Q: What is your platform and mission statement?
A: We chose the mission statement of ‘personalis, purpose, progress,’ not only because of alliteration. First, personalis of the person. Cura personalis is very important. We care about the personalis of every student that we are serving, whether that is experiences or concerns, the needs of all students is our priority. Purpose solidifies the purpose of UGBC – to authentically serve and uplift every UGBC voice. We want to expand outreach to make sure ideas and things students want are pursued. Lastly, progress is taking tangible steps to achieve these goals.
Q: Why did you decide to run?
A: Cami has served on the UGBC senate since sophomore year. She said, ‘Since my time in UGBC, I feel like experience has taught me what service looks like on a policy scale.’
While looking at what sort of role to take in the organization, the main job of the president is to be a leader of leaders, and to spend time serving people and making our community better. It is the responsibility of the president to serve the student body. Reagan joined the UGBC senate his junior year. He isn’t the leader who is screaming from the rooftops, but he is a quiet leader who prioritizes personal connections and communication.
Q: What about your position sets you apart?
A: The experience [within UGBC] is the major difference between us and other tickets. That experience of going to the senate every Tuesday, talking to administrators, that’s what sets us apart. We already have those connections to administration, so building upon those relationships we have already created and our experience sets us apart.
Q: How would you describe the current relationship between UGBC and the student body and how do you plan to fix things?
A: The main point of our policy platform is transparency. UGBC could do better in the realm of being transparent about what we’re doing, whether that is publicizing content, reimagining our website, or utilizing social media. Not only is one of our missions to be transparent, but to promote that information, we want to actively work to make that information public and well known. We are building on as many initiatives as possible to make things transparent.
Q: Why should students care about this election and vote?
A: As young adults, it is important for us to recognize how important our voice is. It is really impactful when you reflect within yourself and decide to personally make a change. The BC community is a community we care about, and thousands of other students do, too. Taking the responsibility to go out and vote is advocating for yourself, even though we are going to advocate for you. We want to inspire people to go vote because they believe in us and want to advocate for themselves in that way.
Q: Last year there was only one candidate group for UGBC, and the year before there were two groups. Why do you think there are more campaign groups this year?
A: Last year was unopposed, and now people see an opportunity to make sure dialogue is happening on this campus. BC prides itself on Jesuit values, and one of those is dialogue. This election is an opportunity to inspire those new open dialogues.
Q: How do you plan to bring better civic engagement and practices outside of UGBC and the greater student body?
A: UGBC is a nonpartisan organization, and we have to hold that position. There is certainly room to support civic engagement, but we must maintain to never exclude any Eagle. There have been efforts to expand civic engagement on campus in the past, but there are issues with UGBC administration in making efforts to not exclude any person.
Q: In the past few years there have been instances of unrest amongst students regarding racism, political unrest, discontent with bodies in BC administration. There is a notable gap between admin and everyone else. What is your role in getting through to administration? How would you change UGBC’s reactions to these situations?
A: We want to expand the role of president and vice president by expanding our advocacy work. Our primary role is to run the organization, but we recognize the platform that our roles give us, and the connections we are able to foster with high up administrators. We would not shy away from holding the university accountable. We have a group of senators whose primary job is to work on initiatives and change. We will be able to entrust these responsibilities to that group to ensure change.
Q: What is you plan to bridge the gap between administration, students, and UGBC? Do you have any actionable goals in mind to fix this major gap?
A: UGBC has a unique position to utilize our platform as student leaders to foster strong relationships with administration. However, we believe most primarily in transparency and accessibility to information and resources for students. This includes bridging the gap between UGBC and students by gaining information from admin and then relaying that information to students. Our plan to do this primarily involves expanding our Communications Division to include more General Coordinators, whose primary job will be to maintain our transparent social media presence. Furthermore, our newly rebranded Inclusive Excellence director will be tasked with outreach to student organizations and to attendees of the Senate’s Public Comment.
Q: One of your goals is new Inclusive Excellence policies. Could you explain that more?
A: Inclusive excellence is a reliable name change for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies. Given the uncertainty of the political environment nationwide, we propose a name change for these policies with the same function. They’re relabeled to build further on UGBC’s mission statement. Not only should BC excel in academics and service, but also in inclusive practices.
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