examining the stock.
If elected, I will also create a student lobby day in Augusta. Legislators hear too often from administrators – and not enough from students directly impacted by decisions to allocate funds to the university system. Students will interact directly with those making critical funding decisions -decisions having a significant impact on student bills each year.
3 After serving as student senator for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and a term as vice president for Student Entertainment, my understanding of Student Government is thorough and firsthand. Collaborating through challenging times and through times of great success, my experience has given me an opportunity to learn the strengths of Student Government, and the areas in need of improvement.
William Pomerleau
Third-year
History & secondary education
1 Issues involving the rising costs of dining and tuition – any issue where students are facing rising increases and are being forced to pay more money out of their pockets.
2 Work with Derek Mitchell to sit down with campus administrators to negotiate more reasonable prices, and get members of Student Government down to Augusta to speak with legislators about important issues affecting students at the University of Maine.
3 Two years of experience as a Student Senator, where I participated in lobbying legislators in Augusta, talking with many campus administrators about policy, as well as helping to direct policy for Student Government. Serving a year as the GSS president pro tempore where I’ve had to chair meetings of the senate coinciding, with a membership in the National Association of Parliamentarians from my studies on parliamentary procedure.
Sean Rankin
Second-year
Business
1 I feel the largest concerns I have heard and share with students are the rising tuition costs, inadequate dining services, and frustrating parking issues. Many students have great concerns with these issues, but the worst of it is they do not feel anyone is working to solve these problems, especially Student Government.
2 At the present moment I am working with several state representatives to lower in-state tuition in the UMaine System. On Nov. 23, State Representative Gary Moore and myself submitted concept legislation to the Reviser of Statutes in Augusta that would in fact serve to lower tuition costs. On Dec. 5, I have been invited by Rep. Moore to address his caucus and discuss solutions.
3 I came into senate this year a student who wanted to fix student problems. To accomplish this I quickly realized that senate needed to be changed; it needed to add the students’ interests back onto its agenda. I have been a UMaine student a lot longer than I have been a UMaine senator. If elected, I will be a student fighting for students’ interests on senate, not a senator deciding what the students’ interests are.
Bangor Daily News