Editorial : Neal Casey for Student Association President
In an uncontested bid for president of Student Association’s 55th session, Neal Casey presents a platform that provides realistic and achievable goals. His campaign, ‘Putting Students First,’ demonstrates his dedication to creating a community where student voice is at the forefront.
Casey has held a leadership position within SA since joining his freshman year. He was the chief of staff under Larry Seivert and is the chair of the Student Life Committee under Jon Barnhart. He has also served on the Finance Board. These experiences give him the knowledge to successfully implement his goals.
Under his overarching goal to make SA a more results-based organization, Casey plans to reform spending of the student activity fee, improve on last year’s MayFest and include students in key decisions that matter to them.
On reforming spending, Casey plans to create mechanisms to determine if student organizations are effectively using their allotted budget. This could free up money for other organizations. Given the limited resources SA has for student organizations, this could prove to be one of Casey’s biggest accomplishments if successful.
Last semester, Casey was heavily involved in the beginnings of implementing a medical amnesty program on campus. The medical amnesty policy would allow students to call for help in the case of a drug or alcohol-related emergency, without worrying about possible penalties. A potential policy is currently being drafted by the university. Casey’s work on this initiative shows he understands what issues are important to students.
As chair of the Student Life Committee under Barnhart’s administration, Casey was at the forefront of developing MayFest in Walnut Park. He continued the Euclid tradition, replanting it to Walnut Park and shaping it to meet the concerns of both the administration and the students. During his administration, Casey plans to build off the success of last year’s MayFest. Eventually, he hopes to stabilize it so that other student organizations can take on planning it in the future.
If he was only able to accomplish one goal during his term, Casey said he would focus on maintaining or lowering tuition. Although he lacks concrete ideas on which to explore such options, he says examining university spending is a start. For example, SU salts all roads and sidewalks during the winter, which results in replanting damaged grass each spring. Looking at such policies and searching for more cost-effective alternatives could lead to savings that could potentially be redistributed to bettering student life.
Despite Casey’s poorly promoted campaign, he exhibits solid ideas that are both realistic and attainable. Focusing on issues that directly affect students, such as MayFest and the medical amnesty policy, Casey clearly understands what students care about.
To create an effective and successful administration, Casey needs to outline and develop specific goals. His platform of ‘Putting Students First’ places him on the right track, but a track that former SA presidential candidates have built their campaigns around. By its nature, SA is a student-driven organization. But to give students tangible results, Casey’s administration needs less talking and more doing.
Voting for the next SA president will begin today and ends Nov. 11. Students can vote via MySlice. The Daily Orange endorses Neal Casey for president of the 55th session of SA.
