The main issues of diversity on this campus are that many diverse individuals and student organizations are overlooked. I believe that if Student Government (SG) was more accessible, student organizations seeking advice, funding, et cetera, would be more inclined to apply for funding. This will create change because more diverse student organization will have access to funding and it will allow the organizations to hold more diverse campus-wide events (e.g. Diwali, Chinese New Year).

Students should be more educated about the safety-related services (UK Police, SAFECATS, S.T.A.R.R.) available to them on campus.  For incoming freshmen and transfer students, I believe that safety-related services should be a major component of UK 101/201 classes. I will also work with the University to help provide more lighting, emergency poles and visible police/safety persons throughout campus. As for sexual violence, I believe that the VIP Center, as a small entity on campus, has done an amazing job educating this campus one student at a time through its SEEDS and In Our Own Voices Programs. However, in order to keep this momentum going, I believe that as leaders of this campus, members of SG should attend different programs sponsored by VIP Center. With this, they would be able to ignite and promote safety on this campus. I also believe that through more funding, the VIP Center will be able to continue to its student services and programs.

Student Government should be more proactive in Frankfort. In order to have our voices heard, we must lobby in Frankfort throughout the entire year. The Rally for Higher Education is only a stepping stone in the vast pond of Kentucky legislation. We need to show that we are serious in our convictions and that we demand affordable higher education. To do this, Student Government should collaborate with organizations such as Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, who have a history of being present in Frankfort.

Student Government is a governmental entity, which should inform its populous of the issues affecting them. SG should adopt a policy were students are informed of what legislation is being passed. This could be in the form of print, radio, television or mixed media. For general elections, SG should be more rigorous in its voter registration drives. SG should also work to invite candidates to speak on campus and hold more forums in regards to the elections. I believe that this will raise the profile of the elections and fight apathy among the student body. 

I will fight along with the students for affordable housing near campus. Students and landlords should know their rights and responsibilities in regards to housing. I believe that all three entities (landlords, students and Lexington Fayette Urban County Government) should work in conjunction with one another so each party can be held accountable if something were to go awry. I hope to work with all parties to build the connections needed for safe and affordable off campus student housing.

I will commit myself to better understand and represent this diverse student body by attending meetings and events of different student organizations on campus. I will also become educated about the issues affecting the students by listening to the students. I will have an open-door policy and will commit to help the students and student organizations on this campus to the best of my abilities.

I believe that UK needs a campus-wide Sustainability Coordinator that is willing to work to increase a sustainability initiative on this campus. This campus is making strides with using coreless toilet paper rolls and compact fluorescent light bulbs; however we must not settle. Recycling bins on campus are far and few. Residence Life has initiated a productive recycling program in the residence halls, which can be mimicked on campus.  I also believe that campus should be Kentucky Proud and serve more food from the region. I hope to work in conjunction with the newly appointed Sustainability Advisory Committee and student organizations such as Greenthumb to exchange ideas of what can be improved on this campus in regards to sustainability.

There should be more scientific evidence as to why the proposed clear-cutting of Robinson Forest would be beneficial. I believe that the UK Forestry Department and Board of Trustees should be willing to meet with students concerned with this issue. Robinson Forest was donated to UK for the use of research and education and I do believe that logging sections of the forest could possibly be detrimental to its uses.  

Yes, I would be willing to voice a student opinion different from my own to higher administrative positions at UK. It is my responsibility to represent the student body as a whole, even if I am in opposition with the consensus of the students.

I also hope to work with non-traditional students because there are problems affecting them that we very often overlook.

“…I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together – unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction…”