Senatorial Candidates: At-Large

There are 10 seats open for At-Large Senators and 14 candidates running.

Michael Banks (Commit)

I will represent the student body and make sure all of their voices are heard and concerns are addressed. I will be accessible and and ensure that they can come to me to address their needs. I will work to improve campus facilities and services, making the university a better place for students.

The three initiatives I seek to complete during my term in office are a fitness buddy program, increased awareness and effectiveness of mental health resources, and improved communication between professors and students.

Charlie Kim (Raad Kim)

The student body will benefit from my involvement with the Student Government Association through my organizational skills and leadership that enables me to smoothly facilitate the needs of the student body and to make actual change. As someone who has played their whole life on the soccer field and has continued with club soccer at UGA, I believe that teamwork is one of the most important aspects of a strong campaign. I think a good leader can delegate roles when needed and communicate/listen to their team to make sure all voices are heard. By highly valuing teamwork here at UGA, we can come together with a united cause, where we can work together to help us all benefit. With recent years in a pandemic and other social dilemmas, I think we are finally gaining some momentum here in Athens. We deserve a team in the senate that has a passion for helping others and a high value in trust, hard work, and consistency.

Three initiatives I seek to complete during my term in office include creating new programs and outlets for student mental health, upgrading Tate center dining selection, and creating volunteer programs for cleaning up the UGA campus and city of Athens. Prioritizing and further emphasizing student mental health not only helps better the Bulldog culture, but can generate higher impacts across campus and also give a voice and outlet to those who need or who are unaware of where to go when seeking help. Working with the UGA health center and creating new promotions, systems, and services can help address mental health for students in a big way. Tate Center currently only has 3 dining selections, and causes a massive build up at peak times, causing a loss in student time and potential revenue for UGA. By adding an additional option in the Tate Center, this can benefit the University and students all at once. Creating a fundraiser, donation, or drive, or petition to the University can help have this be done. Finally, we can further clean up around campus, downtown, and waterways by adding new volunteering across campus and through the involvement network to create a campus wide, Clean Up Day.

Noah Ring (Commit)

I have strong communication and interpersonal skills, which will allow me to listen to the concerns and needs of my fellow students and effectively advocate for them to the administration. I am also a skilled negotiator, which will enable me to find common ground and make compromises when necessary, in order to find solutions that are in the best interest of the student body. In addition, I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which will help me to stay on top of my responsibilities as a senator and ensure that I am effectively carrying out my duties. I also have a strong commitment to transparency, and believe in keeping the student body informed about my actions and decisions, as well as the work of the Student Government Association as a whole.

Parking Solutions: Address the issue of limited and congested parking on campus by working with the administration to find solutions, such as adding new parking structures, implementing a carpooling program, and increasing the availability of alternative transportation options. Increased Transparency: Promote increased transparency in the operations of the university and the Student Government Association, such as through regular town hall meetings, the publication of meeting minutes, and the establishment of a feedback mechanism for students to provide input and suggestions. Town Hall Meetings: Organize regular town hall meetings to provide students with the opportunity to voice their concerns and discuss issues with university administrators, student government representatives, and other members of the student body. This could help to build a stronger sense of community and ensure that the needs and concerns of the student body are being heard and addressed.

Sara Steinmeyer

If I am elected as an At-Large Senator, I vow to work on initiatives that not only tackle the student body’s needs but also their wants. It is imperative to me that the student body feels heard and that their concerns, no matter how big or small, are treated earnestly. Thus, I plan to be in constant contact with the student body via coffee hours, surveys, and more so that I can be sure to make UGA the place the student body wants it to be.

More parking options for students commuting from off-campus housing Reorganize the bus routes/hours to ensure maximum transportation efficiency The implementation of Paw Points in certain downtown Athens establishments

Nikolaj Todorovski (Commit)

I will benefit the student body as a whole, because of my work ethic and my resolve. Once I put my mind on something it is very hard to stop me from achieving what I want. I also bring previous leadership experience to the table, with being an officer for a club, being president of Model UN for my high school club. This all means that being on SGA will not be foreign to me.

