SA Executive Board Candidates
by Jon Davenport and Charles Wiff
Peter Grollitsch, the Progress party’s candidate for SA President, feels that his party stands on solid ground. “I formed a ticket of people who I thought were by far the most qualified,” said the junior school of management and business major. “I feel in this year’s elections, as well as last year’s, the most qualified people should be running for these positions.” Grollitsch feels that his extensive experience as the current treasurer of SA affords him the knowledge and skill to best serve the students.
Grollitsch’s running mate, Ashish Abraham, a junior biotechnology major, boasts that his experience as the international clubs coordinator for SA has offered him valuable knowledge and close interaction with many of the clubs under SA’s monetary umbrella. The position of vice president deals primarily with managing the clubs, and Abraham feels his current post has prepared him for that responsibility. Martin’s situation is similar; the treasurer hopeful currently works as assistant bookkeeper for SA.
Some of those quick attainable goals Progress discussed were a storage facility on South Campus for clubs and an alternative gathering spot for students other than the Student Union—Clark Hall being the most convenient choice. They are also planning to take the SA online book exchange from the Internet to a physical space where people can get cheaper books. “We would need to hire someone to manage the books, but once it gets started it could be something that could be really successful,” said Grollitsch. The junior international business major said the exchange could also be located on South Campus, and would be a part of a series of initiatives to boost that campus’ status.
Another initiative the Progress party candidates were quick to mention is a grant proposal for clubs. Grollitsch, as the current treasurer, plans to create a fund from SA money that the clubs, especially the smaller clubs that don’t pull down large budgets, could ask for to fund additional events. The program would be similar to the current Sub Board I Programming Grant, but would be available any time, whereas the Sub Board grants are applied for only twice a year. Grollitsch said the money for the program was already available in the form of an SA surplus.
Martin was quick to point out how the Sub Board grants are threatened by the impending end of Sub Board’s contract with FSA, and that the time for action is now if students want to get any of the $1 million the contract involves. He suggested an extension of the contract. “It really expands and improves everything all across UB,” said Martin. “I think it’s a real smart program and we’d like to keep that going.”
The detailed and fresh plan for SA finances is where Progress shines, and it’s no surprise, considering Grollitsch and Martin’s familiarity with the SA ledger. Both feel that SA could save money by cutting costs, starting with staff members. “We’re up at 95, almost 100 people, and we’re not providing any more than what we did two years ago, when we had 70 people…The extra staff is not providing extra services,” said Grollitsch.
The Progress party is also focusing on increasing the visibility of the executive board, and wanted to assure students that they will be available to them if they are needed. “If it takes me having office hours down at Putnam’s at a table doing work and making that an unofficial office space, they will know I am there for them,” said Abraham.
In terms of the Progress party’s plans for entertainment, they want to see more diverse acts such as a jazz show or even a country act here at UB in addition to the large acts that come for the Spring and Fall Fests.
If there was one thing that Progress repeatedly emphasized, it was their belief that their goals can be accomplished in the short term. “The platform that Progress stands for is in the best interest of the students. We are not feeding them things that will take many, many years to accomplish,” Abraham said.
SA Delegate Candidates
by Josephine Lew and Charles Wiff
“With the University at Buffalo being the biggest school in the SUNY system, it is the delegates’ responsibility to ensure that the student body’s needs are well represented in the SUNY Student Association conferences,” said junior psychology and history major Elias Farah. According to Farah, and the three other delegate-hopefuls running on the Progress ticket, the initial step to achieving this goal is bridging the communication gap between delegates and students by first and foremost informing students of SA Delegate functions. “Not a lot of students understand the duties of a delegate,” Farah said, “and I want to make it so every student does know.”
The Progress party’s choices for delegates—junior psychology major Latrece Seneca, junior international studies and English major Jack Niejadlik, junior biology major Rohan D’Souza, and Farah—plan to bring the delegates closer to students by utilizing all available resources and media outlets, such as the SA website and on-campus publications, to spread awareness about the delegates’ roles. Latrece Seneca also proposed the implementation of on-campus forums and presentations that would help update students on delegates’ findings from SUNY SA conferences, and Niejadlik suggested the formation of a delegate newsletter to accomplish such goals.
Aside from accurately representing students in the SUNY statewide assembly, the candidates are focusing on issues they hold close to heart. While their platform may appear segmented, the Progress candidates feel they will be able to accomplish all their goals even if all four do not make it to the assembly. “We all feel that we’d be able to work with any of the other candidates in the race,” said Jack Niejadlik. “The four of us are still a unit, we’d still be able to come together before these people come into office and say, ‘How can we collectively pool our ideas?’”
Niejadlik avidly supports increasing funding for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), a program providing stipends to economically underprivileged students who have promise, but do not meet admissions standards. “90 percent of these students are going on to graduate work directly or getting jobs in their fields. The success rate is incredible, and for a program like this not to have the funding it needs is just ridiculous,” he said. Niejadlik, who has been active in numerous UB activities ranging from orientation aide to SA Assembly member, also believes in locking in a fixed tuition plan for students, only raising tuition for incoming freshmen. “This is a program that would save money for students because you can better plan [for the future],” said Niejadlik.
Latrece Seneca, president of UB Step Troupe, also hopes to aid students financially by ensuring work-study job positions continue to exist at UB. A work-study student herself, she has a good understanding of the system. “Every year there’s always funding cut, and they try to find different areas to take it away, work-study being one of them. If they’re going to cut down work-study, then there needs to be some collateral, like increasing regular jobs on campus,” said Seneca.
Farah, who has worked in SA’s entertainment department, is concerned that commuter students are not involved with students on campus. “Being a commuter student here at UB is tough because it’s hard for us to meet and interact with other students,” said Farah. Farah believes that an on-campus lounge serving alcohol to students of age is ideal for commuters—“a place where you can relax, socialize, and have a beer,” in his words.
As current chief of staff of UB Athletics, D’Souza’s initiatives include instilling more school pride and team spirit at UB. “We have amazing facilities for our sports teams, some of the best in the country,” said D’Souza. “All we need are for students to play a more active role in supporting these teams.” Among D’Souza’s suggestions is better promotion of the athletics departments and designating choicer student seating at sports events.
“We, as students, understand, and are dedicated to improving this university. Gandhi once said, ‘Be the change you want to be,’” said D’Souza. “It’s one thing to want change. We’re here to make change happen.”
