As the Student Government Association (SGA) presidential election quickly approaches, the SGA has welcomed three new candidates to the campaign. The candidates include a current senator, the current secretary of University policy, and an active member of the Center for Education Policy and Advocacy.

Junior political science major Nathan Lamb is running on the platform that he will better help students. Originally a chemical engineering major and a current member of the Republican Club, Lamb has experience on both the inside and outside of the SGA, which he feels are invaluable additions to his candidacy.

Lamb summed up his motivation for running in an email succinctly.

“I am running for SGA president simply because I want to help students.”

“Everything I will do as president will have a direct impact on the everyday lives of students, making their lives on-campus easier, safer, and more enjoyable,” he went on. “I believe the SGA should begin reaching out more to students and organizations with how we can best help them, rather than wait for them to come to us for help.”

One of the current projects Lamb is working on is the sober driving program called UMass FreeDD, which will be a free, no-questions-asked taxi service to be run by student volunteers.

“I would like to see UMass FreeDD covered,” he said. “It is the proposal that is most revolutionary, the only proposal that will literally save lives and protect futures from dangerous alcohol-induced behavior, and everyone reading this most likely knows someone who has driven drunk before, so it affects literally every student at the University. This is what I am most passionate about, and this is my number-one priority.”

Junior David Robertson is running on a platform that plans to give back to the students in many relevant and unique ways. The self-proclaimed “Meal Plan Guy,” Robertson hopes to work with Dining Services to implement either a dining dollars-based or roll-over swipes plan. Robertson believes either one of these choices would allow students to save money.

Another key component of Robertson’s platform is to continue to work on and expand the textbook swap market. Ambitiously, Robertson plans to expand the electronic selection at the W.E.B. Du Bois library.

An intriguing part of Robertson’s campaign is that he and his running mate, current Associate Speaker of the SGA House Tina Kennedy, “believe that it is unacceptable that students should get penalized just for attending the flagship campus of UMass.” Rumors have circulated that, to counter a current budget shortfall, UMass’ administration may be considering adding a flagship fee, in addition to increasing other student fees.

“Together, Tina and I can use our extensive statehouse experience to make certain that the state understands that the University is a blessing to the Commonwealth, not a nuance,” said Robertson.

Similarly, Robertson wants to try to change the stigma that UMass is a safety school for college applicants.

“Dollar-for-dollar, our education at this campus is fantastic, and we have top-notch world programs here,” he said. “We have great professors and faculty here, and we should be proud of our public school education.”

The third presidential candidate, junior public health major Yevin Roh, says he is running “because the students I have worked to serve since my first year put their faith in me.”

“Various [Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)], co-workers, students, and even faculty said that I could bring the change they wished to see in the SGA,” he said. “That change [is] a student-centric approach that doesn’t just accept – but truly embraces – cultural diversity on campus. I hope to bring about awareness to underrepresented students, and work on student issues to make UMass more affordable, accessible, and accountable to every single student.”

A current member of the Catalyst for Campus Culture Change and an active member on the Code of Student Conduct Review Committee, Roh is also passionate about changing the judicial system at UMass.

“We are a school, not a prison; we must treat students like learners and not as criminals when they violate the code,” he said via email. “The Dean of Students’ office hands out more sanctions than it does diplomas.”

“I am already in the process of working with students and staff to create peer judicial boards,” he added. “I hope that these boards will give students more justice – we are the students of UMass and we know what is acceptable behavior here.”.

Although the UMass system has a president and each campus has a chancellor, in many ways the most powerful body is the Board of Trustees. Each campus is allowed to have a student on the board of trustees.

This student assembly represents each respective campus’ voice in UMass decision-making and student trustees are elected by the students of each campus. Next week, UMass will select either Emily Jacobs, Tina Kennedy or Widlynn Louis to represent them on the Board.

Jacobs, a junior studying political science, has not been involved with the SGA, but has political experience.

“I have a lot of experience in state [politics],” said Jacobs, who interned with Congressman John Olver, was the western regional coordinator for Massachusetts Democrats and the president of UMass Democrats.

Jacobs said her state politics background suits the trustee position better than an SGA background.

With state experience in the area, Jacobs plans to work on the budget.

“There is only a finite amount in the budget,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs also joked about her unique pairing with her running mate, because Lamb is president of the UMass Republicans and she is president of the UMass Democrats.

However, Jacobs clarified, “The SGA is not about partisan politics, it’s about what is best for the students.”

Jacobs also said she likes Lamb because he is new and “not so caught up in the SGA bubble.”

Jacobs also plans to boost student involvement through mobilizing the SGA and increasing and updating the body’s Web presence.

Unlike Jacobs, Trustee candidate Tina Kennedy is currently an active SGA member and holds positions including senator, chair of the finance committee and associate speaker.

Kennedy, 20, said she is ready to be the next student trustee.

“Things need to be changed on a bigger level,” said Kennedy, who calls herself “feisty but rational.”

She said her associate speaker position has given her experience, but limits what she can achieve. She is now ready to “lobby for students on the Board of Trustees.”

Kennedy discussed how she and her running mate, Dave Robertson, are working on a variety of issues, including creating a plan where meal swipes can roll over from one semester to the next, dealing with the $54.5 million budget gap, abolishing a potential flagship fee, getting better advising, continuing work with sustainability-related issues and working with the town of Amherst on lowering alcohol-related fines.

Kennedy also discussed the need for better communication with students.

“No one reads those [Chancellor Robert] Holub emails. They only read ones that say PoliSci 260 canceled,” said Kennedy, who said she is willing to do anything to communicate to students from “dorm-storming” to spray-painting snow banks to inform students.

The third candidate is Widlynn Louis.

“I want to fill the void in the representation of students of color,” explained Louis. “Students of color need to see a student government that [not only] mirrors them but also accessible to them.”

Although lacking SGA experience, Louis has been involved with several political groups on campus, including the Black Student Union, Student Bridges, and the Center for Policy Advocacy.

If elected, Louis hopes to improve the SGA’s relationship with students, create a safer environment, add more comprehensive sexual assault policies and improve child care services.

“The SGA representatives should actively perform as liaisons to RSOs and reach out to the students they represent,” said Louis about communication.

Although admitting her relationship with running mate Yevin Roh has been brief, she said the duo shares “common experience and background” as well as “similar goals and work ethics.” Louis remarked that when Roh asked her to run with him, she “could not say no.”

“I hope to bring a new voice to the SGA that has been underrepresented,” said Louis. “My dedication to the student body will drive me to continue serving them.”

Louis has a recent criminal background. According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s police log for the town of Amherst, Louis was arrested approximately two weeks ago for allegedly assaulting her roommate with a doorknob. The argument was apparently over the replacement of the doorknob, and after police arrived at the residency, Louis was taken into custody on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The presidential candidates and trustees will debate March 2. The elections will take place online March 8- 10.

Ashley Berger can be reached at [email protected] and Sam Hayes can be reached at [email protected].