With the chance to address student concerns ahead of this year’s elections, Student Government Association presidential candidates James Christopher and Sim Dy, as well as student trustee candidates Jesse Kruszka and Lindy Reed, will take to the podium Thursday night in O’Leary Library for the SGA debate.
After beginning official campaign season on March 23, the four turn their attention to tomorrow’s debate and the April 12-13 elections with various platforms and issues to resolve on behalf of the student body.
James Christopher – SGA presidential candidate
Christopher is running for re-election in hopes to achieve his four principles: Fighting for affordability, Connecting the campuses, promoting inclusivity—specifically the gender gap, and access to resources such as provided easier access to classes for people with disabilities.
Christopher said he believes his tenure and track record with the student government makes him the most viable presidential candidate.
“When deciding who to vote for Student Government President, I ask you please do the research, because when you do the research, you’ll find out that I’m the most experienced candidate in this field, and I have a record for improving the student experience,” he said. “If elected again, I will continue to be a passionate advocate for students and this will be my number one commitment through and through.”
Christopher and his running mate Alexandra Karabatsos have a Facebook group, “Re-Elect James Christopher and Alexandra Karabatsos for SGA President & VP,” with more information about their ideas and issues they will address if elected.
Sim Dy – SGA presidential candidate
A major component of Dy’s campaign, he said, is to cut the SGA presidential funding.
As of right now, according to Dy, the executive board of the SGA makes about $11,000 in personal pay, not for operation. The SGA president alone makes $3,000. If Dy is elected president, he wants to make all positions voluntary and return that money back to the students’ pockets.
Other big plans of his are to bring in more funding for scholarships for students in all colleges, not just North or South majors.
“I’m not doing this to put it on my resume…I’m doing this because I actually want to see the campus move forward, I want to see the students [have] a bigger impact on campus, and I just want to see [UMass Lowell] grow,” he said.
More information about Sim Dy and his running mate John Kilgo and their plans for UMass Lowell can be found at SimKilgo.com.
Jesse Kruszka – Student Trustee candidate
Unlike other candidates, Kruszka is not running with a platform. He said that platforms and campaigns introduce vague, broad ideas that rarely get accomplished.
Instead of proposing plans for the future, if Kruszka is elected as trustee he said he will listen to the students and provide solutions to problems that arise as opposed to focusing on bigger projects for external goals. In addition, he said he will vote to freeze tuition for the upcoming year.
“I would encourage students to look at what I’ve done in the past and have them recognize that since I’ve been here things have gotten better, and will continue to get better if I am elected trustee next year, and my record speaks for itself, and to look at that record and know what I’ll do in the future opportunities that I’m given.”
With such a unique campaign, Kruszka is hopeful to be more open to the student body if elected and to address specific, smaller projects that come up to benefit the campus as a whole.
Lindy Reed – Student Trustee candidate
The issue Reed wants to primarily focus on in her campaign is freezing the tuition. She said she feels it is of utmost importance to freeze the tuition because it affects all students, not only residents or commuters.
If elected, she said she would go to the State House with to vote to raise or freeze tuition for the upcoming year and that she will vote against raising tuition.
“The most important thing for student voters is to be informed, and to really take the time, the few minutes, to do the research on the background of all the candidates that are running and look at their list of accomplishments and look at their records and see what [they] are able to actually get done,” said Reed.
“Are they result oriented? And, if so, what do they plan on doing in the future? How likely are they going to be able to accomplish their goals? So I would say the most important thing is to be an informed voter.”
More information about Reed’s campaign and issues she hopes to address and accomplish if elected Student Trustee can be found on her website lindyfortrustee.com.
