Dan Dooley CLAS III Major: Classics Hometown: Fairfax, Va.
Activities, positions, associations:
Member, University Guide Service (III)
Resident Assistant, Dabney House (III)
Life columnist, Cavalier Daily (I-III)
Correspondent, "Hoos News" (II-III)
Volunteer, Housing Improvement Program, Madison House (Fall I, II)
Current office/position:
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
The president of Student Council has the primary responsibility to ensure that Student Council adequately represents the student body on all matters of interest and implements ideas that enhance student life. Throughout my campaign, I have embraced the fact that I have not served on Student Council before. Unlike other candidates who have held various Student Council positions, I represent the majority of U.Va. students in that I have observed and assessed Student Council's performance from a strictly outside perspective. I recognize and am willing to confront the apparent stigma associated with Student Council, which suggests that it is unproductive and "out of touch" regarding the needs of students.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
Student Council must open new avenues of communication with students, and I propose several concrete ways to accomplish this interaction. First, I will continue to seek the Cavalier Daily's approval of a biweekly column in which I, as the president of Student Council, will update students on the status of each ongoing Student Council project. I also would like to add significantly to the content and usefulness of the Student Council's Web site. The information and videos I have posted on my campaign site demonstrate my commitment to using digital media in order to convey my platform in an engaging way. If the Student Council undertook a similar outreach effort through its Web site, there would be much more effective communication between student government and the students being governed. In addition, I believe Student Council should be able to utilize mass Webmail lists to poll students about their preferences. Finally, I believe Student Council should become a more active resource for CIOs and aspiring CIOs. I would arrange both a series of CIO workshops, which would allow students to develop their ideas for clubs, and a CIO fair that would encourage networking among student groups. Increased advertising and greater accountability for the allocation of funds are additional services which Student Council owes CIOs.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
As an RA, I have contributed to the orientation of new students, specifically by making residents aware of the University's resources and encouraging their participation in University organizations. As a member of the University Guide Service, I have upheld the University's high reputation by educating visitors about our proud heritage and by supporting the Admissions Office in its work to attract exceptional prospective students. As a columnist for The Cavalier Daily and a correspondent for "Hoos News," I have taken a keen interest in communicating creatively with students. Again, I believe such dynamic attempts to engage students would vastly improve Student Council's effectiveness.
Ryan McElveen
CLAS III
Major: Anthropology, East Asian Studies
Hometown: Vienna, Va.
Activities, positions, associations:
President, Valkyrie Society, Student Representative, University Diversity Council, Chair, ASU Asian-Pacific American Studies, Violinist, Charlottesville/University Symphony Orchestra, Film Producer, Director of Photography and Actor, RiverBend Films, Participant, Alternative Spring Break
Current office/position:
Chair, Student Council Committee on Diversity Initiatives
Chair, Student Council Ad-hoc Committee on Curriculum Internationalization
Member, Student Council Appropriations Committee
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
The responsibilities are endless. While I am partial to sleep, I know that I'll have to sacrifice many a sleepless night to the toils of Student Council. I am prepared. I am qualified because I have a vision. We can be the number one public school in the nation. We shouldn't have to share that ranking. We have the chance this coming year to change the dynamic of our community and be, well, dynamic.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
TAKING ON THE WORLD. That's right. We must showcase student involvement and research on an international stage to attract the minds and recognition that our University deserves. I propose a monthly StudCo newsletter highlighting CIOs, legislation and votes; a streaming online student broadcast network; sound/video systems in dining halls to showcase performing groups; restructuring Newcomb Hall space to accommodate performances; holding University-wide debate tournaments; and creating an undergraduate research abstract depository for networking with students, professors and scholars abroad.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
A few. 1) Curriculum internationalization survey, 2) Diversity pledge, 3) Streaking the Stud Co offices
Jeff McLaughlin
CLAS III
Major: Economics
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Activities, positions, associations:
Vice President for Administration, Student Council
Co-Chair, Student Life Committee, Student Council
Academic Affairs Committee, Student Council
Undergraduate Representative, President's Calendar Committee
Undergraduate Representative, Faculty Parking & Trans. Committee
First, Second, and Third-Year Council
Current office/position: Vice President for Administration, Student Council
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those positions?
