Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News

President/Vice President tickets

Tim Lauer: Presidential candidate
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Student leadership experience
- Student Senate Chief of Staff
- Student Senate Treasurer
- Member of UW-Eau Claire track and field
- Member of various Senate committees
- Student Senator
- Campus Ambassador
- Member of search-and-screen committee

"I am running for Student Body President because I have the desire to help the students of UW-Eau Claire exercise their voice in dealing with the administration, faculty, community and state. I truly believe that the students here have many needs that should be addressed by various bodies, whether it be the state - regarding funding levels and support, the community - for collaboration on projects, or the food service - in making a more equitable contract that better serves ALL students. I believe Meghan and I have the tools to accomplish our goals in representing the student body effectively and we are excited for the chance to do so if we are elected."

Meghan Charlier: Vice Presidential candidate
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Political Science
Student leadership experience
- Student Body Vice President
- Member of various Senate committees
- Campus Ambassador
- Student Senator

"I have a strong desire to stand up for the voice of the students. Because of my experience as vice president this past year, I have decided to pursue a career in student affairs. I'm excited to continue serving students and representing them in innovative ways. I believe that it is key to get student input on issues, but it is also important to take charge of ideas and lead them through to their finish. Some of the things I'm excited about in the upcoming term if I'm elected include: OpenCourseWare, green campus initiatives, fighting for lower tuition, and tackling diversity problems on campus."

Emily Mattheisen: Presidential candidate
Year: Junior
Major(s): Religious Studies/Music
Student leadership experience
- Director of Student Life and Diversity Commission
- Student Senator
- President Elect for the American Music Therapy
Association for Students
- Vice-President for Students for a Fair Wisconsin

"I don't want to just talk about issues that matter to students, I want to take action. For example, the campus 'green initiative' looks nice on paper, but senate needs to make sure that the school is following through with it. I also want Senate to take a more active role in fighting for lower tuition by giving more support to united council. It is Senate's job to keep students informed about the issues on campus. To be a successful organization Senate needs to reach out to the students and make a bigger effort to involve all students in the decisions we make."

Caroline Wee: Vice Presidential candidate
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): English Education
Student leadership experience
- Member of various Senate committees
- Student Senator

No information available.

On-campus candidates

Davendra Raj
Year: Freshman
Major(s): Political Science
Student leadership experience
- President of SOAP
- Student instructor for Two to Tango
- Chair of multicultural issues of Student Life and
Diversity
- International Student Ambassador
- International Student's Peer Guide

"I'm running for Student Senate because I believe Senate should represent the entire population of students, and I represent international students in ensuring a more fair and represented decision on all issues. I also believe that an outside perspective other than that of an American student may be instrumental in future planning or changes made to UW-Eau Claire. Finally, in keeping with the strategic planning goals of making this campus more diverse, how more diverse can you get by electing me?"

Allison Shillin
Year: Freshman
Major(s): Secondary Education
Student leadership experience
- Student Senator
- Student Life and Diversity Commission member

"I am running for Student Senate to be a representative for the student body. The newer students, especially freshmen and sophomores, need a strong voice. I feel I can relay their wants, needs and wishes to the Senate. I promise to uphold my responsibility as a student and Senator."

Adam Sorelle
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Political Science/Business Administration
Student leadership experience
- Member of various Senate committees
- Member of Student Services Commission
- Student Senator
- Served on Residence Hall Association Executive
Board

"I have been very active in Student Senate for the past year and a half. I truly care about student issues and will fight for them."

Off-campus candidates

Abou Amara II
Year: Junior
Major(s): Criminal Justice
Student leadership experience
- Participated in creation of the Black Student
Association on campus
- Selected to be a Student Academic Apprentice
by the Sociology Department

"Student Senate is an integral part of our experience here at UW-Eau Claire. Student Senate is the forum in which our voices as students are heard. Student Senate enables students to have a say in the decision making process. To make these decisions we need different perspectives, different experiences in the senate, so we make the right decisions at the right time for the benefit of ALL Eau Claire students. I feel my experiences will help diversify perspectives as well as bring alternative ideas to help move our university in the right direction."

