STUDENTSENATE

ELECTION GUIDE

STUDENT SENATEELECTION GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 What is student senate?

How to vote

Candidate profiles

Student senate accomplishments

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MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 3

Grand Valley State University’s student senate works to ensure that the students’ voices are continually heard by the university. The student senate is open to all majors, and is comprised of 50 students, who serve on one of seven different committees. The committees are: Senate Resources, Finance, Campus Affairs, Educational Affairs, Diversity Affairs, External Relations and Public Relations. All seven committees work to enhance student life, academics and the overall student experience at GVSU.

WHAT IS STUDENT SENATE?

Student senate works to:• Investigate & resolve common

student problems• Advocate for the inclusion of

students in the decision-making processes of the university

• Promote awareness of the role students play in the community

• Enhance the quality of education, inside & outside the classroom

• Empower students with leadership opportunities

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

Student senate is here to represent YOU! Stop by our general assembly meetings Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. in the Pere Marquette Room in the Kirkhof Center and voice your opinions about issues. Fill out our online form if you see something that you believe should be changed about GVSU. Additionally, vote in this election for people that you believe are qualified to serve you on student senate.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN4 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS

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Go to:www.gvsu.edu/studentsenate

Click on elections tab

Read the Lanthorn election guide

Click on the ballot link Vote for up to

10 candidates*

*If you can’t find 10 candidates you want to vote for, write-in candidates are accepted, and can beat out students on the ballot.

HOW TO VOTE

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MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 5

MALAYNA HASMANIS

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Special needs educationHOMETOWN: Charleston, SCINVOLVEMENT: Phi Mu, Panhellenic Association, Eyes Wide Open, Transitions, First Year Leadership Experience, Laker Traditions Team, BRCAn’t Stop Me, Greeks Against Sexual Assault & Colleges Against Cancer

PLATFORM:• To allow for the voices of the student body to be heard• To strive to make American Sign Language supported as a foreign language cognate• To make the student body more aware of educational advancements and developments

KEVIN CHUI

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: Biomedical sciencesHOMETOWN: Otsego, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Pre-med club, Pre-SOMA club, Eyes Wide Open & Laker Traditions Team

PLATFORM:• Continue to make Mackinac Hall easier to navigate• Create a sexual assault victim support group• Ensure the return of bonfires to campus

SEAN O’MELIA

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: BroadcastingHOMETOWN: Grosse Pointe Woods, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Laker Traditions Team, Resident Assistant & Whale Radio

PLATFORM:• Leave a positive mark on GVSU• Give back to the students & university• Work on a variety of projects & tasks

MICHAEL SULLIVAN

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Political scienceHOMETOWN: Petoskey, MIINVOLVEMENT: College Republicans, Student Senate & Delta Upsilon fraternity

PLATFORM:• Increase student civic involvement in our local communities• Raise awareness of the disproportionate allocation of tuition assistance by the state• Increase voter registration among the student body• Create a safe and friendly campus for all students

GREG ZIEGENFELDER

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: UndecidedHOMETOWN: Troy, MIINVOLVEMENT: Laker Traditions Team, Spotlight Productions, Whale Radio & Circle K

PLATFORM:• Be more involved on campus• Be a voice for the students• Create leadership retreats• Facilitate more interaction between students & senators

JULIA STURVIST

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Public & nonprofit administrationHOMETOWN: Cheboygan, MIINVOLVEMENT: Alpha Omicron Pi, Laker Traditions Team, ASAP & Student Senate

PLATFORM:• Have more collaboration with student organizations• Continue my work with reaching out to local charities & creating ties to GVSU• Honestly represent our 25,000 students

WALTER SCHAUB

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: International relationsHOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, MIINVOLVEMENT: Rowing Club

PLATFORM:• Expand multicultural awareness & promote study abroad • Encourage & assist in voter registration• Broaden awareness & support for club sports at GVSU• Engage in efforts to ensure affordable college tuition

OLIVIA KOLC

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Accounting & financeHOMETOWN: Farmington Hills, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Phi Chi Theta & STAR-Make a Wish

PLATFORM:• Bring back strong leadership & ideas • Encourage diplomatic perspective• Give student organizations the funding they deserve

NICHOLAS KAPUSTA

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Hospitality & tourism managementHOMETOWN: Leonard, MIINVOLVEMENT: Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Laker Traditions Team, Greek Intervarsity & First Year Leadership Experience

PLATFORM:• Focus on internal relations • Increase sustainability efforts• Improve communication among organizations• Facilitate inter-committee connectedness

EMMA HAHS

JONATHAN BOWMAN

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Cell & molecular biologyHOMETOWN: New Lenox, ILINVOLVEMENT: First Year Leadership Experience, StrengthsQuest, W-STEM, ANCHOR & Science is Awesome Club

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: Political scienceHOMETOWN: Brighton, MIINVOLVEMENT: Residence Housing Association & Student Senate