One of the things I would like to complete is having more diversity with food at our dinning commons. For me personally I can’t eat meet or dairy for religious reasons during certain times during the year, and it can be frustrating when their are limited food options, so I wish to expand more food options so that they are more inclusive. This would ensure that students could be fed properly and go to class on a full stomach. My second thing is making sure the logistics of our bus routes are better. As someone who frequently is at Driftmier, it is hard to catch buses towards next classes, or even catching the shuttle home. Improving the bouse routes will make sure that students do not loose precious time that they could be studying. My last initiative is to make sure that students have a complete understanding of all the clubs available on campus. For myself I have found clubs have helped me find my closest friends, and this is what why it is important for students to understand their options. I would help to make it easier for clubs to table and get the word out, so that people can join them.

Dylan Cuozzo

The student body will benefit from my involvement in the Student Government Association because of my experience in roles like this. Since I first arrived on campus I have made it my mission to connect with people and come up with creative ideas to help peoples daily lives, and overall just add excitement to what can be sometimes a monotonous life on campus. For example, within my fraternity I have already implemented a new system in which we recycle and reuse goods and waste more efficiently than in years prior. On top of this, I have spearheaded sports tournaments within my fraternity as a way to connect with each other and experience new things. In addition, I also believe that the student body will benefit from my involvement because of my experiences surrounding mental health awareness. I feel as though mental health is not talked about enough at the University, and I know that if elected, I will be an outspoken advocate for mental health on campus.

One initiative that I seek to complete during my term in office is to create a partnership with men’s mental health organizations, such as humen.org, to promote more awareness for men’s mental health. A second initiative that I am seeking to complete during my time in office is some type of incentive for recycling on campus, in hopes that this would increase recycling efforts campus. A third initiative that I am seeking to complete on campus is to give more incentives for students to work on campus, particularly in the dining halls. Many students are in dire need of money, so promoting jobs to students through different incentives, such as priority registration would allow for students to get jobs while also filling unemployment on campus.

Marshall Magruder (Commit)

I have some previous experience working with faculty and students on campus. With these experience I feel that I would make a good fit to serve as a Senator to continue to improve and work on initiatives around campus.

If I am elected to Senate I would like to work on potentially having a better system on ELC where students can see all of their due dates in a central location. It can be difficult to search through multiple websites just to see when assignments are due and I feel that students would benefit from that. I would also want to find a way to continue to improve the organization of IM sports. Currently the website is a mess and difficult for students to navigate, so I would want to find a way to improve that. I would also want to find a way to get dining hall workers free parking passes for their specific locations.

Hugh Saussy

The student body will benefit from my involvement in SGA by having someone who has a foot in many different areas of the university and can represent many people.

  1. The Bus to UGA app relationship. The app is inconsistent and unreliable. The buses are constantly changing, and the UGA app needs to be updated and available for use.
  2. Advisors should have the option of booking appointments on Sundays to help better fit the schedules of the Advisor and Student.
  3. Many of the older buildings around campus are not handicap accessible. Ramps and elevators need to be improved and installed.

Baylor Thompson (Commit)

I will represent the organizations that I am involved in and the colleges I am a part of with the utmost respect and reverence for what my organizations represent to the Georgia community.

I would like to make changes to UGA parking. Three in particular are lowering the cost of parking spots, lowering ticket prices, and being more forgiving on the hours of parking during the day.

Sam Woodrow (Commit)

As a Senator in the University’s Student Government Association, I am dedicated to representing our ever so diverse student body. I am committed to improving the safety and security of our campus, and cultivating the best possible student experience. Having served a full term on the Budget and Oversight Committee as a First-Year Senator this past year, I have gained vital experience in the University’s Senate. Working with my fellow senators and University administration, I understand the inter-workings of the Senate that are necessary in order to properly represent my constituents and follow through on initiatives benefiting our school. As a Senator, my goal is to listen to the concerns of those I represent and improve the student experience on and off campus.

