The Battalion
Monday • March 25, 1996
A 4-page Special Section Pullout
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STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
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Chris Williams — #1
Howdy. For those of you whom I ha\^ not yet
met, my name is Chris Williams, and I a,m a mem
ber of the Class of 1997.
I am a political science major and a p'oud mem
ber of the Corps of Cadets and the nationally fa
mous Rightin' Texas Aggie Band.
As the election days draw near, i-' is important
that you vote for who you feel will cb the best job.
My father always told me that/ability is what
you're capable of doing. Motivatio* determines what
you do. Attitude determines how w^l you do it."
It's crucial that the SBP exemplify these traits, for there
are 40,000 students who will depend on him or her next
year to be their voice in the admin^tration.
My strong upbringing ard the moral beliefs in
stilled in me by my parents have developed my
strong foundation built on these qualities.
As you place your vote, I urge you to vote for
me, not simply because of who I am, but because
of what I stand for — ability, motivation and the
right attitude.
The most vital point I will focus on next year is
uite simple — meeting the basic needs of the stu-
ent body.
What is most important to realize is not what I want as
SBP, but what you want as the student body.
After all, I'm here to represent you.
How will I meet the needs of the students?
Here are just several of the things we will ac
complish next year:
1. Fees
• Because of the large number of increases this
year, I will actively oppose any fee increase next
year (that's just common sense).
2. Services
• I've already helped us get two new parking
garages that will be built on West Campus and by
the library, and I will lobby for a third one on Dun
can Field.
• I will expand the current Day-Care Center pro
posal to allow for increased student accessibility.
• I will provide a bus service to and from home
football games, Bonfire and Muster.
• I will implement class registration over the
computer.
McAllister — #2
Tracey
Experience,integrity, strong leadership.
Through ny involvement and leadershr wit h
Student Govenment, the Memorial Stude'' Center
and Student vctivities, I have had the opportunity
loobserve mny different styles of ma' a 8 ement -
I've lived le successes, but I hav- a ' so witnessed
'-“failures.
I '' r e exp iences provide the basis of my knowl-
%ian<i ^ are the foundations of my platform.
Having se/ed both as vice president and a senator
intk Studeit Government Associaton, I have the
qualifications anl the knowledge to redirect the
course of this ^rgarization.
There are changes that need to be made within the
Student Government in order to encompass the entire
University.
I am ready to make those changes.
As a firm believer in a having a pro-active Texas
A&M Student Body President, I know that this position
needs a candidate ready to take a strong stand on the
issues before the issues in question become campus
wide problems.
I have the experience, the ability to communicate
and the leadership qualities to take -Student Govern
ment and the position of Student Body President to a
new level.
I want to continue to strive to understand the needs
and concerns of the students and effectively represent
those needs.
Our campus and our student body is continuously
growing and changing.
We must be aware of issues such as state appropria
tions, diversity awareness and enrollment in order to
voice an educated student opinion.
Priorities help determine the price we are willing to
pay to realize the things we value most.
My priority is the student body.
I want to take the office of Student Body President
back to the students, where it belongs.
Ryan Shopp — #3
Howdy Ags. My father once told me that, "Commit
ment transforms promises into reality."
Each year we search for a leader with the experience
and commitment to guide us through the next year. We
search for such attitudes as integrity, loyalty, dedication
and motivation.
All five candidates have a plan for how they are go
ing to make A&M a better place for you and I.
What I challenge each and every Ag to do is com
pare the qualifications.
Take the time to look and see who has taken the time
to get involved in a wide variety of areas so they truly
have a complete campus perspective to properly repre
sent you.
Answer the question — What is commitment?
Commitment is what I, Ryan Shopp, offer you as I
chase the dream of serving as your next Student Body
President.
I'm the only candidate who has been involved in all
three branches of Student Government (Executive, Judi
cial and Legislative).
I'm the only candidate who has served as an officer
in numerous major campus organizations (i.e. MSC,
Corps of Cadets, Student Engineers' Council, Honor So
cieties, SGA, etc).