PLATFORM:• Make student senate easier to contact for the student body & the faculty• Set up a system to notify the student body & faculty about upcoming events & on the status of projects student senate is working on

PLATFORM:• Improve campus dining• Work on off-campus bus routes• Continue work with disability services & campus recreation

ELIZABETH LIEBERTZ

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Political science & international relationsHOMETOWN: Grand Haven, MIINVOLVEMENT: Law Society, Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, Belly Dance Club & Student Senate

PLATFORM:• Increase sexual assault awareness• Increase sex trafficking awareness• Help students participate in civic engagement• Add community service/local volunteer opportunities

MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN6 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS

BROOKLYN GOLNICK

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: International relations& anthropologyHOMETOWN: Grayling, MIINVOLVEMENT: Residence Housing Association, Community Council, Anthropology Club & Outdoor Intramural Soccer

PLATFORM:• Provide students with a positive experience • Create a sense of community on campus• Help students become “Lakers for a Lifetime”

RACHEL TRAVIS

MATTHEW CRIADO-CANO

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: Supply chain management & marketingHOMETOWN: Shepherd, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, American Production & Inventory Control Society, Student Leadership Development Program, Beta Gamma Sigm & Phi Kappa Phi

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: International relations & economicsHOMETOWN: Ada, MIINVOLVEMENT: College Republicans & Latino Student Union

PLATFORM:• Continue making improvements to the funding process • Improve communication to the student body• Make student organizations feel more comfortable requesting funding

PLATFORM:• Make student voices heard • Provide a healthy environment for student discussion• Act as a representative for student concerns

STEPHEN COOPER

ANNA SZALAY

AMELA MANDZUKIC

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Marketing & managementHOMETOWN: Gaylord, MIINVOLVEMENT: Intervarsity, Campus Ministry & Phi Gamma Delta fraternity

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Secondary education & historyHOMETOWN: Dearborn, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Backpacking Club & Alternative Breaks

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Comprehensive science & arts for teachingHOMETOWN: Sterling Heights, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Residence Housing Association

PLATFORM:• Implement a new transfer student orientation program• Work to reduce our parking costs• Increase the frequency of the 37 Rapid• Make more Snapchat geo-filters• Increase interaction between the Pew & Allendale campuses

PLATFORM:• Increase community service/volunteer opportunities• Facilitate voter registration• Work on the Know Your Rights project• Rock the Vote

PLATFORM:• Encourage leadership on campus

MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 7

NOELLE MILADANDY OEFFNER

STEVEN HENLEY BETH HOPKINS

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: Human resource managementHOMETOWN: Plymouth, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Laker Traditions Team

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Political scienceHOMETOWN: Hartland, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Political science & communication studiesHOMETOWN: Hopkins, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Law Society

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: Political science & economicsHOMETOWN: Chicago, ILINVOLVEMENT: Alpha Omicron Pi & Students for Education Innovation

PLATFORM:• Inform students on student senate issues• Reach out to students for ideas to better our community• Facilitate a relationship between students & the senate

PLATFORM:• Advocate for lights & sidewalks off campus• Increase voter registration & civic engagement• Encourage community service

PLATFORM:• Educate students about their rights• Register students to vote• Create volunteer opportunities for students

PLATFORM:• Represent a diverse group of students• Make student voices heard• Help students make their ideas a reality

ELLA FRITZEMEIERMADDIE RHOADES

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: Economics & financeHOMETOWN: Chelsea, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Resident Assistant, National Residence Hall Honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society & Alternative Breaks

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Public & nonprofit administration HOMETOWN: Howell, MIINVOLVEMENT: Eyes Wide Open & Student Senate

PLATFORM:• Ensure students’ voices are heard by administration by asking their opinions about issues• Work on disconnect between off-campus apartments & on-campus housing• Continue work on civic engagement opportunities with Allendale & Grand Rapids• Work on collaboration among student organizations

PLATFORM:• Promote gender equality• Make GVSU inclusive to people of all demographics• Educate others about sexual assault awareness

MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN8 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS

MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 9

JAKOB BIGARD

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: International relationsHOMETOWN: Mount Pleasant, MIINVOLVEMENT: None

PLATFORM:• Voice the opinions of students of all backgrounds • Achieve real civic engagement with students, faculty & the community

ALEXANDER TURNBULL

YEAR: SeniorMAJOR: Biochemistry & biomedi-cal sciencesHOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, MIINVOLVEMENT: Pre-Med Club & Science is Awesome Club

PLATFORM:• Increase the number of science majors on student senate

JOHN VANDAELE

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Political scienceHOMETOWN: Freeland, MIINVOLVEMENT: Young Americans for Freedom, College Republicans & Campus Crusade for Christ

PLATFORM:• Create a better environment for students• Connect students to the outside community• Create a safe & stress-free environment for everyone

