Robert Grover and Amanda Voigtlander are running for Student Association president and vice president as members of the Students United for Change (SUFC) Party.

How do you plan to improve and restore the reputation of the SA in the eyes of the students?

Robert Grover: I want to have independent audits, not including internal audits and audits from the chancellor���¢��������s office. We need to be open and honest with forums at least once a month as I mentioned earlier actually in the SA office. Make sure the directors hold office hours to be a resource to students. Accountability is the key to ethics. The more students involved in SA, the less likely shady things will happen.

Amanda Voigtlander: We need to put up the whole budget on the Web site so students know we are not just burning money on useless items. Also, starting blogs on the Web site to open up conversations is something we want to do.

RG: Elected officials do not like to hear criticism. However, as part of a democracy, people need to hear the other side.

What is your primary goal or focus as president/ vice president?

RG: We want to reduce tuition, or at least institute a tuition freeze. We also need to hold the segregated fees. Another concern is campus safety. The final main goal is working with the student body. There were a few people who made SA look bad. The important thing is to get as many people involved in the association as possible.

AV: We push feasible, goals not radical ideas. Anyone can say they want to lower tuition, but you need to know how to go about lowering fees. Safety is another important issue, more so now. There are things in the works for next year but we need to make sure the administration follows through. Every year, SA has to start over with a new president but we have a chance to have continuity in the government. We saw the negative this year, now we can improve from there.

How do you plan to incorporate students into your vision for the upcoming year?

RG: We want to implement the internship program, again. The program was not used this year.

AV: A student can receive up to three credits by helping office members.

RG: We want monthly forums for students to air out problems. Also, we are looking at big recruitment drives at the beginning of the year, and throughout the year. We need to reach out to student organizations with already committed and involved students. SUFC has strong ties to other student organizations. A problem was the Web site was not updated all spring semester.

AV: We, the vice president and president, update the Web site so the Webmaster isn���¢��������t doing all the work.

RG: The Web site should be a better resource, with financial documents so students can scrutinize elected members. Every student should be able to have a look at documents anytime, without any questions.

What are the biggest issues in this campaign?

RG: Tuition and segregated fees are important to students. Segregated fees are student controlled and students need to take that control back. This year we were actually able to cut segregated fees. Also, the issue of ethics in SA is very important. We want to form an ethics committee for elected members. Campus safety is important. BOSS needs to be available and convenient for students. We need to work with the students to accomplish these things.

What would be your first action in office?

RG: Obviously, the first order would be the hiring. There is a need to look at the current system and governing practices. We want to be open and as transparent as possible. We need to start right at the beginning of the year, especially with tuition problems, before it becomes too late. Since we are a part of SA already, we will be able to start early.

AV: I thought about what it should be and I do not know the exact first thing to accomplish. One of the first things is to hire a competent staff and to start working on projects right way to be productive. Again, we need to take the positive aspects of our government and put them to use towards next year.

What sets you apart from Carlo and Albulena and why are you the best candidate for the job?

RG: We have experience and real ideas, while they just have complaints. They are extreme while we are more mainstream. I am a residential adviser, so on a daily basis I talk to people about tuition problems, how to get involved in campus life and the rigors of the academic environment. We know how SA works.

AV: They make empty promises that they cannot deliver on. People need balance in what they say and what they can actually accomplish. Our opponents are too idealistic. What they set out to do is not going to happen.

Any last message you would like to send to students?

RG: We are really the side with ideas. The other side seems to be out for revenge and wants to prove a point. We have people who have been involved in SA and we have fresh faces. I get the sense the administration hopes the other side wins to almost take advantage. We are used to the fight with lowering segregated fees. We work as shared governance. We really represent the students.

AV: We have worked together before and we work well together.

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