Reinemund and Schwartz debate their merits as potential Student Council presidents.
 Steven Reinemund |
 Micah Schwartz |
Candidate Profiles
Steven Reinemund
1. What do you want to accomplish as Student Council President?
First and foremost, I want to make Council relevant to all students. By improving the daily lives of students with things like Food Carts in Cabell, the E-School, Clemons and Hereford, Council becomes more relevant to all students.
Secondly, I believe that communication is a serious problem on Grounds. I will allow students to customize the Connections event e-mails they receive to facilitate better communication of events. I also want to implement a representative Web board. Students will be able to post suggestions on a new Student Council Web site, without logging in, and watch representatives work on the suggestion over the Internet.
By creating a Buildings and Grounds committee to ensure every building on Grounds has sufficient copiers, vending machines and phones, students' lives will be made easier.
I am committed to continuing to improve Hooville - the HOOCrew's ideas and student requests will be combined to continue to improve that process.
I will continue to aggressively support minority groups which have traditionally suffered from under-representation. Based off the ideas of the ASU and LSU, I want to help with the implementation of a multicultural center which will provide peer advising and programming support for Latino, Asian Pacific, and international students. Based on the ideas of the Black Fraternal Council, I want to provide benches on central Grounds with BFC Greek letters on them to serve as symbolic representation of the African American community and Greek community on Grounds as well as serve as social congregation spaces. Initial responses from the administration to these evolving ideas has been very favorable.
2. How have you served Student Council in the past? How would this experience help you in the role of Student Council President?
My role since my first year has been as founder and chair of the New Student Center working group. I reported directly to the President of Student Council. The experience has given me a bird's eye view of Council and unique exposure to its inner workings and therefore a better idea of how to fix the inefficiencies internally.
The New Student Center committee was responsible for getting the New Student Center on the six year plan and 2002-2004 capital projects list. I have developed a very good working relationship with most administrators around grounds from this exciting project. I consider these relationships extremely important to being able to get things done, big and small, to make Council more relevant to students.
My research for the Student Center has lead into a role as a primary student life consultant for the South Lawn Project. This has given me contacts in the academic sphere which will be helpful in allowing Council to better address some academic concerns of students.
Vouching at the gyms and student courtside seating at basketball games have been difficult issues in the past but I feel that with my contacts and administrative experience, I can build off the progress that has been made.
3. What do you think is the best way to not only represent the student body but also work with them?
I plan to hold daily office hours at staggered times next year if elected. This will take one more barrier away for students to interact directly with the president. Students with concerns or interested in getting involved can come and chat much more easily.
4. What do you think of the run-off election?
The run-off has given me an opportunity to chat with more students. For me, the opportunity to get to know more students has been the most fun part of the campaigning. Students can expect to continue to see more rhinos through Tuesday.
5. Why choose you over your opponent?
My exposure to the administration and what I have already accomplished puts me in a terrific place to get even more things done for the student body next year and also help others get access to administrators.
6. What would you look for in a cabinet?
I would look for individuals that I could trust with anything, first and foremost. I would also like to share some of the presidential responsibilities insofar as they would benefit and not burden other cabinet members and could make Council more effective.
Micah Schwartz
1. What do you want to accomplish as Student Council President?
To begin with, I will encourage the University to direct more money toward hiring professors, and expanding class opportunities. I hope to implement a comprehensive course-evaluation system that will allow students to see how others students evaluate professors and courses before enrolling in classes. I also plan to investigate the possibility of creating a business minor for students outside of the Commerce school. Likewise, if the University Bookstore runs a surplus again this year, I would like to use this money to fund parking validation in Newcomb Hall garage for late-night Clemons studiers. One of my first initiatives would be to work with the University to convince local real-estate agents to push lease-signing dates back to a more reasonable date. Everyone could benefit from this system, most notably first years, who currently are forced by the system to make uninformed housing decision.
2. How have you served Student Council in the past? How would this experience help you in the role of Student Council President?
I have served the Student Council as a Representative for the past year. I also have served on various Student Council committees and have developed a keen understanding of each position on the executive board. This diversified experience makes me the best candidate for president because I will be able to use all avenues available to the Council in order to effect positive change on behalf of students. I understand the inner-workings of the Council, and I will use this knowledge to accomplish all of my initiatives.
3. What do you think is the best way to not only represent the student body but also work with them?
I believe that I am naturally capable of representing the student body. More than anything, I am a common U.Va. student and I understand which issues most concern the student body. I am involved in various organizations on Grounds, and this experience will allow me to represent all aspects of student life. I will not waste the Council's and the University's time with frivolous legislation and grandiose projects. Instead I will work from day one on the issues that students hold most dear.
In order to determine what these issues are, I will hold monthly forums where Council members and students can meet in an informal setting to discuss students' concerns. Likewise, I plan to write a monthly report updating students on the Council's efforts, and letting students know how they can get involved. I want students to understand that Student Council exists to serve them, and I want students to feel comfortable approaching me at anytime to discuss their concerns.
4. What do you think of the run-off election?
I believe the Student Council by-laws are correct in requiring a run-off election in these circumstances. The result in this past election was too close to determine a clear winner. I would not want to be president unless I was confident that students truly wanted me to serve them. Hopefully a large proportion of the student body will vote in this run-off election, and students will elect the candidate they believe is most capable.
5. Why choose you over your opponent?
Personally, I am a big Steven Reinemund fan. Regardless of the outcome of this election, I look forward to working with him on Council next year. However, his knowledge of Council is limited; he does not truly understand how Council works. Because of this shortcoming, if elected, he will struggle in his attempts to enact change. On the other hand, I fully understand how Council functions, and will be able to work successfully on behalf of students from day one. More importantly, Steven's campaign has few novel ideas and does not represent the issues that most concern students. I have a stronger vision of where I want to take the University, and I have the skills and experience to get us there.
6. What would you look for in a cabinet?
I will organize a cabinet of diversified students to represent all aspects of the student body. Likewise, I plan to surround myself with individuals who have different concerns and opinions than myself. Student Council under my leadership will not be a one-man show. Similarly, my cabinet will consist of both seasoned Council members who can provide experience, and students currently not involved in Council who can provide new ideas and enthusiasm for their position.
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