CASEY STAMPER

ASHLEY KOLTZ

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: AccountingHOMETOWN: Petoskey, MIINVOLVEMENT: None

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Finance & accountingHOMETOWN: South Lyon, MIINVOLVEMENT: Young Professionals Group, Food & Nutrition Club & Honors College Mentor

PLATFORM:• Add funds to improve community involvement• Work toward improving the student life budget• Seek to improve financial burden of GVSU students

PLATFORM:•Make a difference in the lives of students• Make positive changes at GVSU• Give back to the Laker community

NIKHIL WATSA

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: PhysicsHOMETOWN: Troy, MIINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate, Laker Traditions Team, Phi Gamma Delta, Society of Physics Students & Resident Assistant

PLATFORM:• Grow the relationship between GVSU & the greater Grand Rapids community• Develop a sustainable alumni mentorship program• Increase voter registration among students• Advocate for an increase in state funding for GVSU

BRANDON FITZGERALD

YEAR: SeniorMAJOR: NursingHOMETOWN: Detroit, MIINVOLVEMENT: Transitions, Student Senate, Student Nurses Association & Student Diversity Coalition

PLATFORM:• Advocate for persons of marginalized backgrounds • Ensure GVSU is accessible & inclusive to all• Speak on behalf of students who vote for him

AMINAH MUHAMMAD

JEREMY TURNBULL

YEAR: SeniorMAJOR: Allied health sciencesHOMETOWN: Chicago, ILINVOLVEMENT: Alpha Kappa Psi & You Beautiful Black Woman

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: English & mathematicsHOMETOWN: London, UKINVOLVEMENT: Student Senate & Laker Traditions Team

PLATFORM:• Strengthen GVSU’s community • Add a diverse perspective to student senate

PLATFORM:• Work on internal resources of the student senate • See the student senate work together more efficiently• Develop leadership & professional skills for senators

RILEY BURCH

RACHEL JENKIN

DELANDO DAVIS-WRIGHT

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: Political science & legal studiesHOMETOWN: Traverse City, MIINVOLVEMENT: Young Americans for Freedom, College Republicans, 4-H & Rotary

YEAR: FreshmanMAJOR: PsychologyHOMETOWN: Brownstone, MIINVOLVEMENT: Community Council, GVSU Theater, GVTV, Intervarsity & In the Margins Poetry Club

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: International business & liberal studiesHOMETOWN: Detroit, MIINVOLVEMENT: Alpha Phi Omega, AIM, Whale Radio & NAACP

PLATFORM:• Ensure GVSU maintains outstanding academic programs• Maintain social opportunities for students

PLATFORM:• Bring in various cultural events• Facilitate networking opportunities for students• Encourage students to get involved on campus

PLATFORM:• Facilitate more multicultural cooperation• Create more community outreach• Inform students about the upcoming presidential election

MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN10 | STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS

KYRA HULL

YEAR: JuniorMAJOR: AnthropologyHOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, MIINVOLVEMENT: Track & field team

PLATFORM:• Listen to & advocate for student interests• Use the senate as a voice of student opinion & dissent• Create more transparency in faculty governance

DAN ZIEGENFELDER

YEAR: SophomoreMAJOR: Advertising & public relationsHOMETOWN: Troy, MIINVOLVEMENT: Laker Traditions Team, Student Senate, Whale Radio & Alternative Breaks

PLATFORM:• Communicate the students’ voice to the senate & inform the students of senate’s actions• Host more events to gain more student feedback• Create videos to provide students with more knowledge of what student senate does

BRIANNA PANNELL

YEAR: SeniorMAJOR: CommunicationsHOMETOWN: Detroit, MIINVOLVEMENT: Black Student Union, Student Diversity Coalition & Voices of GVSU

PLATFORM:• Work for the greater good of the GVSU community• Work with both faculty & students to improve efficiency & effectiveness

MARCH 28, 2016GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS | 11

NOT FEATURED IN ELECTION GUIDE:

Changed the holiday lights housing policy

Registered over 100 students to vote

Passed a resolution in support of transgender health care being made available to Lakers

Held our annual Last Lecture event, featuring Dean of Students Bart Merkle

Changed the cultural & Greek life funding boards

Passed a resolution in support of the creation of a human rights minor

Helped to get lighting on Pierce Street

Continued to work diligently to have a fall break

Passed a resolution in support of a new digital studies minor

Created an active shooter program for students’ safety preparedness

Sponsored the first annual Mental Health Awareness Week in collaboration with the Counseling Center

Co-sponsored the third annual Teach-In with the University Academic Senate, drawing a record attendance of 1,500 participants

Represented students on over 40 different university committees with faculty & staff

& more!

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STUDENT SENATEACCOMPLISHMENTS

These candidates will still be running in the election & will be on the ballot

Raid El-KhawajaAmandalynn Rogers

STUDENT SENATEELECTION GUIDE