Two students are officially running in the Student Government Vice President special election on Jan. 22 and 23. Steven Haderer, a sophomore in the School of Communication, and Ray Bowman, a senior in the School of Public Affairs and SOC, are running for the position, which became vacant after former Student Government Vice President Julia Reinstein resigned in November, the Eagle previously reported.
Steven Haderer
Haderer wants to give AU students a voice in SG.
“I’m running because I believe that we can unite AU students with exceptional programming,” he said.
Haderer is originally from Winston-Salem, N.C. and came to AU to break the norm of his town.
“I came to American because I didn’t want to be the typical kid from North Carolina,” Harder said. “I wanted to do something that pushed me out of my comfort zone and that was coming to Washington and really learning what it means to advocate for people,” he said.
He was a member of Chamber Singers and went to Russia with the group. He is now a brother in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
“I’m just someone who thinks he can make a difference,” Haderer said.
If elected, Haderer wants to increase the number of female representatives in SG, increase the efficiency of the VP office and give more students a voice on campus. Additionally, Haderer wants to create a more accessible environment for students to talk with SG.
“I think Student Government has to go to club meetings, go out and talk with fellow students about what we want to see. Hold town halls and let students come and voice opinions,” Haderer said.
Because he is not a current member of SG, Haderer said he is a stronger candidate for vice president.
“I’m not an SG insider. I have the ideas and the experience to fix the problems in Student Government. But I don’t have so much experience that I’m the problem, “ he said.
Haderer was the vice president of the SOC Undergraduate Council last spring and volunteered with Kennedy Political Union. According to Haderer, he plans on using this experience to lead if elected.
“I just believe in straight talk – the solutions to the problems in SG are well within our grasp, we just need the boldness to reach out,” he said.
Ray Bowman
Bowman, the former chief of staff for SG President Pat Kelly, wants to build more collaborative relationships between students and SG.
If elected, he will work to increase the diversity of student events, strengthen the relationships between SG and other student organizations and use funds effectively.
Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Bowman said one of the things he loves most about AU is the close knit feel of the campus.
“I really love that it’s so small, and we have this community, but we’re still in this big city,” he said. “You’re able to walk across the quad and say hi to ten people you know. I think that’s what makes AU unique.”
During his time at AU, Bowman has found a unique spot as his favorite place on campus- the home of the AU Beekeeping Society outside the second floor of the Mary Graydon Center.
“I actually get distracted sometimes staring at the bees, and I secretly wish I had joined the beekeeping society so long ago,” he said.
Bowman served as the executive director of Queers and Allies from 2012-2013, and said this leadership experience makes him feel ready to take on the role of Vice President.
“I know what it’s like for clubs to work with such a limited budget and put on programs,” he said. “I know the struggle.”
To help more student organizations, Bowman wants to establish a “grant to increase multiculturalism,” which would allow all student organizations to apply for SG funding from the vice president budget to put on programs. By opening up funding to more student groups, Bowman said he believes there will be more diversity in the events offered to students.
“[The grant would] give SG an opportunity to work with clubs to help them put on these events and build a relationship with these clubs,” Bowman said.
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