Courtesy of Neil PatelWhen the WebSTAC polls open on April 4, Washington University students will find two slates of candidates on the ballot for Student Union’s executive positions.
The eXperience slate, headed by presidential candidate Neil Patel, a junior, is opposed by the Paradigm slate, whose presidential candidate is junior Jon Wolff, current Junior Class President. Patel ran unsuccessfully for Student Union (SU) president last year, when he was defeated by junior Paul Moinester.
Each slate’s platform addresses many issues, but Wolff emphasized technology service reform when describing Paradigm’s position. He would like to improve students’ access to technology on campus and accelerate a range of reforms that are currently underway.
“Why can you only log into the business school [system] at the business school?” asked Woolf. In his view, he explained, we ought to be able to do better given the resources the school has available.
Wolff feels that he is well-equipped to address campus reform. When asked about his personal strengths, Wolff emphasized his ability to relate to fellow students. “I can understand people,” said Wolff. “I can connect to people when I’m speaking to them and get to the bottom of why things matter to them.”
Patel described student health and fitness as a key issue for him and his eXperience slate.
“I think that although we are not a Division I school, that doesn’t mean our athletic facilities shouldn’t be of Division I quality,” said Patel. “Healthy students perform well inside the classroom and outside it.”
Patel also expressed concern that students lack a way of expressing their needs. “My biggest strength is being receptive to that, being able to implement that,” said Patel. “I can take their ideas and make them into reality.”
In the vice-presidency, eXperience’s candidate sophomore Brittany Perez is running unopposed. Perez and Patel were co-chairs of the Student Group Activities Committee last year.
Junior Ray Mailhot of eXperience will compete with sophomore Marius Johnson of the Paradigm slate for Treasurer. Mailhot is president of the Association of Latin American Students, while Johnson is Budget Committee co-chair.
The two candidates for Secretary, freshman Rebecca Forman of eXperience and sophomore Yewande Alimi of Paradigm, are both members of Treasury’s Budget committee.
More information about the candidates and their positions can be found at each slate’s Web site. eXperience’s Web site is http://www.wuexperience.com/ and Paradigm’s Web site is http://www.voteparadigm.com/. The WebSTAC polls will be open April 4 and 5.