“*I will fight for lower tuition and fees and I will fight to for a solution to the overpricing of books and the lack of student parking. But the single most important issue to me is Campus Safety.*”
– SUFC presidential candidate Tyler Draheim

In advance of the Student Association elections, which will take place on April 17 and 18, the UWM Post will be interviewing candidates from both student parties. The Students United For Change party (SUFC) will be running Tyler Draheim and Tommy Hughes as their respective presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Tommy Hughes did not respond to the Post’s request for an interview.

Post: What year are you and what is your current major?

Tyler Draheim: I’m a senior with a double major in Political Science and Psychology.

Post: What kinds of groups or activities are you actively involved with on campus?

Draheim: Just about everyday I have meetings for the various UWM committees that I sit on. I have been actively involved in the Student Association for the past two years. Being in the position that I am, I get to see hundreds of Student Organizations come through with some great and unique events. I have been able to see events hosted by more than two dozen different organizations here at UWM. Recently I have become extremely involved in the S.A.F.E. program. I spend three nights each week patrolling the neighborhood surrounding UWM between the hours of 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM. We are out there to escort individuals and groups home safely and report suspicious activity to decrease the crime on and around campus. This is a really great program and I feel privileged to be involved.

Post: What are your post-graduation plans?

Draheim: I plan to attend Grad. School and pursue a degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Following that, I plan to get involved in AmeriCorps. Eventually, I would like to start a career in Vocational Rehabilitation where I would work with military Veterans to find them Federal Government assistance to get them the education they need to get the job they want.

Post: What prompted you to run in the upcoming election?

Draheim: This year I was able to work closely with my good friend President Rob Grover and I would like to continue some of the great things he has accomplished. I really believe that I have surrounded myself with the best candidates that we have at this University. Together, we have the perfect blend of experience and new ideas that is required in order to make a positive impact. I am lucky to have the opportunity to work with such an intelligent group of individuals. Having been at UWM for more than 3 years now, I have seen what works and what doesn’t and I think in order to lead such a large and prestigious University, it is absolutely necessary that you must first observe and be involved for more than a year or two. I am completely ready to fight for student rights as President and I honestly believe that I am the one candidate that has the actual ability to do so and succeed.

Post: How has your previous experience helped prepare you for student government?

Draheim: I was first introduced into the UWM Student Association two years ago and the work I have done since, while at times is stressful, has been both exciting and fulfilling. I started out as a member of the student senate and worked for a year as an Office Manager. The next year, I was elected to serve as the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair where I worked with over 300 student organizations to fund some really extraordinary events. I believe that the student run system we have set up here at UWM is one of the best in the nation. I was recently elected to serve students in my current position as Speaker of the Senate. On top of that I have served as Vice-Chair of the Union Policy Board, Chair of the Office Allocation Committee, a member of the Athletics Board, and sat for 2 years on the Senate Finance Committee. I have also been privileged enough to have met and spoken with many members of the administration including the Chancellor himself. I have the necessary experience and relationships to get the job done and done well. Without this experience, it would be extremely difficult to accomplish everything that needs to be done.

Post: If you can narrow it down, what is the most important issue facing the campus?

Draheim: There are so many issues that I want to address as President. I will fight for lower tuition and fees and I will fight to for a solution to the overpricing of books and the lack of student parking. But the single most important issue to me is Campus Safety. We can’t change that our University is located in one of the biggest cities in the nation but we can make sure that our students are protected and feel safe. With ever growing occurrences of robberies, assaults and vandalism, we need to find a way to deter crime and make sure that the main focus is on pushing the crime away from UWM and ensuring that every single UWM student and guest feels safe on and around our campus regardless of what time it is and what they are doing.

Post: If there is one thing you could change on campus, what would that be?

Draheim: If I could change just one thing on campus, it would be the struggle of paying for an education. Tuition is at an all time high and continues to rise more and more every year. I honestly believe that we are pricing students out of a higher education. Every individual that has the drive and desire to pursue a higher education should have the ability to do so. Year after year, we sit back and watch as our tuition and fees rise more and more. We have individuals running with our party that are certified Lobbyists. That means that we will have the ability to actively and constantly lobby those that make the decisions on tuition and I guarantee that we will make UWM’s voice heard and it will have an impact.

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