Amber Bretl
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Political Science
Student leadership experience
- Student Senator
- United Council Delegation Leader

"I am running for Student Senate because I believe I can continue to make positive contributions to this campus and represent the voice of students. I am currently a Senator and love serving the students here on campus and hope to do the same next year."

Billie Jo Buechler
Year: Senior
Major(s): Biology/Spanish
Student leadership experience
- Student Senator
- UAC Director
- Pre-Med Club Special Events Coordinator

"Student Senate is the best way to represent the students' voice on a variety of university issues. I've enjoyed and hope to continue representing the voices and opinions of the students in order to make UW-Eau Claire a better campus. Making the campus greener, the good variety more pleasing and increasing diversity are some of the issues I hope to address and improve in the following year."

Andrew Cooan
Year: Junior
Major(s): Marketing
Student leadership experience
- Member of various Senate committees
- Student Senator

"I am running for re-election for Student Senate because I enjoy representing what students want. Being a member of different activities and organizations around campus, along with being a College of Business Senator, I bring many different perspectives to Senate. It would be hard to find a student representative who used their voting power to better the university and students' education more than
I do."

Sarah Eastburn
Year: Senior
Major(s): Public Relations/Spanish Business
Student leadership experience
- Student Senator
- Young Republicans

"I was elected to Student Senate this past semester and truly I joined just to add it to my resume. However, I was amazed at my fellow Senators - dedicated, kind and passionate about the students - they inspired me. I want to learn more from these Senators and help hold the administration at the same level of excellence they demand from students and professors."

Dan Fina
Year: Junior
Major(s): Finance
Student leadership experience
- Member and captain of the UW-Eau Claire men's
hockey team

"I'm excited to become fully involved in the campus community. I'm a man of the people. I'm planning on bringing my solid decision making skills and morals to the Senate. Vote for a change we can believe in."

Dan Gawronski
Year: Junior
Major(s): Political Science/Legal Studies
Student leadership experience
- "I like to assume a leadership role in everything I
do."

"I feel I am an ideal candidate that will communicate with other students. I'm not afraid to represent the views of a concerned student body, even if it clashes with my own personal interests. The students are the most important aspect at the great university, and we want to ensure them that they have the opportunity to have the greatest college experience as possible. I believe I can help deliver that to them."

Teresa Higgins
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Marketing
Student leadership experience
No information provided

"I would like to take a more active part in our campus decision making and Student Senate is a great way to do that. I would also like to get more students involved by getting their opinions on various issues around campus and then bringing their voices to the Student Senate meetings. Everyone's voice deserves to be heard and I will make sure that they are."

Tom Holtan
Year: Junior
Major(s): Business Administration/History
Student leadership experience
- Finance Commission Director
- Member of the Strategic Budget Task Force
- Student Senator
- Concert Choir Treasurer

"I'm running for Student Senate because I'm passionate about the university. I love working for students, and my service record shows that I can, and have, brought positive changes to the campus. Please allow me the opportunity to continue fighting for the students."

Dylan Jambrek
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Political Science
Student leadership experience
- Student Senator
- President of College Democrats
- College Democrats Treasurer

"I'm running for re-election to ensure students' voices, opinions, and interests are heard at the highest levels of the university and the community. All too often our needs and wants are ignored. With the new Davies Center being funded, and the Sodexho and bookstore contracts coming up for renewal, Student Senate has the capability to force administrators to hear us on key issues. Over the past year, I've voted against Student Senate pay raises repeatedly while attempting to grant additional funds to other organizations. I voted to keep the music therapy program. Vote for me for a strong student legislature."

Jake Johnson
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Print Journalism
Student leadership experience
- Member of the Finance Commission
- Political Director for College Democrats
- Student Senator
- Administrative Assistant to Director of Forensics
- Vice President of Horan Hall Council

"Student Senate is the voice of students on this campus. I am running because I believe students are not represented well enough. We, as Senators, need to go to students in organizations, FYE classes and orientation and ask them for their concerns. I also want to make this campus more sustainable. An increase in bike racks, green technology, duplex printers, and implementing a bike rental program are major things I will work for over the next year if elected. I would appreciate your online vote. I am there for the students, nobody else."

