STUDENT SENATE
ELECTION GUIDE
ATE
GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
What is student senate?
4
How to vote
5-11 11
Candidate profiles
Student senate accomplishments
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
WHAT IS STUDENT SENATE? Grand Valley State University’s student senate works to ensure that the students’ voices are continually heard by the university. The student senate is open to all majors, and is comprised of 50 students, who serve on one of seven different committees. The committees are: Senate Resources, Finance, Campus Affairs, Educational Affairs, Diversity Affairs, External Relations and Public Relations. All seven committees work to enhance student life, academics and the overall student experience at GVSU.
HOW DO WE DO THIS? Student senate works to: • Investigate & resolve common student problems • Advocate for the inclusion of students in the decision-making processes of the university • Promote awareness of the role students play in the community • Enhance the quality of education, inside & outside the classroom • Empower students with leadership opportunities
WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Student senate is here to represent YOU! Stop by our general assembly meetings Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. in the Pere Marquette Room in the Kirkhof Center and voice your opinions about issues. Fill out our online form if you see something that you believe should be changed about GVSU. Additionally, vote in this election for people that you believe are qualified to serve you on student senate.
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 3
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
4 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
HOW TO VOTE 2
1
GVL | CHASE HASPER
Go to: www.gvsu.edu/studentsenate
Click on elections tab
3 Read the Lanthorn election guide
4 5 Click on the ballot link
Vote for up to 10 candidates*
*If you can’t find 10 candidates you want to vote for, write-in candidates are accepted, and can beat out students on the ballot.
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 5
GREG ZIEGENFELDER
JULIA STURVIST
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Undecided HOMETOWN: Troy, MI INVOLVEMENT: Laker Traditions Team, Spotlight Productions, Whale Radio & Circle K
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Public & nonprofit administration HOMETOWN: Cheboygan, MI INVOLVEMENT: Alpha Omicron Pi, Laker Traditions Team, ASAP & Student Senate
PLATFORM: • Be more involved on campus • Be a voice for the students • Create leadership retreats • Facilitate more interaction between students & senators
PLATFORM: • Have more collaboration with student organizations • Continue my work with reaching out to local charities & creating ties to GVSU • Honestly represent our 25,000 students
MALAYNA HASMANIS
MICHAEL SULLIVAN
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Special needs education HOMETOWN: Charleston, SC INVOLVEMENT: Phi Mu, Panhellenic Association, Eyes Wide Open, Transitions, First Year Leadership Experience, Laker Traditions Team, BRCAn’t Stop Me, Greeks Against Sexual Assault & Colleges Against Cancer
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Political science HOMETOWN: Petoskey, MI INVOLVEMENT: College Republicans, Student Senate & Delta Upsilon fraternity
PLATFORM: • To allow for the voices of the student body to be heard • To strive to make American Sign Language supported as a foreign language cognate • To make the student body more aware of educational advancements and developments
PLATFORM: • Increase student civic involvement in our local communities • Raise awareness of the disproportionate allocation of tuition assistance by the state • Increase voter registration among the student body • Create a safe and friendly campus for all students
KEVIN CHUI
SEAN O’MELIA
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Biomedical sciences HOMETOWN: Otsego, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Pre-med club, Pre-SOMA club, Eyes Wide Open & Laker Traditions Team
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Broadcasting HOMETOWN: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Laker Traditions Team, Resident Assistant & Whale Radio
PLATFORM: • Continue to make Mackinac Hall easier to navigate • Create a sexual assault victim support group • Ensure the return of bonfires to campus
PLATFORM: • Leave a positive mark on GVSU • Give back to the students & university • Work on a variety of projects & tasks
6 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
WALTER SCHAUB
EMMA HAHS
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: International relations HOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, MI INVOLVEMENT: Rowing Club
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Cell & molecular biology HOMETOWN: New Lenox, IL INVOLVEMENT: First Year Leadership Experience, StrengthsQuest, W-STEM, ANCHOR & Science is Awesome Club
PLATFORM: • Expand multicultural awareness & promote study abroad • Encourage & assist in voter registration • Broaden awareness & support for club sports at GVSU • Engage in efforts to ensure affordable college tuition
PLATFORM: • Make student senate easier to contact for the student body & the faculty • Set up a system to notify the student body & faculty about upcoming events & on the status of projects student senate is working on
ELIZABETH LIEBERTZ
OLIVIA KOLC
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Political science & international relations HOMETOWN: Grand Haven, MI INVOLVEMENT: Law Society, Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, Belly Dance Club & Student Senate
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Accounting & finance HOMETOWN: Farmington Hills, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Phi Chi Theta & STAR-Make a Wish
