In working with University administrators for three years as a member of the Student Advocacy Center, I have learned that they are not the stingy, heartless ogres that some candidates for student government try to portray them as. Labeling the administration an adversary seems like an excuse for having nothing substantial to say. The truth of the matter is that the SC will be far more effective if it works with the University rather than against it.
As president, I plan on using the experience I have working with administrators on behalf of the student body to achieve concrete and practical goals that will make the lives of AU students simpler and better.
I have outlined three specific and realistic policy goals I want my administration to achieve by this time next year.
First, I want to expand the number of stores and restaurants that accept EagleBuck$ to places that AU students use with the greatest frequency. Businesses like CVS and Best Buy and restaurants like Maggiano's and Cheesecake Factory benefit tremendously from AU students, and AU should be working harder to make sure students have the option of using EagleBuck$.
Second, the SC needs to be willing to spend the time and the money to bring the best bands and the most influential speakers to campus. I want to do a better job of promoting an actual political dialogue between the liberals, libertarians and conservatives on campus through organizations like the Kennedy Political Union and through campus forums.
Third, I believe the SC needs to bring different campus organizations together for the purpose of improving the D.C. community. I believe that student government should bring groups together that usually do not work with each other - like greeks and multicultural clubs - and unite them for the common purpose of community improvement.