Samantha Lee
Year: Senior
Major(s): Biology/Pre-professional Health Sciences
Student leadership experience
- Biology Teacher's Assistant
- Vice President of Physician's Assistant Club

"My goal as a Student Senator is to get students involved with the campus and the community so they feel more connected with the university and the city of Eau Claire as a whole. I'm re-running for Senate because I believe in the power of student voice and I want to help make that voice be heard. Changes can be made and I want the students to know that we are listening. I'm in it for the students."

Lindsay Kilsdonk
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Spanish/Latin American Studies
Student leadership experience
- Member of Finance Commission
- Member of the Parking Appeals Board
- Member of the Student Misconduct Review
Board
- Student Senator
- Member of SBA and FMA
- Student instructor for Two to Tango

"I feel that the student body needs a voice on campus and in the Eau Claire community. I represent UW-Eau Claire in matters that are important to the entire student body, and I push to enhance and feel strongly about our campus' diversity. I've voted against tuition increases, a study aboard graduation requirement and the jail expansion project. I've voted in support of reasonable priced textbooks, adding another bus to Route 9, Asian American Heritage Month and 'Green' Duplex printers around campus."

Paige Overby
Year: Junior
Major(s): Political Science/Legal Studies
Student leadership experience
- Intergovernmental Affairs Director
- Judicial Board Representative
- Student Senator
- Campus Ambassador

"I'd like to continue bridging the gap between the community and the student body. It is important to me that we have as much student involvement as possible and I intend to remain loyal to the students that I do represent. My responsibility is to make sure the students get what they need and what they want."

James Sackett
Year: Junior
Major(s): Information Systems
Student leadership experience
- Coaching middle and high school basketball
- Working on numerous computer projects at the
Eau Claire City Hall

"I am running for Student Senate because three years now I have felt misrepresented by the Student Senate. My goal is to eliminate wasteful spending of student fees. As a business major, I feel that would bring a different perspective to the Student Senate than the typical political science major."

Michael Brock Umhoefer
Year: Senior
Major(s): Public Relations
Student leadership experience
- Member of Public Relations Commission
- Member of PRSSA and SNEHA
- Student Senator
- Member of the Parking Appeals Board

"You should vote for me because I am an active voice against all things students hate. Professors should never say 'actually it's doctor...' and Sodexho's 'two times the normal cost' policy needs to end. When we buy books at the bookstore we should get more than .000005 percent of their worth when we sell them back. Students don't want the jail expansion so it should be stopped; we need to be conservationists of our coveted student ghetto. I am tired of the administration telling us UW-Eau Claire is going 'green' when we really haven't taken a step towards it. Take a step and vote for Michael."

Katya Voelker
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Biology/Spanish
Student leadership experience
- Student Services Director
- Putnam Hall Vice President
- RHAB Programming Coordinator
- Student Senator
- Hall Council representative

"I am running for Student Senate because I believe that Senate needs different types of people to represent the students of UW-Eau Claire. Since I am a Biology major I bring a different perspective into the issues than a political science major. This past session, I have represented students and their opinions by writing a resolution to add another bus on Route 9. I have worked hard to bring about change in food service, landlord/tenant issues, diversity and bicycle safety."

Aaron Wingad
Year: Sophomore
Major(s): Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Student leadership experience
- Director of Academic Affairs Committee
- Chair of Health Services on the Student Services
Commission
- Student Senator
- Student liason to the Academic Policies and the
Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committees
- Student representative to University Senate
- Program Coordinator of the Pre-Med Career
Exploration Program

"I am running for Student Senate because I enjoy being a part of student government and I like the challenge of accurately representing student opinion. I am very proud of the quality of my involvement in Senate and I will continue to work just as hard if I am re-elected."

The following candidates are on the ballot but did not submit any information to The Spectator:

On-campus candidates

Janna Caspersen

Nick Goffard

Eric Meyers

Brittany Smith

Off-campus candidates

Kim Acheson

Alyssa Birkholz

Jeremy Carlson

Bryant Dorsey

Chaz Johnson

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