UK's historical record with respect for diversity is poor—to put it nicely.  I feel that steps have been taken in the past few years to improve this, however.  I think that the hiring of a Vice President for Institutional Diversity is a good first step, but I still feel that minorities are very underrepresented on this campus.  In order to make the voice of minorities heard, I feel that Student Government should embrace the progress already being made by the administration and use the resources allocated to SGA in order to support diversity related programs such as Diversity Dialogs, the MLK Center, the UK NAACP, LASO, and like organizations.

The VIP Center has been one of the most successful things started during my tenure here at UK.  I feel that UK has an amazing and enormous resource in Dorothy Edwards.  I feel that this issue is one being well addressed within the administration, and the role of Student Government should be in helping the VIP Center further their goals.  I think that the vision to solve the issues surrounding women's safety exists on this campus, and the biggest hindrance towards progress is support and funding, both of which can be provided by Student Government.

Student Government should act as an advocate for the Student Body.  Instead of hobnobbing with elected officials for the sake of making connections in order to secure future employment, I feel that Student Government representatives should put real pressure and ask tough questions of our elected officials in order to make sure that students have access to affordable higher education.

During the 2006 election, Student Government paired with College Democrats and College Republicans and sponsored a very successful voter drive.  Although this relationship was not utilized to its fullest extent during the 2007 election, I feel that in 2008 this partnership can be rekindled.  Also, this very survey lets me know that Student Government and KFTC have begun a partnership, which could result in a great campaign for voter education in the upcoming general election.  As for on-campus elections, I feel like Student Government should be active in seeking better participation from Student Organizations and resident students by better informing younger students as to what SGA actually does.  If this is done, I feel that individual students will realize the importance of voting in SGA elections.

LFUCG scared me earlier in the year by threatening to pass draconian measures related to student housing.  I feel that Student Government's response during this event was effective.  In the future, replicating the quick and thunderous response of this SGA would be a good plan.  Additionally, as I have stated earlier, SGA should be an advocate for students.  This includes all conversations with landlords and city government.

UK's diversity is something which I appreciate and love (although I do wish there was more of it).  I already feel like I have a good understanding and relationship with students who are different from me, more can be done to better my own understanding.  As a representative of the college of Arts and Sciences, I will continue to ask the large body of student groups concerned with the listed items about the things they want to see accomplished.  These groups include the Gay-Straight Alliance, the Outsource, the Black Student Union, UK NAACP, the Muslim Student Association, UK Christian Student Fellowship, the Baptist Campus Ministry, and others.

I am currently employed by Res-Life Recycling, and in that capacity am very well informed about the role of recycling and other sustainability issues on UK's campus.    UK is very blessed to have Shane Tedder as Sustainability Coordinator, for he has started and supervised programs relating to each of the green issues listed in this question.  I feel that SGA should work with him and his department to further these goals.  Additionally, I feel that UK Greenthumb does an amazing job of advocating for the environment on campus.  SGA would do well to partner with them in order to ensure the sustainability of the University.  Finally, I feel that SGA should work tirelessly to increase the amount of student fees allocated to sustainability.  Two years ago, the students passed a referendum calling for an increase in student fees of $6-8 for sustainability on campus.  We are finally getting a student fee this year—of $0.75.  SGA should realize its duty to carry out its responsibility to the student body by working for the mandate of the 2006 election.  We need a much larger student fee.

UK is making a terrible mistake in logging sections of Robinson Forest.  Despite the fact that the research being done in this area would be useful, this research could very easily be done in other forests which are already host to sustainable logging tests.  It would be very difficult for me to voice any other position to higher administrative positions at UK, because I have already been a public advocate against logging in Robinson Forest.

UK Student Government has a great opportunity to create a lot of change on this campus.  If I am elected, I promise to work with folks who are already making a difference to make sure that their voice is heard, and that their dreams can be accomplished.