PLATFORM: • Increase sexual assault awareness • Increase sex trafficking awareness • Help students participate in civic engagement • Add community service/local volunteer opportunities
PLATFORM: • Bring back strong leadership & ideas • Encourage diplomatic perspective • Give student organizations the funding they deserve
NICHOLAS KAPUSTA
JONATHAN BOWMAN
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Hospitality & tourism management HOMETOWN: Leonard, MI INVOLVEMENT: Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Laker Traditions Team, Greek Intervarsity & First Year Leadership Experience
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Political science HOMETOWN: Brighton, MI INVOLVEMENT: Residence Housing Association & Student Senate
PLATFORM: • Focus on internal relations • Increase sustainability efforts • Improve communication among organizations • Facilitate inter-committee connectedness
PLATFORM: • Improve campus dining • Work on off-campus bus routes • Continue work with disability services & campus recreation
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 7
RACHEL TRAVIS
STEPHEN COOPER
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Supply chain management & marketing HOMETOWN: Shepherd, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, American Production & Inventory Control Society, Student Leadership Development Program, Beta Gamma Sigm & Phi Kappa Phi
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Marketing & management HOMETOWN: Gaylord, MI INVOLVEMENT: Intervarsity, Campus Ministry & Phi Gamma Delta fraternity
PLATFORM: • Continue making improvements to the funding process • Improve communication to the student body • Make student organizations feel more comfortable requesting funding
PLATFORM: • Implement a new transfer student orientation program • Work to reduce our parking costs • Increase the frequency of the 37 Rapid • Make more Snapchat geo-filters • Increase interaction between the Pew & Allendale campuses
MATTHEW CRIADO-CANO
ANNA SZALAY
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: International relations & economics HOMETOWN: Ada, MI INVOLVEMENT: College Republicans & Latino Student Union
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Secondary education & history HOMETOWN: Dearborn, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Backpacking Club & Alternative Breaks
PLATFORM: • Make student voices heard • Provide a healthy environment for student discussion • Act as a representative for student concerns
PLATFORM: • Increase community service/volunteer opportunities • Facilitate voter registration • Work on the Know Your Rights project • Rock the Vote
BROOKLYN GOLNICK
AMELA MANDZUKIC
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: International relations & anthropology HOMETOWN: Grayling, MI INVOLVEMENT: Residence Housing Association, Community Council, Anthropology Club & Outdoor Intramural Soccer
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Comprehensive science & arts for teaching HOMETOWN: Sterling Heights, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Residence Housing Association
PLATFORM: • Provide students with a positive experience • Create a sense of community on campus • Help students become “Lakers for a Lifetime”
PLATFORM: • Encourage leadership on campus
8 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
STEVEN HENLEY
BETH HOPKINS
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Political science & communication studies HOMETOWN: Hopkins, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Law Society
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Political science & economics HOMETOWN: Chicago, IL INVOLVEMENT: Alpha Omicron Pi & Students for Education Innovation
PLATFORM: • Educate students about their rights • Register students to vote • Create volunteer opportunities for students
PLATFORM: • Represent a diverse group of students • Make student voices heard • Help students make their ideas a reality
MADDIE RHOADES
ELLA FRITZEMEIER
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Public & nonprofit administration HOMETOWN: Howell, MI INVOLVEMENT: Eyes Wide Open & Student Senate
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Economics & finance HOMETOWN: Chelsea, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Resident Assistant, National Residence Hall Honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society & Alternative Breaks
PLATFORM: • Promote gender equality • Make GVSU inclusive to people of all demographics • Educate others about sexual assault awareness
PLATFORM: • Ensure students’ voices are heard by administration by asking their opinions about issues • Work on disconnect between off-campus apartments & on-campus housing • Continue work on civic engagement opportunities with Allendale & Grand Rapids • Work on collaboration among student organizations
ANDY OEFFNER
NOELLE MILAD
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Political science HOMETOWN: Hartland, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Human resource management HOMETOWN: Plymouth, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Laker Traditions Team
PLATFORM: • Advocate for lights & sidewalks off campus • Increase voter registration & civic engagement • Encourage community service
PLATFORM: • Inform students on student senate issues • Reach out to students for ideas to better our community • Facilitate a relationship between students & the senate
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 9
JAKOB BIGARD
CASEY STAMPER
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: International relations HOMETOWN: Mount Pleasant, MI INVOLVEMENT: None
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Accounting HOMETOWN: Petoskey, MI INVOLVEMENT: None
PLATFORM: • Voice the opinions of students of all backgrounds • Achieve real civic engagement with students, faculty & the community
