Personal Statement

My goal for next year as a returning SGA senator-at-large is to continue to make change on the campus of UK-both in the areas of diversity and in the areas of student-life. I am in a unique position because of the fact that I have served as a senator for a year and am familiar with the amazing opportunities that we as senators have to best serve students. I plan on being a liaison between both Greeks and non-Greeks, but with a focus on the smaller organization or student that does not have as good of an opportunity to be heard.

A few tangible projects I have planned to work on include a university wide “cat card”, a discount card through which local Lexington businesses and food chains can offer discounts to University of Kentucky students each semester. Also, I would like to continue aiding in the Senate’s efforts in working with other SEC schools to persuade the SEC to offer an allotment of student-away game tickets for in conference football games, so students at UK can see the Cats play in other cities.

I would highly appreciate your vote, because without you none of my endeavors would reach fruition. I promise to take every step toward listening to, growing with, and working for the student-body to make sure UK fosters an atmosphere in which we can all feel proud to be Wildcats.

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?

I feel that ignorance can be as destructive as intent. All of us, regardless of race or background have ignorance toward some issue or some thing. As people, we will never understand everything, but is important that we are taught tolerance. Not just the type that makes you “put up” with someone or some thing, but the type that we understand and are open to other people’s beliefs, values, and abilities. Addressing ignorance is the first step to closing the gaps which exist on this campus. 

The amazing thing about being on a college campus is being able to learn from so many different types of people. Taking a personal step toward getting to know someone of a different background than you is one step toward making this campus, and this world, a better place to live. UK student organizations have worked hard to create programs which educate and break boundaries. I believe that, in order to become more enlightened, one needs to attend these wonderful programs. Organizations such as the Student Activities Board, the Muslim Student Association and Student Diversity Engagement are just a few among many which  exposed students to issues they are not familiar and taken out of their comfort-zone. It is important for SG to continue to fund organizations which want to promote diversity, but it is also important for SG to work side-by-side with these groups so that we too can learn how to better serve this campus and community.

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

Last year, I participated in the VIP (Violence Intervention Prevention) Center’s SEEDS conference. It was a two day conference which empowered every participant via information regarding increasing women’s safety on campus and preventing sexual assault. I believe that it is up to every individual on campus, both male and female, to help in lowering the statistics relating to sexual violence on campus. We must all be educated on how to recognize situations which could possibly lead to sexual violence, and how to intervene properly when those situations are recognized. To do this, I plan on making sure that the great relationship which exists between the VIP center and Student Government continues to strengthen, and that SG members are willing to take part in some type of activity with the VIP Center, so that they, as leaders, can set a good example and more importantly, become a force against violence at UK. Education and preparation are key, and the VIP Center is an amazing force which can do both for students at UK and help to make this campus a safer one to be. Once again, it is important to continue to fund the VIP center and offer as much help as SG possibly can, so that UK can be a safer place to be for all students. 

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

It is imperative that UK Student Government continues to build relationships with legislators in Frankfort. Through e-mail campaigns and programs on campus, SG has always strived to make students aware of the issues we face in regards to tuition increases and legislation which relates to a Kentucky student’s welfare on campus. I believe more can be done, however, and that both senators and cabinet members can be more aggressive in making sure that leaders in Frankfort hear our voices. I happened to attend the Rally for Higher Education in Frankfort a few weeks back, and it as amazing to see not only UK’s SG, but other student governments and concerned students come together for a central cause. It is important that our SG at Kentucky communicates with other Kentucky universities so that we can be a united force against actions to raise tuition. This collaboration can be fostered during the Kentucky Leadership Academy summit over the summer, where every university in Kentucky sends its student government members to collaborate, share ideas, and learn how to be better leaders. This step is the first step toward making sure a united voice is heard.



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?

I believe that advertising in advance for the two voting days that currently exist is the key. Making sure students are aware of the dates is extremely important and crucial in making sure that students understand the significance of what SG can do for them. However, like any democratic election process, it is, in the end, on the shoulders of the student to take the initiative to vote. I realize that there is some animosity toward Student Government, as many students do not fully understand the powers that SG has and the things they do day to day for student organizations. Making this relationship better year to year between SG and the student is an important step toward making students feel a since of purpose in supporting their campus via SG by voting for their campus leaders and holding them accountable for their actions. 

In terms of general elections, I have always felt that college students and students between the ages of 18-26 have so much power in our hands. We do not realize that when bind together as a force and vote, we force those running for election to cater to our concerns, desires, and requests. Yes, education seems to be sky-rocketing each year, but for us to make sure that issues such as this aren’t taken lightly, both National and State government needs to realize that we hold a key to their possibility of being elected. As a campus, SG needs to take strides during election years to advertise strongly for the elections and create programs to educate students on the imperative need for our generation to vote and create a stronger voice. We as SG can not make people vote in any election, but we can give them the tools to feel a sense of pride and responsibility to do so. 

