2008 Woodie Awards
Guest Column: Why I'm running
Dan Leydorf
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Opinion
When Samuel Kernell wrote his career-defining work Going Public, he intended to explain how the modern presidency operates. The author hypothesized that presidents no longer use bargaining with Congress as their primary tool. Instead, they present issues to the American electorate in order to show Congress the priorities of the people. He was right.
If Kernell's assumptions are true of the United States presidency, then they carry important implications on how the Student Government Association should operate. We shouldn't rely on the naked power of persuasion to drive our agenda forward. We should instead show university and public officials that our arguments have the power of the student body behind them. We should go public.
My campaign exists to take the agenda of students public.
In the coming weeks, you will watch a different kind of campaign as I run for SGA president. This campaign will not have the financial resources or wide-ranging platforms of the parties we have seen in previous years. Instead it will have a focus on issues and a host of volunteers who are committed to its message.
In the spirit of mobilizing the collective student voice, I introduce the COST Promise. This acronym stands for Campaign reform, Off-campus transportation, Student groups unity and Tuition affordability. Running on only these issues will help the student government bring attention to these concerns and will add leverage for change as I respresent students to officials both on-campus and elsewhere.
As president, I will review campaign procedures and make running for office cheaper and more accessible. Students should not have to abandon their candidacy because they lack the funds to operate a campaign. Procedures should also encourage candidates to run even if their desired slot within the parties is taken. Involvement serves as the foundation of the SGA's power. We should improve our organization by making that involvement easier and more meaningful in elections.
As the housing crisis now forces even juniors off-campus, off-campus transportation will become an increasingly important issue. The housing shortage means more students will commute from the surrounding areas. This dilemma comes at a time when university officials are talking of a parking shortage in the coming years. Improving off-campus transportation offers an excellent opportunity to help off-campus students and alleviate the impending parking shortage, both while helping the environment.
The SGA has made significant strides to unify student groups this year. We should use this next year to build on that progress and encourage student groups to work together. Incentives should be given for groups to work in tandem on upcoming projects. Additionally, the student government should partner with other governing organizations to accomplish student and university goals. Unifying student groups in these ways will help unite our campus and ultimately serve the interests of students, faculty and administrators alike.
Finally, when I'm elected, I will go to Annapolis and tell legislators that I was elected by their constituents to keep quality education in Maryland affordable. I will lobby the General Assembly to put a cap on the increase of tuition in future years so students can plan their finances accurately starting freshman year. I will also aim to safeguard and build on current funding commitments to ensure students continue to receive the high quality of education we are known for.
My campaign will reflect my commitment to these issues. I will not hand out T-shirts, candy or baseball cards in order to win votes. These actions do not conform to what campaigns should be about. Moreover, they do not provide a candidate with a mandate for issues he or she could otherwise gain.
The COST Promise is my attempt to highlight important issues to the student body. It is my effort to create a proactive agenda for next year's student government. If you believe in my approach and support such progress, I ask for your vote for Student Government Association president on April 15 and 16.
Dan Leydorf is a sophomore economics and government and politics major running for SGA president. He can be reached at sleydorf@umd.edu.
If Kernell's assumptions are true of the United States presidency, then they carry important implications on how the Student Government Association should operate. We shouldn't rely on the naked power of persuasion to drive our agenda forward. We should instead show university and public officials that our arguments have the power of the student body behind them. We should go public.
My campaign exists to take the agenda of students public.
In the coming weeks, you will watch a different kind of campaign as I run for SGA president. This campaign will not have the financial resources or wide-ranging platforms of the parties we have seen in previous years. Instead it will have a focus on issues and a host of volunteers who are committed to its message.
In the spirit of mobilizing the collective student voice, I introduce the COST Promise. This acronym stands for Campaign reform, Off-campus transportation, Student groups unity and Tuition affordability. Running on only these issues will help the student government bring attention to these concerns and will add leverage for change as I respresent students to officials both on-campus and elsewhere.
As president, I will review campaign procedures and make running for office cheaper and more accessible. Students should not have to abandon their candidacy because they lack the funds to operate a campaign. Procedures should also encourage candidates to run even if their desired slot within the parties is taken. Involvement serves as the foundation of the SGA's power. We should improve our organization by making that involvement easier and more meaningful in elections.
As the housing crisis now forces even juniors off-campus, off-campus transportation will become an increasingly important issue. The housing shortage means more students will commute from the surrounding areas. This dilemma comes at a time when university officials are talking of a parking shortage in the coming years. Improving off-campus transportation offers an excellent opportunity to help off-campus students and alleviate the impending parking shortage, both while helping the environment.
The SGA has made significant strides to unify student groups this year. We should use this next year to build on that progress and encourage student groups to work together. Incentives should be given for groups to work in tandem on upcoming projects. Additionally, the student government should partner with other governing organizations to accomplish student and university goals. Unifying student groups in these ways will help unite our campus and ultimately serve the interests of students, faculty and administrators alike.
Finally, when I'm elected, I will go to Annapolis and tell legislators that I was elected by their constituents to keep quality education in Maryland affordable. I will lobby the General Assembly to put a cap on the increase of tuition in future years so students can plan their finances accurately starting freshman year. I will also aim to safeguard and build on current funding commitments to ensure students continue to receive the high quality of education we are known for.
My campaign will reflect my commitment to these issues. I will not hand out T-shirts, candy or baseball cards in order to win votes. These actions do not conform to what campaigns should be about. Moreover, they do not provide a candidate with a mandate for issues he or she could otherwise gain.
The COST Promise is my attempt to highlight important issues to the student body. It is my effort to create a proactive agenda for next year's student government. If you believe in my approach and support such progress, I ask for your vote for Student Government Association president on April 15 and 16.
Dan Leydorf is a sophomore economics and government and politics major running for SGA president. He can be reached at sleydorf@umd.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
You had enough time
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:59 PM EST
Dan Leydorf doesn't seem to understand. He launced a last minute campaign, broke the rules to get an unfair advantage 2 days before elections started and then wants everything handed to him on a silver platter. (Continued…)
Ausaf
posted 4/04/08 @ 1:37 PM EST
First off, I don't get why the SGA would have such rules not allowing someone to start campaigning.
I'm just a regular student on campus and I really do not see the role of parties in the election process. (Continued…)
I'm so bored
posted 4/04/08 @ 3:43 PM EST
This kid says a lot of stuff and that's the end of it and it make him look down right ignorant. Never once does he say how he's going to do any of this and the part about Annapolis and talking to legislators, have you ever been to the state house kid? Delegates and state senators aren't going to give you the time of day. (Continued…)
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