The Student Council President must be a source of ideas and guidance for Student Council, as well as a resource that bridges the gaps between students, organizations and the administration. The President holds final responsibility for Student Council's productivity or lack thereof.
I am qualified to fulfill this role because I have executive experience on Student Council, which has given me a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and the processes of student self-governance at U.Va. I also have realistic and tangible ideas in the areas of social stratification, safety, student space, CIO fundraising and others, and I have demonstrated the tenacity to complete projects through my work on the expansion of scholarships and fundraising programs and on Student Council's outreach.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
A pressing issue is social stratification. We do not do enough at this school to encourage different groups to interact, and this leads to problems of hate crimes, lack of activism, and feelings of isolation in some communities. In the course of a year we can make real progress in bringing students together. I will organize a summit in the fall, during which groups can discuss the issue and ultimately come up with tangible steps.
I have already planned steps for Student Council to take on this issue. We can improve student space by increasing the use and appeal of places like the foyer of the Newcomb Theater and the field by Observatory Hill. This will encourage students of different communities to hang out in appealing centralized locations. We can also create a Wikipedia style resource for the discussion of U.Va. issues. I think the simplicity and ease of such a Web site would encourage more students of different communities to participate in student self-governance.
What positive contributions have you made to the university community?
I worked on the expansion of Student Council's fundraising program with Aramark concessions. This is important because it is the only procedural way for student groups to raise non-Student Activities Fees funds, and now we place more groups than ever before in the program.
I have also worked on the expansion of Student Council's scholarships. This year we have created two new scholarships and we will have given out $10,000.
Finally, I have advocated for student concerns with success on the committee that created the academic calendar and the faculty committee on parking and transportation
Dan Newland
CLAS III
Major: History, Spanish
Hometown: McLean, Va.
Activities, positions, associations:
Phi Society Social Chair
Dance Marathon Entertainment Committee member
StudentCity Campus Manager
Current office/position:
Student Life Committee Chair, former CLAS Representative
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
The President acts both as a leader and liaison to the University Community. He conducts meetings, oversees legislation and initiatives and serves as the spokesman for Council. I am qualified to fulfill these responsibilities because I have seen both sides of Council. As a Representative I have passed legislation and as a Committee Chair come up with the ideas that turn into actions. I believe that I have good ideas, I know how to delegate, and I can be a good figurehead for Council. I keep a casual but serious tone but can be authoritative and blunt when need be.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
I think the most pressing issue facing Student Council is how it is viewed by the rest of the University community. We think of ourselves as very open and accessible, but not everyone sees it that way. Oftentimes other student organizations ask, "What does StudCo really do?" or "What can Council do to help us?" I would like these questions to be answered by having representatives from organizations around Grounds come to every meeting. They can be specifically invited to talk during Community Concerns and give us updates on their interests, events, and issues. Hosting more events with other organizations will further establish relations as well. This year there have been various efforts to enhance our image (Transparency initiative, et al), but I feel there is always more that we could do to reach out and more on which we can improve. The contacts I have established through my work on Council thus far will be a great asset, and I hope to build on what we have already accomplished this year.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
- Helped sponsor an event at the Mid Autumns Carnival, also volunteered at the event (with both StudCo and Phi Society)
- Coordinated entertainment for Dance Marathon 2007 (bands, playlists, also emcee-ing)
- Managed a table during Trick-or-Treating on Mad Bowl
- Participated in various philanthropies through Phi Society (Relay for Life, Pancakes for Parkinson's, and more)
- Volunteered as a CASE event facilitator
- Improved social life of students through selling spring break trips through StudentCity, also during the academic year as Phi Society Social Chair
Lauren Tilton
CLAS III
Major: American Studies
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
Activities, positions, associations:
Vice-Chair, University Programs Council
Culture Editor, The Declaration
Honor Counsel
WTJU 91.1FM
Kappa Delta Sorority
Brown College
Current office/position:
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
The purpose of Student Council is to truly represent, speak on behalf of, and advocate for the student body and its needs. The President should be a facilitator who leads and asks questions of the organization that move those within StudCo to proactively understand and fulfill the needs of the student body. As a member of many different facets of the University, I have been frustrated by the lack of knowledge of daily student concerns and by the lack of proactive engagement with the student body by StudCo. As Vice-Chair of University Programs Council, I have seen what a university-wide organization can do and the responsibilities it has to use student fees responsibility, to really find what students want and to keep the entire University community's concerns at the forefront.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
Two of the most pressing issues are CIO appropriations and safety. StudCo needs to be more intentional in how CIOs are funded. How we fund CIOs send a message to the student body about what the University thinks is important. Every CIO deserves a fair look at its application. There need to be communication between CIOs and StudCo. One tangible way to do this is to develop Area Associations that include CIOs with a common purpose and interests so that they are not only aware of each other, but how they work together and use their funds together to accomplish their goals.