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

The UK campus is more than just classrooms and buildings. It is a place which fosters so many good memories and offers so many great opportunities. From August to May and even in between, Lexington thrives both economically and socially with college students. Without this University, there would be no students, no athletes, no Big Blue Nation. I say this to make mention that Lexington needs to cater to its students. It needs to realize that we are the future of not just Lexington, Kentucky, but this nation. Off campus student housing is the home to a very large chunk of UK’s campus, and in my opinion, the city needs to do more to make sure that housing is available, affordable, and accessible to all students. I hope that SG can strengthen the bond between the city of Lexington and this University, because neither of us would exist fully without the other. I believe that this issue in regards to the off campus housing issue is a reflection of a gap separating this critical relationship.

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 believe that all races, all genders, all abilities can do more to educate themselves in regards to issues of diversity. I have family members from all walks of life and ethnicities, but I realize that not everyone has the advantages that I have when it comes to being more culturally enlightened. But as I said before, even I find myself ignorant to certain subjects and topics in relation to diversity. I have attended and participated in Diversity-Dialogue programs facilitated by Student Diversity Engagement, I have been encouraged to take workshops and listen to lectures facilitated by people of backgrounds different from my own in order to fulfill scholarship requirements. But even though I have attended programs both out of interest, and out of obligation, each time I come out of them feeling like a more complete person and more educated-not only in an academic sense, but in a personal sense. I can better see things though the eyes of the people which I interact, and even have the tools to educate someone else on what I had learned. I am 100% open to continuing to learn and grow as an individual, and it is a wonderful opportunity to be able to represent so many people from so many backgrounds. I just want to make sure I, as a student representative, can do it properly… and I feel that I can.



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?

I am a firm believer in conservation. As a biology major, I am not ignorant when it comes to issues regarding the plant we live in and the issues that we face in terms of environmental sustainability and is importance for the our, and our children’s, future well-being. I would love to work with UK administration to find out how we can partner with organizations which specialize in conservation-education and ways to be more energy efficient. Installing more energy saving bulbs in buildings, placing more recycling bins around the common walks of campus, and creating programs to promote more eco-friendly habits are just a few steps SG can take toward making UK more environmentally friendly. I would also like to see us do more research on how to work with Lexington to look into purchasing or investing in buses which emit smaller amounts of pollution into the atmosphere.

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?

As a Student Government official it is my duty to make sure that the concerns and issues students feel each day are reflected by the actions I take. As a current Senator at large, I have come to realize that sometimes, it isn’t about how I feel. At the end of the day, I am in the seat I am because of the student body, and it is my responsibility to take what I feel are the correct steps toward catering to the student body. I will be very honest, Logging at Robinson Forest has never been an issue that I have been asked to approach, but if the student’s at UK felt it was an issue which needs to be addressed, I would be fully open to addressing it. I do feel that conservation is a very important issue, not just at UK, not just in Kentucky, but nationwide. We cannot haphazardly destroy the environments which have surrounded us for so long, so it is important to take measured steps, not abrupt ones, when it comes to issues of deforestation and conservation.

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

I hope, as Senator, to continue to use my experiences I have developed in Student Government over the past two semesters and grow upon them. I have developed so much, not only as a leader, but as a person, because of SG, and I want to give back to a campus which has done so much for me. I want to make sure students know what their SG can do for them, line by line, point by point. I want there to be no reason for the student body to feel animosity toward their student government. Yes, I do believe that there will always be some disdain in regards to some issues with SG, but to continue to foster a relationship with the student body and work together is the best way to get rid of that disdain. 

Here are a just a few issues among many which I want to see addressed in next years Student Government, and as Senator I promise to explore each item (Note: these are not in order of priority or importance). I feel that Tyler and Grant have some amazing goals set forth for next years SG, and these are just items that I feel can supplement their goals even further.  

1.    Increasing the awareness of programs on campus which increase diversity, and work side by side with the organizations we fund.
2.    Explore the possibility of making every residence hall on campus wireless internet-accessible.  
3.    Increasing ticket availability for students from the away-team’s school at SEC football games.
4.    Continuing to assist the VIP center with funding and people to help make UK a safer place to live.
5.    Making sure every organization is cognizant of SG’s funds, and making sure that the amount of money we have available is available on the SG website, in real-time, as well as showing where the money is going so that students can see not only how hard their SG is working for them, but also how much is available for them to use and where the money is being allocated.