Senator for Transfer Students candidates
Elizabeth Bagwell
I personally believe action needs to be taken for easier transition for transfer students; as a recent transfer student myself, I encountered a lot of miscommunication between myself and a few of the departments. Not only that but it’s very difficult to go from somewhere, like a community college and then straight into a university setting. I believe the transition could be easier if we help to get transfer students more involved in the beginning and when they come in. I think that the transfer orientation should be earlier in the summer and a little more in depth. By having them earlier, it gives the student a little more time to prepare to jump in to campus life. With them being so late in the summer and there being only two, it feels a little rushed. We could possibly add another orientation in the middle of June and make the final day for transfer orientation a little earlier in July. I also believe the transfer orientation should include some sort of activity, where transfer students can get together and possibly find comrades in one another. It can just be something where they meet up and discuss any problems they are running into or just how they feel about UIS thus far. I would encourage previous transfer student to be involved, so the new students have people to compare their status with. By having students come together with something in common, they can have people to explain problems they ran or are running into while transferring and how the previous transfer resolved it or at least worked to make the situation better.
Dane Vincent
Alimyon Allen
Allen did not submit photo or bio.
Senator for Online Students candidates
Barbara Joy Matthews
My name is Barbara Matthews and I am a senior English major, running for the position of Online Student Senator. Being an online-only student, I know the tremendous rewards that online learning provides, but am also aware of its challenges. While enjoying flexibility and freedom, online students may often feel excluded from the rest of the student body and the many activities UIS offers. Knowing this, I would like to represent UIS’s growing online community and address its unique needs.
I am proud to be a student of such a fine university, and earning a degree online makes me feel on the cutting edge of educational advances and technology. As OSS, I want to make sure that UIS increases its presence and visibility outside of the Illinois state borders. My college education started a few years later than most, and I know my experience represents that of many of our online students as they balance work and families with school. I wish to share my enthusiasm about UIS’s online program with the many potential students around the world who have yet to hear about us.
We all know how important it is to connect to others outside of class. Therefore, I would like to create an online student lounge. This meeting point for socializing and studying means online students won’t have any less of a social experience. I would also like to work on an expansion of majors for graduate study, which would allow those of us close to finishing their BAs the opportunity to continue our studies at an university and in a learning style that we enjoy.
The most important thing for us online students is communication and as OSS, I look forward to being not only a spokeswoman, but also a facilitator of digital dialogue between the entire UIS community.
Richard CJ Baskall
Baskall did not submit a photo or bio.
Senator for Graduate Students candidates
Ying Liu
I’m a graduate student in accountancy department. Graduate students have huge responsibilities, and they turn to be more professional. Meanwhile, I think they hardly enjoy campus life.
If I elect Graduate Senator, I would like to make a balance between their work and study. I would like to hold activities for them to be either professional or enjoyable. For example, holding etiquette dinner and presentations, and dressing for success are what I come up with so far. Sometimes, students don’t know what kind of life or future they want to gain even though they are in graduate school. That’s where the presentation leads a good direction. It’s not all about academics study; it’s a study of life.
Further more, some of the graduate students are working all day, and they have family to rise. It’s hard for them to enjoy campus life. I would like to hold a program that welcomes their whole families to enjoy the campus fun. It’s all about activities, and asking on campus students to join. We can also hold visits to some factories or industries to gain knowledge of a company.
In addition, my contact with various UIS international students give me an opportunity to see their needs, and bring in their issues.
Senator for Undergraduate Students candidates
Dan Mazzuca
My name is Dan Mazzuca. I am currently majoring in Political Science and I am seeking the position of Senator for Undergraduate Students of the UIS Student Government Association. I have read up on the Constitution of the UIS Student Government and I firmly believe that I can perform the duties therein. I fully understand the responsibilities entrusted to me, should I receive this position, and I will execute them to the best of my abilities.
As a freshman, I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to do many things here on campus. However, I am doing everything I can to contribute the UIS community. That includes SGA. I have several qualities that I think I can add to the office of Parliamentarian and our community as a whole. My ability to make decisions and think things through, I believe, would help me to effectively serve as your SGA Parliamentarian. I am also very good with money. This is why I would do my utmost to make sure that students’ finances are secure and that anything that might jeopardize that is clearly communicated to the student body. Of course, I would do everything in my power to keep the costs of an education at UIS as low as possible. I also feel that student involvement is lacking here on campus. Having spent many years organizing activities in my high school, I believe that I can help change that.
