Profiling the Candidates for SGA's E-Board

From March 8-10, SGA E-board elections will be taking place for the 2010-11 school year. Elections for Vice-President and Secretary positions will take place on those dates. Mitch Vieira and Ed Plamowski officially hold next year's President and Treasurer positions. An open forum with the remaining candidates will take place on February 25 at C. Walsh Theater at 1p.m.

Mitch Vieira – President

Hometown: Seekonk, MA

Year: 2011

Major: Government

Years Served on SGA: 3 (current Treasurer)

"As President, I have an ambitious plan to move SGA forward and to increase its capacity to serve the students of this University:

• Reach out to the students that are not involved in clubs and organizations. By doing this, it will help SGA to gain a better understanding of what the entire student body needs. We are here to serve everyone and it is important that we strive to do so.

• Work collaboratively with the Senators and Executive Board of SGA to improve the image and function of the organization. It is time for SGA to look at itself and reflect on its strengths and identify weaknesses for improvement.

• Increase outreach to student clubs and organizations. This is something that is a major responsibility of the President and is one that I take seriously. We need to work together with all clubs and organizations to better serve our fellow students.

• With the current state of flux in the University Administration, it is time for the students have a say in their university's future. I will work hard to get a student trustee seat on the Board of Trustees. This is essential to making sure that the voice of the student is heard loud and clear. I also believe that this seat should not be filled by someone on the Executive Board of SGA. To go along with this, it is also important that the students have a voice on the various committees that make major decisions that affect us. I will work to make this happen.

• Push the issue of a real Student Center on campus that can properly serve the needs of all of Suffolk's students. There have been many plans put forth and the idea gains steam then hits a wall. It is necessary to force the issue to ensure that the student's needs are being addressed.

• Push for greater transparency in SGA. This can be accomplished by ensuring that the legislation that was passed in the fall semester is properly carried out. This will greatly benefit all students that seek information from SGA.

• This upcoming year brings a mandatory review of the SGA Constitution. It is vital that we give this important document a thorough review that will help SGA operate effectively. To coincide with this review, I will work with the Senate and Executive Board to do Strategic Planning in the organization to help review the Mission, Vision, and Goals of SGA. This process is complimentary to the Constitutional review and will help to ensure the necessary focus on important issues.

Next year will be an important year for Suffolk as many major decisions are made that will affect all of us. It is important to have a proven leader and advocate there to serve you."

Martha Alvarado – Vice-Presidential Candidate

Hometown: Chelsea, MA

Year: 2013

Major: Government

Years Served: 1 (current Senator)

"I've been on SGA for one year now and have been very involved in the process of unified evaluations as well as the extension of library hours. I'm running for VP in order to improve the one on one relationship between students and the administration. I hope to create better relationships with all students and not necessarily with clubs, because we aren't elected by clubs but by students.

I think that there is a lot of change that needs to happen in SGA and that includes more transparency and more communication with students. I believe that I can bring those changes especially since I bring in a fresh and unbiased perspective."

Jeff Cyr – Vice-Presidential Candidate

Hometown: Stoughton, MA

Year: 2011

Major: Politics Law and the Courts

Years Served on SGA: 1 (former Vice-President and President of SPSA)

"I am running for the Vice Presidency of the Student Government because this organization needs to be revamped. I've been a class senator; working for transparency between the organization and the university and I feel I am the best candidate to lead SGA in a new direction. Being President of the Student Political Science Association for a year and a half, I have the experience of leading a club on campus; and I feel the transparency between the clubs and SGA are lacking. One of my goals is to improve relations between SGA and the clubs on Suffolk's campus. I will not sit in the SGA office like the incumbent, but I will be with the clubs in their offices seeing and addressing their needs."