I'm the only candidate who has developed a strong
network of administrative relationships while serving as
SGA University Committees Chair.
And I'm the only candidate who has been able to
maintain academic excellence as an Electrical Engineer
while serving the student body.
So as you can see, not only is a vote for Ryan
Shopp a vote for the only candidate who has a
well-rounded involvement, but it's a vote for the
best candidate.
It would be an honor and a privilege to serve as your
Student Body President.
All I ask of you is to please take the time and go vote
to help me take these commitments and promises to the
next level.
Help me make these a reality for you, the student
body. God bless and Gig 'em.
its:
ial fee
inter:
Bo Armstrong — #4
Fees — We don't have a money problem at Texas
NltM. We lave a management problem."
• Oppo>e all drastic fee increases
• Worl toward decreasing our fees by reforming the
feeallocaion process
• Recpire a 3/5 majority in the Student Senate to ap
prove a fee increase
Stud£nt Needs — "We must stand strong for student
needs by not caving in to the demands of the adminis
ter. "
•Develop strategies for building apartment-style
dorms on West Campus
•Develop on-line registration
•Keep low-cost housing available and maintained
Parking — "Parking problems are a tradition I want
to shatter."
• Open many of the 24-hour reserved spaces after 5:30
p.m. and on weekends
• Support the current plans for a parking garage on
West Campus
• Address all questions about the PTTS budget
Student Voice — "The student voice is the most important
issue on this campus — the students deserve to be heard."
• Establish a committee to open communication be
tween students and the Board of Regents
• Improve the library's computing services
• Expand minority images by pursuing projects like the
Matthew Gains statue
GENERAL QUESTIONS
How is your platform feasible? — First, the money
for many projects (building new dorms, building a
new parking garage) has already been allocated into
the A&M budget. What we should be concerned with
is how we spend this money. Do we want to build
more modular dorms or do we want to build apart
ment-style dorms with kitchenettes?
How can we decrease fees? — Decreasing fees is a
viable option if we can get the state to fund their own
requirements. Currently, A&M spends $14 million in
meeting unfunded faculty merit increases and ORP (a
retirement plan) mandates from the state. If the state
would simply fund its own mandates, we would have
$14 million more a year to repair dorms, increase finan
cial aid or lower fees.
Is this possible? — Absolutely. There are already state
legislators working on this problem. It is up to us to let
them know that through these unfunded mandates, they
are hurting students from all across the state.
Carl Baggett — #5
Howdy. I'm running for Student Body President be
cause I believe I can make a difference.
I love Texas A&M University and want only the best
for it.
I have participated in the MSC, Student Government,
the Corps of Cadets, Bonfire, and I have gained a wide
variety of experience through these different leadership
positions throughout the University.
Because I have such a diverse range of experiences, I
feel qualified to lead this University into the future.
I want this opportunity so that I can make a differ
ence.
I believe that the true voice of Texas A&M can come
only though the students.
Therefore, we should conduct surveys through
Measurement and Research Services to find out the
average student's opinions and thus the voice of
Texas A&M.
I believe that I will be the channel through which
students can most effectively communicate their needs
and opinions.
Therefore, students need to have more input over
ever-increasing fees since they have definite opinions
on the subject.
I believe that I will bring this campus together by
promoting communication and unity among our diverse
student groups.
Therefore, an executive council composed of mem
bers of student groups should meet and discuss all cam
pus issues and foster lines of communication.
I believe that every student has the right to capitalize
on the University's strengths.
Therefore, since much of the University's
strength comes from traditions, we should endow
committees such as Bonfire, Fish Camp and Replant
for our postferity.
I believe that being Student Body President involves
representing and being available to all students.
Therefore, the Student Body President must be acces
sible to students by eating lunch in dining halls and
having a table set up in the MSC.
I believe in the pillars I have identified in my plat
form as the keys to future successes.
I believe that actions speak louder than words.
Therefore, I will make a better tomorrow.