Two team’s campaign efforts will culminate March 1-3 for UVUSA student body elections. Student body officers for the 2010-2011 year will be elected by the general student body.
The two teams running are Team Elevate and Team UVUnited. Team elevate is headed by Richard Portwood, running for Student Body President. Portwood has served on UVUSA for three years now where he currently resides as UVUSA Executive Vice President. Clint Pulver, current UVUSA Communications department representative, is running as Portwood’s Executive Vice President. Chris Loumeau, current UVUSA Woodbury School of Business representative, is running for Vice President of Academics and Sarah Standing, current UVUSA Activities Chair, is running for Vice President of Student Life.
“Our name is synonymous with everything we want to do,” said Portwood. Team Elevate hopes to help students and the university climb the mountain of success as represented by the ‘V’ in their logo. Portwood said he feels we still had a lot to do to fully achieve serious university status. “There are no limits to what we can do,” he said.
When asked about their platforms Portwood mentioned he would like to keep the focus on more academic things without loosing the “social aspect important to any university experience.” Team Elevate wants to use their influence as part of student government to work with the many on-campus organizations to maximize student success.
Team UVUnited is being headed up by Michael Spurrier. Nathan Lambson is running as Spurrier’s Executive Vice President with Daniel Diaz, currently resident engagement coordinator for the Office of Student Involvement, as Vice President of Academics and Tess Seymour, currently serving as a Vice President of LDSSA, as Vice President of Student Life.
“The ultimate purpose of our platform is to just get people involved in something,” said Spurrier. “We want to get people involved with campus life.” Spurrier described his team as formerly disgruntled students looking to make some real changes. As their team name suggests, UVUnited hopes to build unity in the student body. They plan on doing this by getting students involved in their objectives; namely the beautification of campus and the continued expanding of the current go green initiatives. While defining the ‘beautification’ of campus Spurrier explained he and his team would like to get rid of the current “green factory look” with the addition of xeriscapes, vegetable gardens and zen gardens. UVUnited also hopes to restore the Bunnel home, located in the middle of campus, to a free student art gallery.
When asked about his preference in teams Trevor Tooke, current Student Body President, said, “I think they are both awesome, I’m really impressed with both of them.”
Tooke described his retirement as Student Body President as bittersweet. “It will be nice,” Tooke said. He hopes to focus on school and enjoy free time with his wife and new baby for a couple of semesters before applying for grad school Spring 2012.
To vote, visit the University home page at www.uvu.edu and login to UVLink. Click on the new link on the left side of the home tab under ‘Voting’ for links to the team websites or to cast your vote.
Voting begins Monday, March 1 at 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and will continue on Tuesday, March 2 from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Wednesday, March 3 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Results will be announced Wednesday at 6 p.m. in SC 213. Results can also be seen on the UVUSA home page.
Team info:
Want to see these teams debate about their platforms?
Be in Centre Stage March 2 at 12 p.m.
TEAM ELEVATE
Richard Portwood – Student Body President
Clint Pulver – Executive Vice President
Chris Loumeau – Vice President of Academics
Sarah Standing – Vice President of Student Life
Dedication to Education
Advocate for a more engaged and a more serious institution
Additional academic speakers and relevant debates
Increase student participation in faculty evaluations
Loyalty and Pride for our university
Establish and continue school traditions
Create additional areas for students to lounge and stay connected to campus
Implement events and activities that better meet students’ interests
Access to and awareness of student resources
Raise awareness about opportunities for student success
Introduce a computer rental program
Collaborate with campus organizations to centralize information for students
UVUNITED
Michael Spurrier – Student Body President
Nathan Lambson – Executive Vice President
Daniel Diaz – Vice President of Academics
Tess Seymour – Vice President of Student Life
Campus Beautification
Increase student art throughout the campus
Restore the Bunnel House into a free student art gallery
Zen garden and other gardens on campus
Expansion
Utilize all campus facilities such as the Wasatch Campus for Student activities and academic lectures
Increase student awareness of on-campus services
Help build lifelong collegiate relationships by creating an aware and positive environment of engaged students
Super Green
Environmental Issue Awareness – Students need to know what is happening to and in our planet
Increased Plastic recycling locations on campus
Increased paper and cardboard recycling
Using green materials in cafeteria and other food distributors
I wasn’t going to vote just because the student body doesn’t really do anything and winning would just pad their little resumés..but reading about how free loving hippy UVUnited is, I’d like to cast my lot against them
Well Alex, I am curious about your thoughts on things student government could do to improve. We are open to any and all suggestions. I think you would be surprised how much UVUSA does for the student body….