PLATFORM: • Add funds to improve community involvement • Work toward improving the student life budget • Seek to improve financial burden of GVSU students
NIKHIL WATSA
ALEXANDER TURNBULL
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Physics HOMETOWN: Troy, MI INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Laker Traditions Team, Phi Gamma Delta, Society of Physics Students & Resident Assistant
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Biochemistry & biomedical sciences HOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, MI INVOLVEMENT: Pre-Med Club & Science is Awesome Club
PLATFORM: • Grow the relationship between GVSU & the greater Grand Rapids community • Develop a sustainable alumni mentorship program • Increase voter registration among students • Advocate for an increase in state funding for GVSU
PLATFORM: • Increase the number of science majors on student senate
ASHLEY KOLTZ
JOHN VANDAELE
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Finance & accounting HOMETOWN: South Lyon, MI INVOLVEMENT: Young Professionals Group, Food & Nutrition Club & Honors College Mentor
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Political science HOMETOWN: Freeland, MI INVOLVEMENT: Young Americans for Freedom, College Republicans & Campus Crusade for Christ
PLATFORM: •Make a difference in the lives of students • Make positive changes at GVSU • Give back to the Laker community
PLATFORM: • Create a better environment for students • Connect students to the outside community • Create a safe & stress-free environment for everyone
10 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
BRANDON FITZGERALD
RILEY BURCH
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Nursing HOMETOWN: Detroit, MI INVOLVEMENT: Transitions, Student Senate, Student Nurses Association & Student Diversity Coalition
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Political science & legal studies HOMETOWN: Traverse City, MI INVOLVEMENT: Young Americans for Freedom, College Republicans, 4-H & Rotary
PLATFORM: • Advocate for persons of marginalized backgrounds • Ensure GVSU is accessible & inclusive to all • Speak on behalf of students who vote for him
PLATFORM: • Ensure GVSU maintains outstanding academic programs • Maintain social opportunities for students
AMINAH MUHAMMAD
RACHEL JENKIN
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Allied health sciences HOMETOWN: Chicago, IL INVOLVEMENT: Alpha Kappa Psi & You Beautiful Black Woman
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Psychology HOMETOWN: Brownstone, MI INVOLVEMENT: Community Council, GVSU Theater, GVTV, Intervarsity & In the Margins Poetry Club
PLATFORM: • Strengthen GVSU’s community • Add a diverse perspective to student senate
PLATFORM: • Bring in various cultural events • Facilitate networking opportunities for students • Encourage students to get involved on campus
JEREMY TURNBULL
DELANDO DAVIS-WRIGHT
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: English & mathematics HOMETOWN: London, UK INVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Laker Traditions Team
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: International business & liberal studies HOMETOWN: Detroit, MI INVOLVEMENT: Alpha Phi Omega, AIM, Whale Radio & NAACP
PLATFORM: • Work on internal resources of the student senate • See the student senate work together more efficiently • Develop leadership & professional skills for senators
PLATFORM: • Facilitate more multicultural cooperation • Create more community outreach • Inform students about the upcoming presidential election
MARCH 28, 2016 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 11
KYRA HULL YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Anthropology HOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, MI INVOLVEMENT: Track & field team
STUDENT SENATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Changed the holiday lights housing policy • Registered over 100 students to vote
PLATFORM: • Listen to & advocate for student interests • Use the senate as a voice of student opinion & dissent • Create more transparency in faculty governance
• Passed a resolution in support of transgender health care being made available to Lakers • Held our annual Last Lecture event, featuring Dean of Students Bart Merkle • Changed the cultural & Greek life funding boards
DAN ZIEGENFELDER
• Passed a resolution in support of the creation of a human rights minor
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Advertising & public relations HOMETOWN: Troy, MI INVOLVEMENT: Laker Traditions Team, Student Senate, Whale Radio & Alternative Breaks
• Helped to get lighting on Pierce Street • Continued to work diligently to have a fall break • Passed a resolution in support of a new digital studies minor • Created an active shooter program for students’ safety preparedness
PLATFORM: • Communicate the students’ voice to the senate & inform the students of senate’s actions • Host more events to gain more student feedback • Create videos to provide students with more knowledge of what student senate does
BRIANNA PANNELL YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Communications HOMETOWN: Detroit, MI INVOLVEMENT: Black Student Union, Student Diversity Coalition & Voices of GVSU
• Sponsored the first annual Mental Health Awareness Week in collaboration with the Counseling Center • Co-sponsored the third annual Teach-In with the University Academic Senate, drawing a record attendance of 1,500 participants • Represented students on over 40 different university committees with faculty & staff • & more!
NOT FEATURED IN ELECTION GUIDE: Raid El-Khawaja Amandalynn Rogers
PLATFORM: • Work for the greater good of the GVSU community • Work with both faculty & students to improve efficiency & effectiveness
These candidates will still be running in the election & will be on the ballot
STUDENT SENATE ELECTION GUIDE