Jon Barnhart for SA President
The students of Syracuse University need a Student Association president who recognizes the needs of the current SU student. The next SA president needs to have a strong platform that addresses campus issues that affect students now, such as safety, MayFest and student-administration communication.
Presidential candidate Jon Barnhart has catered his platform to the current SU student. He has a strong grasp on existing issues, with the ability to think about long-term repercussions. Barnhart’s ‘Own Your University’ campaign, which emphasizes the importance of making this university customized to every individual student, should be commended.
Barnhart is determined to create a more inclusive campus, despite extreme segregation within the student body. This includes working to reinstate MayFest because he believes it is the most inclusive student day we have. In addition, he hopes to create both an international and community SA chair in an effort to bring non-traditional students to the forefront.
His other goals focus on bettering campus safety by adding more off-campus lighting and creating a neighborhood watch program between students and local neighbors.
He plans to work with student groups and publications to help them receive funding they need, as well as give them the opportunity to roll over their remaining funding to the following academic year.
Barnhart also hopes to work with the university to better the communication between students and administration on student issues, like the Amethyst Initiative to lower the drinking age to 18.
As part of one of his long-term goals, Barnhart plans to begin laying the framework for SU lock-in tuition – what you pay for tuition freshman year is what you are guaranteed to pay all four years.
Barnhart’s opponent, Hari Iyer, has displayed great efforts but has no experience within Student Association and presents a very vague platform that cloak current student issues.
One of Iyer’s top goals is to obtain financial transparency from the university. Iyer presents some unique ideas, but many focus more on administrative practices, leaving students in the dark.
Barnhart has been heavily involved in SA, knows how the system works, and has a better chance of garnering more student interest. We need a president who is thinking short-term while still keeping the big picture in mind. Barnhart’s platform has proven he has the skill to accomplish both, if elected.
Barnhart has created a platform that has potential to affect change on campus, however he needs to create a concrete plan of action to put these initiatives into place. He has a solid handle on student issues, but for his administration to be successful, he needs to provide visible improvements immediately.
Voting for the next Student Association president will take place beginning Nov. 9 and ends Nov. 12. Students can vote via MySlice. The Daily Orange endorses Jon Barnhart for president of the 54th session of Student Association.
