What follows is a partial transcription of an interview The Daily Cougar conducted with SGA presidential candidate, Joy Ramirez. Each of the SGA presidential candidates will be featured in our “Candidate Q&A” series this week.
The Daily Cougar: What are three things you think voters should know about you?
Joy Ramirez: Three things that I think voters should know about me are:
I’m not here for any political aspect or any status. I’m not looking for this to look great on my résumé. I already know what I want to do with life, and none of the things I want to do in life have anything to do with what I’ve been perceived as.
I also want people to know that what you see is what you get. I’m a very honest person. I like to help people; I like to communicate with people — it’s just in my nature. It comes naturally to me, so it’s not something forced.
The third thing I would like people to know is that I’m very approachable if anyone needs anything. I always want to find the solution to a problem. If you come to me and you tell me that there is a problem, I’m not going to just sit there and shrug my shoulders and say, “Better luck next time.” I’m actually going to sit with you and say, “What’s your situation; What’s going on; What can we do?” I’m a problem-solver.
TDC: What do you think has been the most important thing SGA has done since the summer session?
JR: I really like the fact that SGA is hearing out the students.
They understand that the University is composed of students, so if the students are happy, then the University flourishes.
It’s not just the faculty; it’s not just the donors or the alumni, it’s the current students because we’re living in the here and the now, so (the students) are the best feedback. I like the fact (SGA) seems so open to feedback.
TDC: What do you plan on doing differently from the last administration if you are elected?
JR: I’m pretty happy actually with the way the University of Houston actually handles everything compared to how I’ve seen other universities handle their students. I can say that I would only want University of Houston to get better from here on out.
Of course, every aspect is going to need work. As time goes by and times change, you have to go with the times. And feel that the University of Houston is so open-minded.
I don’t see a problem with that aspect, so if anything I feel like I have every support to do what I need to do or whatever students want to do or accomplish.
TDC: How would you make sure you’re accurately representing the student body if elected?
JR: I think that’s just communication. You can’t walk around thinking you’re doing something correct and not know (people don’t like it) as it’s happening.
If people are unhappy, then you are going to know people are unhappy, especially when you hold a position like that.
There will always be antagonists, and there are always going to be people that are going to root for you.
I don’t believe in pleasing the crowd because that is just not going to work. It’s not a popularity contest for me, it’s all about what makes sense — what logically makes sense. What really benefits overall most of the people.
TDC: With the athletics referendum, at the last SGA meeting, students came and they complained, how would you respond to that?
JR: The decisions we’re making now have to be good enough to fit for at least 30 years from now, versus, “if it’s good for me this year, I don’t care about next year.”
I don’t think that way. I think we should really think advanced.
TDC: What was your stance on the athletics fee referendum and why?
JR: I voted yes. And I voted yes because, like I told you, I could have easily said and been like, “It’s not my problem, I’m not going to be at this University by the time that happens; I’m not going to be able to benefit from it,” but that’s a very narrow-minded way to think of things.
What if I do decide to have children and my children come here? I would like to say yes I voted for this because I knew that one day you would come to this school. Or what about other families or what about other students who it will make a difference for them.
I think that it’s a perfectly great thing to invest in and I will always want to invest in something that will make people flourish academically or athletically, and I know as an athlete too, myself, that athletes work really really hard and they have to stay competitive academically, and I feel like they deserve the support.
TDC: What makes you stand out from the other candidates?
JR: I think what’s going to make me stand out is I’m not here, again, for a political stand, and I’m not here to win a popularity vote, or just to be known or to get a popularity status. I’ve been there, done that in my lifetime.
I’ve had time to make mistakes and to realize what matters and doesn’t matter, and at this point, anyone that just believes in my mission — which is really about caring for this world and really stop being consumerists without even realizing there is consequences to everything that we do.
People who just realize what really matters, those are the people that I want voting for me.
TDC: Why do you want to be SGA president?
JR: I want to be SGA president because I know that I have a lot to offer, and since I’m not here for any other reason than to represent the average student.
For more information on this and other candidates, go to thedailycougar.com/tags/sga2012.
