The Student Government Association elections begin today, and The Daily Cougar has been keeping a close eye on the candidates.
There are five presidential candidates running this year, and we have decided to give our support to Carlos Reyes because we feel he has the most complete agenda and will do a good job of representing students.
In an interview with the Cougar, Reyes said his goals were to put students’ priorities first and build school spirit. He said there has been a falling out between the Senate and the student body, and he wants to make sure communication between the two improves.
Reyes has served with two administrations in the SGA, as a business senator and most recently as the director of finance, and therefore brings experience to the position. He is also involved in organizations on campus such as the Hispanic Business Student Association.
His vice-presidential candidate, Matt Davis, does lack experience in the Senate, but has shown the passion necessary to lead.
In the same interview with the Cougar, Davis said he wanted to work on solving issues he could tackle and effect change in.
“It is not about playing government,” Davis said. “It is about tackling real world issues — things that we can truly have an impact and change. If we have the opportunity to tackle tuition, we will, 100 percent, but we are not going to utilize our time by tackling things we can’t change.”
Both candidates said their agendas do not necessarily include improving the parking situation and tuition, because they know they would not be able to change those in one year. Instead, they will focus on improving communication and reaching out to students.
Reyes and Davis also want to offer scholarships worth $500 to students at every football game. They have contacted businesses around the Houston area for sponsorship, and they have begun talking to the city about fixing Cullen Street.
Their ideas are realistic and accomplishable, and this is why we think they will do a good job of representing the student body.
Where can I find information about the positions of each candidate, the senators, and the President/Vice President candidates? The Daily Cougar is virtually the only place to find out, and it hasn’t spotlighted any college senators. Anyone?
Yeah you would think The Daily Cougar would give some info about the senators. I think most senators are affiliated with a student party. You can check out uhcougarnation.com for the Cougar Nation party. You can also check out the Truth for Coogs party on their facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=334589389353. I’m not sure about other candidate information. Of course, James Strickland for president.
President Fomunung,
I owe you an apology. I was wrong about the administration controlling SGA.
My assumption turned out to be bad.
There isn’t a problem with the administration pulling the strings of the SGA, but a problem lies with how serious the administration takes SGA. And that has a direct link to what Mr. Reyes was talking about in Tuesday’s article.
Mr. Reyes talks about SGA not taking enough action on behalf of the students. He also points out a practice of doing legislation for legislation’s sake.
((this isn’t me saying this…please check it out if you have not already, http://thedailycougar.com/2010/03/09/sga-veteran-hopes-to-claim-student-presidency/ ))
If this is the case, why would the administration or anyone take SGA seriously?
So the biggest problem with SGA isn’t the administration, but SGA itself. ((Again, before getting upset at me for saying this, please read Mr. Reyes comments))
Samuel,
My six grade English teacher used to say, “Never assume because it makes an ASS out of U and ME”. When I was in the six grade, I believed this to be true. Now since I’m an adult, I know my teacher was wrong.
You told me, “Now I challenge you to stop making assumptions, learn the facts…”
Going through life is a stochastic process. It is impossible to know all the facts in any real-life situation. To say otherwise is 100 percent incorrect.
If you take an economics course at UH, you learn the basis of economic theory is based on assumptions on how people act in society.
Do you ever look at the weather report? The models used to predict the weather have built in assumptions about temperature, pressure, wind systems, etc.
Do you ever follow the stock market? The models that quants and hedge fund managers use have build in assumptions on how the market will react to particular situations.
Now you can argue that there are good assumptions and bad assumptions. I would say this about assumptions:
Don’t be blindsided by your assumptions
Update your understanding
And this it what I did when realizing the SGA isn’t a puppet with the administration pulling the strings.
Also Samuel, if you do not ever interpret what someone says, how can you ever know what they’re saying? How can you ever communicate with someone? Communication is based on interpreting what people say and write to each other.
James,
Let me clarify my statements so that you can understand clearly. I do not try to engage in interpreting isolated statements, instead I prefer to either directly ask the person what they mean by their statement or seek out potential supporting or conflicting statements to come to a conclusion of the meaning of the statement; it is what we call research. Would you write a paper with only one supporting statement? Furthermore the fact that he didn’t say it directly to me is more of a reason why I would either ask him directly or look at other statements he has made, which is not what you did, you make a blank assumption and present it as a fact. Of course I believe that you have to make assumptions about things like the economy or the weather both unlike you did, people who make those assumptions don’t take one statement or factor into account when making that assumption.
Do economist not evaluate various indicators including history
Do meteorologist and hedge fund managers not do the same? You took one statement and ran with it, congratulations you are no closer to the truth then when you started. You can stand by your word all you want, but steadfast about something doesn’t mean it is correct. Let me say it again, your assumptions are both factually and historically inaccurate, at least economist, meteorologist and hedge fund managers understand that before making an assumption you take the facts that are clear and history into account; and as I said before you should because the organization advocated on behalf of you.
And if you think this you probably think they didn’t take me seriously, if that is the case please try and prove to me how you think they didn’t take me seriously, and if you dare to do so I can’t wait to see your supporting evidence. Actually why don’t I help you out search my name on the UH website, and see what you find about my involvement in the affairs of this campus and then explain where I wasn’t taken seriously if and I do mean if you think so.
Good luck to you.