1. Bringing to-go cups to the dining halls on campus- With the implementation of reusable plastic to-go boxes and even disposable soup containers, the question is: Why do we not have a disposable plastic cup option to go along with these? During the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, the University’s dining halls utilized disposable dishware, so it is viable. Along with this, East Campus Village’s Joe Frank Harris Commons occasionally experiments with completely disposable dishware, which includes these to-go cups. A main concern with the addition of disposable cups is the waste that it would create. This can be combated by following the already in place system for to-go items being kept at the scan-in desk, limiting the unnecessary use of the cups, and the use of recyclable cups. 2. The addition of speed bumps or a crosswalk on the curves of University Ct. adjacent to Oglethorpe House- Oglethorpe Dining Commons is one of the most popular dining halls for the Freshman class due to its close proximity to the Freshman Dorms. University Ct. is a fairly busy road, and at times, traffic is moving much faster than it should be. This poses a safety concern to pedestrians walking to and from the Freshman Dorms, as there is simply not a clear path for pedestrians to safely take. 3. Free parking for student employees- Many facets of the University’s operations, especially dining, are dealing with aspects of labor shortages. These issues directly effect the student body experience in a negative way. The implementation of free parking for student employees would offer and additional incentive for students around campus to work in dining, transportation, etc. This would alleviate some of the pressure of labor issues on some of the University’s operations and lead to an overall better student experience.

Stanley Gillis

The study body will benefit from my involvement in the Student Government Association because I will support other student clubs and organizations. I want to ensure that everyone around campus feels loved and involved.

During my term in office, I wish to improve the healthy options at the dining hall and Tate student center, create a student job opportunity for students to give other students rides for money, and reward student’s for going to sporting events that usually have low attendance.

Coln Raad (Raad Kim)

The student body will benefit greatly from my involvement with the Student Government Association through my open-door policy leadership and commitment to accountability and change. Being accountable for your fellow students and those that put trust in you is something that is the number one priority to my campaign. The value of trust, leadership, and being a friend is held in a very high regard. In furtherance, there should always be an importance of hard work and dedication towards my and other involvement, as being a member of the Student Government Association puts myself and my ticket into a selfless role to help benefit myself, classmates, and the university to positively progress.

Three initiatives I seek to complete during my term in office include creating new programs and outlets for student mental health, upgrading Tate center dining selection, and creating volunteer programs for cleaning up the UGA campus and city of Athens. Prioritizing and further emphasizing student mental health not only helps better the Bulldog culture, but can generate higher impacts across campus and also give a voice and outlet to those who need or who are unaware of where to go when seeking help. Working with the UGA health center and creating new promotions, systems, and services can help address mental health for students in a big way. Tate Center currently only has 3 dining selections, and causes a massive build up at peak times, causing a loss in student time and potential revenue for UGA. By adding an additional option in the Tate Center, this can benefit the University and students all at once. Creating a fundraiser, donation, or drive, or petition to the University can help have this be done. Finally, we can further clean up around campus, downtown, and waterways by adding new volunteering across campus and through the involvement network to create a campus wide, Clean Up Day.

Spencer Shaw (Commit)

Dear student body, My name is Spencer Shaw and I am a third year student here at the University of Georgia. Prior to this year’s election, I have served on a variety of leadership committees involving organizations such as UGA Miracle and UGA Heros, while I’ve also remained active in representing UGA Greek Life across campus. Each of these student-run organizations have granted me the opportunity to grow as an aspiring leader and contribute to the UGA community. Upon my admission into the University of Georgia, I knew that I wanted to serve my fellow students, helping to further their interests and address their concerns, just as I had done before attending college. The seven years that I served on student council prior to UGA have helped me develop the experience and skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with all students. If I am elected, I will serve each of my fellow students by addressing their concerns and identifying measures to ease campus life.

There are three key areas that I intend to focus on if elected. I will strive to improve the availability of parking on campus, implement measures to improve campus safety, and increase the transparency between student government and the student population. The primary initiative that I aim to implement this coming year is centered around the current parking situation on campus. In order to meet transportation needs to a growing student body, I will strive to propose solutions to the limited parking available to commuter students. Thank you for your time and consideration!

Truett Thompson (Commit)

From my involvement in SGA, students will be able to seek avenues and opportunities that they haven’t experienced before. I plan to develop new ways for students to get involved in organizations on campus.

  1. I seek to get students comfortable with exploring different organizations, and that includes some that they might be completely new to.
  2. I want to get students utilizing the mental health programs at UGA.
  3. I seek to get students to volunteer for service projects across the Athens area.