Increased levels of communication between the many diverse student groups at UK will lead to more awareness and inclusion.  One of the keys to this communication is the University’s Diversity Dialogues and, for that reason, they must continue to be supported by administrators, officials, and students.

 As a female student, both of these issues are very near and dear to my heart.  While I support what the University has done thus far, increased light poles and emergency phones throughout campus are not going to be enough to end violence. We must increase awareness about steps that should be taken when one feels they are in a dangerous situation, and how that individual should respond.  UK has great anti-violence programs, such as MAVR and SEEDS, as well as the Violence Intervention and Prevention Center, and these programs should continue to be supported and recognized.

As the only Student member on the Board of Trustees, the Student Government President actually bares most of the responsibility.  However, just as I will be a representative for you, the President will also be that same kind of representative for the entire Student Body.  It is our responsibility, as leaders, to ensure that your desires are heard and that we do absolutely everything within our power to make those dreams a reality. I can promise you, as a young person who is financially responsible for paying for my entire college experience; I will do all within my power, and the power of Student Government, to continue advocating for affordable higher education. 

I have always voted and, quite frankly, I only know a few young people who choose not to vote in general elections.  However, I realize that I and the people I know who do vote are the minority when it comes to statistics and facts regarding young people and voting.  I believe that Listen up Legislatures should continue to be promoted and that student groups and organizations should continue to setup places for college students to register to vote.  After three years of effort, Student Governments has passed a bill allowing online voting, so I think that will increase participation, or at least it should. It is imperative that our voices be heard, and while one may feel that his or her voice is not being heard in a national election because of our electorate college system, that does not ring true in on-campus elections.  This is a much smaller constituency and, unlike national elections, your vote is very important to the end result. I will do everything I can to represent you the way you want to be represented, so get out there and vote, and let’s make UK the campus the campus you want it to be!

College students are perpetually taken advantage of in the housing market.  Landlords are aware of the fact the college student need places to live, and many, as a result will overcharge for places that honestly, are rarely ever in appropriate conditions.  I lived at a house last year where it was, literally, impossible to get out of one side of the driveway because of a lack of gravel that created a drop0off of more that three feet.  While we reported this numerous times, it went unnoticed because we were college student who, in the eyes of my landlord, did not need to be taken seriously.  We have to increase awareness for students as to key questions they should ask before signing a lease, as well as key actions of response when their needs are not met by their landlord.  Increased education and intelligence will be one of the best ways to combat lack of landlord accountability.

I will meet with all the student groups and organizations to outline how best my position can serve to meet their collective needs. I have always been a person who yearns for greater knowledge on subjects and issues which I do not fully understand so, in all honesty, I will just continue to keep that thirst for knowledge and inclusion. I will educate myself, through the intelligence and work of other students and then continue to help spread this knowledge on to the entire Student Body.

Firstly, students must want to make a difference in the environment and their everyday lives. We must acknowledge that the environment is changing and that we can all do something, even on the smallest scale, to decrease our negative impact on the environment.  Even the smallest measures, like removing your cell phone charger from the wall when you are not using it, or placing your computer on “sleep mode” when it is inactive, greatly help decrease the use of energy in your everyday life. All dorms are equipped with ample recycling bins, but students must care enough to use these bins before they can be utilized to the highest degree.  The Student Body needs to be informed on simple ways they can decrease their use of energy, through publications, word-of-mouth, broadcasts on Channel 50 and other outlets so that they can begin increasing their world. One person really can make a difference regarding a better environment, so let’s start today! 

 I can understand both sides of the issue, while I do not have a strong opposition or opinion either way.  The forest was entrusted to UK in 1923 for three main reasons: 1) agricultural experiment work, 2) teaching, and 3) to demonstrate reforestation. Because of this, I can understand why there had been a proposal to log sections of the forest.  However, I also understand the other side of the issue.  The Robinson Forest, above all else, is a forest and natural habitat to thousands of organisms.  How can we, as a University, in one breath speak to the issues of bettering the environment and then, in the very next speak to the propose logging of that very environment? As a representative of the Student Body, I will, undoubtedly, be willing to voice opinions different from my own, so long as I am not completely opposed to those opinions.  Regarding the Robinson Forest issue, I have yet to formulate my opinion and therefore, will be more than willing to meet with different groups to learn more on the issue and then take not only my personal opinion, but also that of the people I represent; the Student Body.

 I would greatly appreciate your support on Election Day and can think of no better way to finish my senior year than by representing this amazing university as Senator in the College of Arts & Sciences. Thank you so much for the questions you submitted and, if you come up with any more from now until the elections, or even after, feel free to e-mail me at mkalbr2@uky.edu. Thank you!