Thank you for considering me for the position of Undergraduate Senator. I feel that you would be making the right decision for selecting me. I promise all of the students at UIS that I will serve them to the best of my ability. I am here to represent you.
Justin Keenan
Keenan did not submit a photo or bio.
Senator-At-Large candidates
Joseph McGee
I am very excited for the opportunity to return to SGA, in order to continue the work I have previously done to enrich the campus and the surrounding community. The first thing I would like to accomplish is a resolution to the issue of Chick-fil-A. I am willing to work with a compromise that can satisfy the interests of all parties involved. With this taskforce we hope to finally put this issue with Chick-fil-A to rest. For my next order of business, I would like to see the shovel in the ground to start the building of our new Student Union. This is going to take some hard work and dedication but I am willing to put forth a great amount of my time to make sure this is accomplished. I would also like to focus on new innovative ways that we can increase turnouts to campus events. Together, I believe I can successfully work on these issues and provide solid, long lasting progress for our campus community.
Samia Ahmad
Hi! My name is Samia Ahmad, I am a junior, double majoring in Criminal Justice and Political Science. Many of you may have seen me during Freshman Orientation or I have given you a tour! I am running for senator at large and I know that I can bring those questions or complaints that students are afraid to ask to SGA and find a resolution. SGA is the place where all of the complaints can be heard and decisions can be made to better the lives of students. Those concerns will be my first priority because student government is a “representative body for the students” and my promise to the UIS community is that I will be reliable and approachable to anyone.
David Jones
I, David Jones, am running for the Senator at Large position. My goal as your next senator is to be more accessible to every student who needs the ear of their Student Government. It does not matter your need, I find your situation to be top priority. I promise to eliminate any red-tape separating you as a student body from your goals here at UIS. Once again elect me your new Senator at Large, and I promise to keep your voice echoing throughout SGA and your needs top priority. Thank You!
Senator for Education and Human Services candidates
Blake Johnson
Johnson did not submit a photo or bio
Senator for Freshmen Students candidates
Brian Geiger
My name is Brian Geiger and I am currently running for the Freshman Senate. I am a freshman majoring in Political Science in the College of Public Affairs. Some of you all may not know me but I have a background full of public service in my community. Based off of my experiences I did in my High School and in my community, I know that I can create a positive environment for the students of UIS. I will give a brief history on my leadership in my community. The students at Thornridge high School elected me as the Student Representative At large for the entire school district. I made a positive difference by bringing the community and the school together, increasing more student involvement in student activities and saving my school from turning into a freshmen center. I also worked with many community leaders including State Representative William Davis, and Phillip Jackson from the Black Star Project to promote activities that will get the youth involved in many activities. My works in the community was one of the reasons why I was awarded the Cook County Youth Service Medal of Honor, and a Jefferson Award which is a National award on Public service and Leadership.
I talked about my past leadership experiences because I want the voters to know that I am no stranger when it comes to leadership. I am very responsible and I want to affect every last student on this campus in a very helpful way. During my first week here at UIS, I have went around the campus introducing myself not only to freshmen, but upperclassman as well informing students that I have an activity in my that can make students happy about attending UIS. I have a plan that will create more organizations that can increase student involvement. All I ask is for students to come out on their issues and I will work diligently on trying to solve all of these problems. My goals are to make this campus the most exciting campus in the University of Illinois system by promoting meaningful student involvement. I planned to continue the fight on keeping housing and fees low. I also believe that there should be a price change on the food being served in the food courts and if you elect me as your freshman senator, I promise that I will work hard on trying to reduce some of the prices in the food court. Lastly I will work hard on trying make sure that students are heavily involve on campus and to make sure that I can capture the minds of students on staying on campus during the weekend to participate in more on campus.
William C. Newton
Newton did not submit a photo or bio.
Dominique Wilson
Wilson did not submit a photo or bio.
Aretha Hughes
Hughes did not submit a photo or bio.
Benjamin Johnson
Johnson did not submit a photo or bio.
Elections will be held on September 19 and 20.
