The UConn Undergraduate Student Government (USG) presidential elections are set to be held this week, with voting beginning at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 and running until 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 7. The presidential election will be available through the general Vote@UConn ballot, which will include other elections and referendums such as the election for student trustee as well as referendum on tier-III funding requests. There are four student tickets running for student body president and vice president this year: Bryan Bussolari & Olivia DeLuca, Jada Lexie & Heaven Buckham, Lorien Touponse & Arunima Chaturvedi and Mariam Vargas & Anna Charles. According to the Spring 2024 Election Packet provided by USG, the president shall ensure “the overall effectiveness of USG and progress towards goals.” These four tickets provided comment to the Daily Campus regarding how they plan to change the organization, how they plan to advocate for students in the wake of budget cuts and their vision for the future.
Additionally, the candidates were asked to summarize their remarks for each question to under 100 words due to physical space constraints. There is an additional version of this article available on dailycampus.com that will include the full responses given by the candidates.
Bryan Bussolari & Olivia DeLuca
Q: Many students have expressed dissatisfaction with USG, what will your administration do to address community concerns with the organization?
A: We agree! We are both dissatisfied with the lack of action from USG. Oftentimes, USG candidates promise enormous goals of advocacy and shifts to campus culture that unfortunately, USG often doesn’t have the power to do. Students hold very important power and influence through USG, and it is an organization that can push for real change. We believe that dissatisfaction is cured with results. The Transfer Student Welcome Program, Fireside Chats, Employment Transparency, the Academic Bill of Rights, etc. are all changes USG is capable of making, and are beneficial changes that every student will notice in their daily lives.
Q: There is likely to be much contention with university administration over potential budget cuts affecting students in the following years, how will your administration fight for students and funding?
A: We should begin by stating that at the end of the day, it is administration’s responsibility to secure additional funding for our university. The burden of fighting for millions of dollars should not be placed on undergraduate students who already have enough on their plates as it is. Our administration will communicate the anxieties and concerns of undergraduate students to both administration and the university senate, and we will continue to work with the External Affairs committee to bring students who are willing to protest and speak at the capital when students have a responsibility to be there.
Q: Finally, are there any new programs or initiatives that you plan to spearhead or begin if elected?
A: The Transfer Student Welcome Program, Fireside Chats, Employment Transparency, the Academic Bill of Rights, Financial literacy in UNIV classes, Open and accessible syllabus repository, Expanding T2 Funding staff, Increasing the trash cans and bottle fillers on campus, menstrual products in all bathrooms, and communal scooters on campus are all projects that we are excited to hit the ground running on starting day 1. All of these projects are small but important changes that every student will see in your daily life. We look forward to including others when leading these projects, and ultimately making campus a better place for everyone.
Jada Lexie & Heaven Buckham
Q: Many students have expressed dissatisfaction with USG, what will your administration do to address community concerns with the organization?
A: As part of my administration, we are committed to actively listening to the voices of our students and addressing their concerns effectively. It is imperative that the issues plaguing our campus receive the attention they deserve. To facilitate this, we will be implementing monthly forums titled “What pisses you off?” providing students with a platform to express their grievances and ensuring that these matters are taken seriously by the administration.
Q: There is likely to be much contention with university administration over potential budget cuts affecting students in the following years, how will your administration fight for students and funding?
A: In crafting our strategic plan, the foremost consideration is the welfare of our students. While specifics are yet to be finalized, I can assure you that no measure will be implemented that compromises the well-being of our student body. It is imperative that we advocate for our collective interests and ensure that the higher administration acknowledges our significance to the university. Budgetary constraints must not be allowed to undermine our unity. Rest assured, I am committed to fostering cohesion within our community and resolving budgetary concerns in a manner that prioritizes our students’ needs. I’m running my campaign on united us again.. why would I want to destroy that?
Q: Finally, are there any new programs or initiatives that you plan to spearhead or begin if elected?
