A Look Into Your Student Union Candidates

(Refer to previous blog post for basic information on slates and issues)

Over the course of the weekend, I had the opportunity to interview a representative from each of the three Student Union slates: Vice Presidential candidate Daniel Ellis from Renew BU, Vice Presidential candidate James Boggie from BUnited, and Presidential candidate Julian Jensen from the Greek slate. What I liked about my interviews as opposed to the debate this past Thursday night was that I had the opportunity to hear from the Greek write-in slate as well as registered slates Renew BU and BUnited. Also, that I asked questions that the candidates seem to have avoided during the debate by making round-about answers, specifically on how they plan on going about their initiatives.

It is very easy to make a list of things you want to accomplish as a representative of a student body of 16,000 students—things the students want to hear—but I wanted to find out how these goals would be implemented and uncover any promises that candidates would not be able to keep.

Below is what I found.

Interview with Daniel Ellis, a Junior in CAS running for Vice President on the Renew BU slate.

What ways will you and your slate try to increase the involvement of the student body in the Student Union?

You have to give them a sense that what they’re doing matters. You have to get one-on-one with them [the administration]. Since I’m not in Union, I can’t speak much about it. [As for getting students involved,] we want to have Union representatives out there. I mean, you don’t have to be out there forever…maybe an hour a day. I want to do something one way or another. I want to be out there for everyone.

What three administrators have you personally worked with at Boston University and what have you learned from these experiences?

Over the past week I’ve worked with Dan Solworth, Assistant to the Dean of Students. [Before this week], I’ll be honest, no, I have not worked with anyone. I’ve never planned an event, sorry. I’ve gone out on my own and passed out fliers, but I haven’t looked at it in those terms. I’m sure that’s not what you want to hear.

Why do you think the Student Union has not been as successful in the past as it could have been pursuing a number of initiatives such as medical amnesty?

Because they haven’t been involved with the students. You can go through negotiations, but actually seeing the students would make a bigger impact.

What do you think is the single most important issue affecting students today that the Student Union has the power to change or fix, and how do you plan on changing or fixing this particular issue?

The BU BUS seems to be a really big concern. I’ve already started talking to Dwight, the Director of Parking and Transportation about it. We can add more stops. That’s feasible. And making the BUS more reliable.

How do you plan on increasing attendance at Student Union meetings?

Getting out there with the students and letting them see our faces.

Since you began campaigning a week ago, what have you learned about Boston University that you did not previously know?

The administration is full of extremely nice people. The student body can be enthusiastic if you give them a chance.

Interview with James Boggie, a Sophomore in CAS running for Vice President on the BUnited slate.

What ways will you and your slate try to increase the involvement of the student body in the Student Union?

Reach out and build relationships with groups that have not been contacted before. We need to get to know these groups, figure out what they actually care about and collaborate with them. We have to show them that we care.

Well, there are a lot of different student groups on campus. How do you propose getting to know all of them?

It’s going to be hard to get to know all of them. Send personal e-mails to all of them…I know how tough it is. If we could get students involved, it would be huge. Have events that are tailored to different groups and are of interest to them.

Why do you think the Student Union has not been as successful in the past as it could have been pursuing a number of initiatives such as medical amnesty?

The institution has tried a power approach. We don’t have power—we can’t make them do what we want. We have to come up with solutions. If we just come up with the problem, they are unwilling or unable to help us. You have to be willing to negotiate and compromise. That’s how you maximize your influence.

What do you think is the single most important issue affecting students today that the Student Union has the power to change or fix, and how do you plan on changing or fixing this particular issue?

I’ve heard a lot of different things…it’s hard to put a specific value on each of them. I think everyone thinks disunity is a problem. We have so many groups, so many options…it’s gotten kind of unmanageable. I’m happy to see that we’ve started talking to each other. You have to start building relationships before you can help. I know, it’s hard. I’ve seen it…there are a lot of groups. I know it’s not going to happen overnight. I don’t know that we can publicize all little events.

How to you propose reaching out to small groups on campus?—I think the big groups are already represented.

I know…it’s going to be a big job. Get in touch with smaller groups…talking to them. The big groups are there. This is a job for social affairs. We want to have big group cultural events…we want the smaller groups to show off what they can do.

Since you began campaigning a week ago, what have you learned about Boston University that you did not previously know?

One of the things that has really struck me is that people think we’re apathetic. I don’t think we are—we’re just overwhelmed by the number of options we have. I think every student is invested in something. Some students are not going to be regularly involved in representation. We cannot drag them by the hair into representation.

Interview with Julian Jensen, a Sophomore in COM running for President on the write-in Greek slate.

What ways will you and your slate try to increase the involvement of the student body in the Student Union?

We’re going to get people involved by making resources available, and really that’s communicating information, letting people know what clubs they can join, how they can join. The more emotional, intrinsic approach is to get people motivated on all levels, and that begins from the top-down. Getting people motivated is really a big thing…and that’s a cultural change…It really is a community thing. If you get motivated to join these groups, you’re going to help your community out. If you do a lot on campus, that’s cool, but what if you don’t do anything?

Well, how do you get people motivated?

Getting people motivated takes a lot at BU. There’s a lot of people who don’t do at BU. Increasing everyone’s social capital. Getting people motivated to become part of our community.

What three administrators have you personally worked with at Boston University and what have you learned from these experiences?

The first one who comes to my mind is John Battaglino, getting Super Mash Brothers and Milkfest together. I know Dean Elmore…he knows who you are and what you do, but it’s very hard to have a close relationship with him. The third is Jeff at SAO, who taught me the feasibility of programming; how can stuff get done…what do you do if a concert is sold out? You have another concert.

Why do you think the Student Union has not been as successful in the past as it could have been pursuing a number of initiatives such as medical amnesty?

Student Union is only as powerful as its people. I’m not doing this for a title on my resume. I’m doing this to change Union as an organization. This organization is in a low point because people don’t respect Union enough. I asked John Battaglino what Union can do, and he said, ‘what do you mean what can Union do? Union can do anything!’ Union is supposed to translate to the administration what students want, but if students don’t say anything, there’s nothing we can do.

Well, how do you plan on finding out what students want?

We want to make a website with a discussion board that people want to use. It should be on the Student Link. Everyone visits it. I think a lot of people like to talk about issues on campus, but where does it go? Where is the virtual suggestion box?

How do you plan on fixing these gaps between the students and the administration?

It’s more of an intrinsic idea. Knowing and understanding another person. Kids need to understand if you want things done, you can’t simply complain about it and have it go nowhere. We need to create relationships between the students and administration.

Since you began campaigning a week ago, what have you learned about Boston University that you did not previously know?

People have misconceptions about Greek life at BU…they think it is what Hollywood has told them. BU is in Boston for a reason, and Greek life applies to them. People love stereotypes. We generate the most money for philanthropy. The slate is powered by what we learned in Greek life [4 pillars]. We are students first, Greeks second. We are not here to party. In my mind, it is pretty ignorant to believe that.

Union has a ton of potential to be an organization that students care about. I think something has been lost along the way. If we get issues that student’s care about up on the board, people will want to get involved.

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Look, I am not going to tell you who to vote for. That is not the point of these interviews. My job is to give you a closer glace at what is out there and to stress the importance of the Student Union. If we don’t vote, we are showing the Boston University administration that we do not take our student government seriously. If we don’t take them seriously, why should the administration? So please, it takes 30 seconds to fill out a ballot. Let’s show the administration that we care about our representatives and the issues that they bring.

I would like to give a special thank you to Adam Korn for helping with this article.