Emma KennedyMajor: Political Science & PhilosophyMinor: Sexuality & Gender Identity Studies, FrenchClass: 2008Why do you want to be on the SGA Senate? I am an out and active member of the LGBTQA community at UVM. In the last four years I have increasingly seen the need for clearer communication between marginalized groups on campus and the body that should represent them. I would like to lend my voice to that cause. If you could work toward one accomplishment during your term on Senate, what would it be? I’d like to see more tolerance of diversity on campus. This could be accomplished through a stronger focus on mandatory education surrounding diversity issues and through better administrative support of the initiatives that already exist. Josh MillerMajor: Political ScienceMinor: HistoryClass: 2009 Why do you want to be on SGA Senate? I would like to get re-elected to the SGA senate to solidify the Club Sports Council and to ensure that clubs have enough money, not just to function, but also to prosper. I have served on SGA for two full years and in the fall of 2007 I went abroad to Italy. I also want to be the voice of students who can’t speak up and demonstrate true student leadership. What are some of your biggest concerns regarding the University? My biggest concerns are with the new drug dog in the dorms, campus safety, and student clubs. I believe the drug dog violates students right to privacy and should be removed from this campus. I want to ensure that every blue light on campus is working and I want to ensure clubs have enough money not only to function but also to prosper.Seth CorthellMajor: EconomicsMinor: Political ScienceClass: 2009 If you could work toward one accomplishment during your term on Senate, what would it be? A reworking of the ridiculousness that is BPD’s noise violation policy.What are some of your biggest concerns regarding the University? Tuition, Tuition, Tuition, and Tuition. Why did you choose your respective major? Economics is the base of all social sciences, since I’m very much interested in social sciences, I figured why not start out with the base.Drew SanderMajor: Political Science & GeographyClass: 2009 If you could work toward one accomplishment during your term on Senate, what would it be? The one single goal I have for my term on senate, if elected, is to improve the quality of life for students here at UVM. Tuition here, as with many other schools, costs a great deal and I believe that no penny of it should go to any program that does not benefit the student. I would like to make the tuition at this University, and those whose jobs are paid for by it, work harder for all of the students at this University. What are some of your biggest concerns regarding the University? My biggest concern regarding the University is the lack of student input in administrative decisions. As the primary source of income, I believe students deserve the right to have considerable input in the decision made by University and campus officials and administrators.Aaron BernsteinMajor: Political ScienceClass: 2010 Why do you want to be on SGA Senate? I would like to be on the SGA Senate because I feel that all students should have a hand in shaping their community around them, and at the University of Vermont, the SGA is the best way for a student to do so. If you could work toward one accomplishment during your term on Senate, what would it be? To continue making UVM one of the models of environmental policy for not only universities, but businesses in general. Mainly focusing on our emission output and our level of participation in national environmental politics. What are some of your biggest concerns regarding the University? While a lot of students do not voice this concern, safety is a large issue. While UVM is not an unsafe community, working towards ensuring safety for all students is a great priority. This can be done through multiple venues, including academic safety, physical safety, and environ?mental safety.Rick ValentaMajor: Political Science & PhilosophyClass: 2009 Why do you want to be on SGA Senate? I want to be on the SGA Senate for a few reasons. Primarily because I feel that I have been a student long enough to be a well rounded and informed Senator: knowledgeable about both of the sentiments of the students, and the proceedings and issues of the University. I’m a junior, but served in the Army prior to coming to school. I feel that age and experience gives me an additional perspective that would help in representing constituents who, though my peers at school, are also several years younger than me.What are some of your biggest concerns regarding the University? My big concerns are fiscal. Where our tuition goes and how it is spent. Other concerns include SGA/student relations and student/community relations.Kelsey PaquetteMajor: Human Development and Family Studies & Political ScienceClass: 2009 Why do you want to be on SGA Senate? I would like to be a part of the SGA Senate as I feel it is important as a student to be involved in your school as much as possible. I was involved with Student Government throughout high school – I was Co-President of Student Council my senior year; I really loved being a part of this process as it made me feel more connected to my school. This is something I have really missed during my years at UVM and, to that end, something of which I would love to become a part. If you could work toward one accomplishment during your term on Senate, what would it be? I believe it is very important to focus on developing a stronger sense of community here at the University. Particularly as our University continues to grow, it will become increasingly important to focus on how we can make all students feel connected to their school and classmates, and not just a number in the crowd. It is a very exciting time to create this stronger sense of community; the Davis Student Center is just one example of the ever-increasing opportunities available to students at UVM. Furthermore, I believe the Davis Center provides the requisite infrastructure that will encourage increased student involvement and participation, and serve as the perfect hub for current and future student-related activities and groups.Brooke MorrisonMajor: English & FrenchMinor: FilmClass: 2010What are some of your biggest concerns regarding the University? I am concerned about the lack of awareness or (apparent) apathy of the general student population. Many people are unaware of anything Senate does, including things that are much in their interest, such as the passing of certain resolutions. This is evident throughout the school, not just in matters regarding the SGA Senate. I think that it is important for students to learn to take an active inter?est in their elected government, as I think it will foster a more mature and responsible population for the future of our country when concerning the United States government. Why did you choose your respective major? I chose to major in both English and French. I chose to major in French because I am supremely interested in language and other cultures. I have been speaking French all my life and lived for a year in Brussels, Belgium, where the language really ingrained itself in my everyday life. I chose to major in English as well largely because of the same reason; I love language, and studying language and how people can interpret things in such different ways, depending on something as simple as word choice and order. I love literature and reading, and I also love to write and have somewhat of a knack for it. Thus, English was a perfect fit.Vasilis VarsakopoulosMajor: Business AdministrationClass: 2010 If you could work toward one accomplishment during your term on Senate, what would it be? I would like to establish at least one designated training and game field for any of the athletic clubs. Why did you choose your respective major? I have always been interested in the science behind trade and money. Besides economics, which studies market trends, business administration is this science that delves into trade and in specific: marketing, finance, Management Information Systems, and many others. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I believe I have a knack for business administration and eventually, hopefully, I will be able to use this science while running my own business.