A key focus of my administration will be supporting students on academic probation, recognizing the challenges they face in transitioning from high school to college. We aim to bolster the resources available on campus, ensuring that students receive the assistance they require to thrive academically. Our goal is to cultivate a nurturing environment within the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), where students feel valued and supported. Central to this initiative is the restoration of unity within our community, where students can trust that their representatives are dedicated to effecting positive change.
Lorien Touponse & Arunima Chaturvedi
Q: Many students have expressed dissatisfaction with USG, what will your administration do to address community concerns with the organization?
This dissatisfaction has been something I’ve been thinking about since I started working in USG. We’re planning to tackle this divide in two ways. First, an RSO outreach program where senators proactively approach clubs periodically. “What issues, concerns, or goals do you have? How can we help?” Second, posting about our events AFTER they occur – which holds us accountable and invites students to attend future events. This is a way for USG to go to our very busy student body instead of expecting them to come to us, giving students the ability to give us feedback without having to seek us out.
Q: There is likely to be much contention with university administration over potential budget cuts affecting students in the following years, how will your administration fight for students and funding?
Administration spends lots of money, they don’t do it transparently or particularly well. We have an opportunity to be at those meetings where they discuss tuition and budget- we’re done leaving this behind closed doors. Inside the meeting, we want to share student voices, testimonies, and data. Outside the meetings, we want to be VERY clear about what is happening, and invite / encourage unified advocacy on fighting these things. Specifically on rising tuition, the next tuition planning board will convene as soon as the next USG president is inaugurated. We will be at every single meeting fighting for tuition freezes.
Q: Finally, are there any new programs or initiatives that you plan to spearhead or begin if elected?
Yes! Our overarching principle and largest initiative is to return USG back to its advocacy roots by bringing resources to students and clubs directly instead of them having come to us. We want to directly work with our advocacy groups on campus to help them achieve their goals. The point of USG is to advocate for students. We can only do that if we are actively working with and for the student body. Some specific goals are to create an online resource hub with all UConn resources that will streamline accessibility in navigating University resources. Also, working to streamline the bias reporting structure for students who have experienced bias related incidents or sexual assault.
Mariam Vargas & Anna Charles
Q: Many students have expressed dissatisfaction with USG, what will your administration do to address community concerns with the organization?
Anna and I have both experienced dissatisfaction with USG. While I am familiar with the system, Anna brings a valuable “outsider” perspective, offering fresh insights. Our goal is to repair campus relationships, especially with minority groups, as we understand their discontent since we are part of these communities, which is why we decided to run. Knowing that there is a lot of red tape in the funding system, we aim to streamline the process. Working with the Comptroller’s office we hope to make funding more accessible. Drawing from our experiences as presidents of RSOs we uniquely notice the cracks in the system and want to address them appropriately.
Q: There is likely to be much contention with university administration over potential budget cuts affecting students in the following years, how will your administration fight for students and funding?
Addressing budget concerns, despite cuts, funding is already there but must be redistributed, with students in mind first. The administration’s lack of transparency and deflection of questions are issues we’ll confront. Our approach isn’t about making connections and friends with admin like other candidates but making sure we are advocating exactly for what students want and need. We want fiscal responsibility, questioning decisions like underutilizing Science 1 when it cost 200 million dollars. Over-enrollment exacerbates problems, leading to issues like housing insecurity. As low-income out-of-state students we both understand and have personal stakes in the matter of the financial burden of rising tuition and related costs.
Q: Finally, are there any new programs or initiatives that you plan to spearhead or begin if elected?
If elected, I’ll release a living-breathing resource document, a project in the works since October, gathering diverse resources for various campus issues and other opportunities. This resource will still be released even if not elected. We’ll advocate for housing security, recognizing the absence of campus support for housing-insecure students. Finally we want to ensure a smooth transition for low-income, minority, and first-gen students from high school to college, addressing the challenges they face. Drawing from personal experience as a student from the Dominican Republic, I understand the importance of accessible resources, ensuring students are aware and supported during their first semester is critical.