Both physical and cultural safety is also a large concern. With the recent assaults on the Corner and in the Lambeth area, StudCo should be working with both U.Va. and Charlottesville to not only increase tangible pieces like lights, but to assess how our bus patterns, housing and culture affect student safety and how we can begin to address these pieces. In terms of cultural safety, events like the racial incident in first-year dormitories last semester need to be properly addressed and spoken out against. Until we do this, U.Va. will not be a safe environment for students from different racial, ethnic or religious backgrounds or sexual orientation.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
As a member of the Executive Board of the University Programs Council, we restructured UPC so that it may be a more flexible and efficient organization that can better respond to students' needs and the entertainment market. The changes will allow us to book and plan better and more diverse concerts, speakers, movies and programs in a timely manner. UPC works with student fees, and every student at the University should see at least one program that they want to attend and fills in a programming need whether that is a certain style of musician, movie or educational program.
Matt White
SEAS III
Major: Systems Engineering
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
Activities, positions, associations:
Student Council, SEAS Representative
2008 Presidential Debate Initiative, chair
Security and General Safety Committee, member
Safety and Wellness Committee, member
Academic Affairs Committee, member
Resident Staff, House Council Advisor and Appraisal Board
Phi Gamma Delta
Poplar Ridge Facilitator
Intramural Sports Referee
Sailing Association of Virginia
Current office/position: Representative, Engineering School
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
According to the constitution of Student Council, the President "shall be the official spokesperson and representative of the student body of the University." In this manner, I am confident in my ability to represent the student body. I have a strong personality and can demonstrate both a fun and highly professional side; many of my friends would describe me as "goofy while being surprisingly professional." I have the capacity to motivate members of Council and provide a fun and exciting environment to work in while maintaining an air of professionalism. Another important aspect of this role of student representation is an ability to establish working and personal relationships with the administration. This is important to the actual accomplishment of many of the initiatives and efforts of Council. Through my role on Resident Staff, as both a regular staffer and a member of the Appraisal Board, I have demonstrated the ability to establish these relationships with almost all of the professionals in the Residence Life Office. A second, more concrete role of President is to guide Council. I hope to do just this: guide Council, not control it. I plan on working closely with committee chairs and representatives to foster a more open line of communication between both bodies, with the hope that more and more of the legislation that passes through our representative body will also pass through our committees.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
The most pressing issue facing the students of the University at this time is safety, but how safety is defined is up to each individual. There have been many incidents of racial hatred over the past few years, making many students feel unsafe, but I doubt anyone can honestly say they know the solution to these problems. However, Student Council will continue to make efforts to educate and facilitate communication between all groups at the University, no matter who is leading the charge next year. I promise to do my part. I think that in terms of realistically addressing (and solving) an issue, Student Council is in a better position to establish and run a Safety Escort program. I hope to create such a program as an opportunity for CIOs to fundraise. This not only provides a solution to the problem of safety, but it also supports CIOs and their relations with Student Council.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
Many of the contributions I have made to the University have been outside Student Council. My work on Resident Staff, as an IM sports referee and as a Poplar Ridge Facilitator all have been amazing learning opportunities for me and have provided a necessary service to the University community. I have participated in many service projects through the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, including an effort that has raised over $66,000 in the past two years.
On Council, I have provided student representation on President Casteen's Security and General Safety Committee and worked on Student Council's Academic Affairs and Safety and Wellness committees. My largest time commitment over the past semester, however, was chairing the 2008 Presidential Debate Initiative. While the fate of this effort is still currently unknown, the work that my committee has laid the groundwork for potentially hosting a debate at any point in the future.
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