Personal Statement

Being a member of the UK community is an honor I hold dear.  My commitment to the university
and the student body is to ensure that every student is empowered to achieve excellence while
attending UK.  
 
My responsibility is to aid every student in discovering the boundless resources available to them
during their college experience- the best time of their lives.
 
As senator-at-large I will invest the time and effort necessary to see that UK’s student body reaps
the benefits of this campus and all it has to offer.  
 
I will be an advocate for students’ rights, ensuring that every student has a voice and that voice is
heard.
 
I am asking for your support in making the University of Kentucky a better place for us, our
futures, and our Commonwealth.

1. As a student leader, you are aware that there is an emphasis on diversity issues at UK. What are some issues related to diversity that you believe are apparent on campus, and what do you plan to do to create change?

My fear is that minority students feel uncomfortable, left out, or even unwanted on campus. This is unacceptable! We are one community, one university, one family and every student brings something of value to our campus. As Senator-at-Large I will promote inclusion of all students.   I will work with the campus groups that receive student fees to develop better diversity programming. I will ask fellow student leaders and SG members to partake in diversity training with our own diverse student groups, i.e. BSU, ISC, and the King Cultural Center. I will work with UK administration to ensure that publications and new student programming is all-inclusive, appealing to students of every background. This is a struggle we all have to fight together

2. What are your plans to help create an end to sexual violence and promote safety on campus?

Our V. I. P. Center is doing a terrific job of fighting sexual violence on campus. As Senator-at-Large I will continue to support the V. I. P. Center and SEEDS Program. In addition to this I will help raise awareness and provide information, help promote the STARR program (Self-defense Techniques and Risk Reduction) offered by UKPD, and get UK’s men involved with preventing violence against women.  

3. In light of the recent budget issues in state government, what action should Student Government take to help maintain affordable higher education?

As a Freshman Senator, I know how hard myself and other SG leaders have worked to help keep higher education affordable. It has been no easy task to contact and address all of our local legislatures and advocate for Kentucky students. Now with some experience under my belt, I will continue to fight for lower tuition cost. I will work with my fellow senators and urge Frankfort to expand need-based aid to help increase college access to low-income students and minorities, and to streamline state student aid programs. Kentucky’s future relies on an educated population.

4. What action, if any, do you believe is appropriate for Student Government to take to increase voter education and participation both in on-campus elections, and general elections?

This year SG has already made great strides in order to promote voter education and participation. Now that students can vote via the Internet, it will be easier for students to vote and hopefully we will see an increase in participation. Know that on-line voting is available SG can send campus wide e-mails with links to voting websites. In the future SG can use these same websites to provide on-line voter education and voting guides. 

5. What are your plans with working side by side with landlords and the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government on off campus student housing?

As Senator-at-Large I will continue the progress SG has already made with Lexington Fayette Urban County Government. Ensuring that UK students are represented properly. UK students are essential, thriving members of the Lexington community and should be treated accordingly. 

6. Leaders often face the struggle of understanding the people they represent. UK has a very diverse student body in terms or race, class, gender identity, culture, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, and ability status. What measures will you take to educate yourself on these issues? In what ways will you commit yourself to better understand and represent this diverse student body?

I have learned so much about myself, and others while attending UK.  Daily I am expanding my worldview and discovering things about people from different backgrounds and cultures that I never imagined I would before. It’s for that same reason that I am so passionate about being an advocate for this student body. Being a member of the UK community means something special and is one thing I never take for granted. This means I will continue to attend diversity dialogues, be a part of campus diversity programming, and continue to promote interaction between students from all different backgrounds and cultures.

7. What are your thoughts on improving sustainability on campus? Considering current green issues such as recycling, renewable energy, and biking. What plans do you have to make UK a more green-friendly university?

As a Senator-at-Large I will work to see that students living on and off campus are aware of the resources available to them to help keep UK green. Advertisements and university publications can inform students of all the recycling opportunities that are available to them. Bus routes can be passed out to promote a more eco-friendly means of transportation. I would also work with UK administration and Dining Services to ensure that recycling on a larger-scale was taking place in our eating facilities.



8. What is your response to the recent research proposal to log sections of UK-owned Robinson Forest? Would you be willing to voice a student opinion different from your own to higher administrative positions at UK?

Robinson forest is located in Eastern Kentucky, a region of the state that I call home.  Taking away from its beautiful landscape is something I never like to see. As much as I do not want to see the forest logged, this land has been set aside for research and is not a nature conservatory. There are legitimate reasons to log, but there is no clear-cut answer. If prompted by the student body I would advocate for the majority opinion even if it opposed my personal view.

9. Use this space to address any additional ideas, plans, concerns, or platform ideas you have.

 My commitment to the university the student body is to ensure that every student is empowered to achieve excellence while attending UK.  My   responsibility is to aid every student in discovering the boundless resources available to them during their college experience- the best time of their lives.