USGA Presidential candidates Jimmeshia Wilder (left) and Mugdha Mokashi (right) discuss their platforms. Photo by Tamara Imam/Branding and Outreach Manager
Kristina Balciunaite
Online Reporter
The candidates running for the President and Executive Vice President positions in the Undergraduate Student Government Association, met to debate campus and student affairs and clarify their standpoints in front of students on Wednesday, March 1.
Some of the topics discussed were ways the candidates, if elected, would improve class registration, inclusion, frequency of events on campus and sustainability.
Siddhu Srikakolapu is the only candidate running for the Executive Vice President position, so in his portion of the debate he stated the plans he has for the position.
Most of the EVP’s time is spent working with senate and encouraging their initiatives, while also considering the students’ needs. In this position, Srikakolapu said he would empower the senate by providing the senators with more resources to act on their platforms. He plans to make a master sheet of all administrators’ contact information to help the senators get started on putting their ideas into play.
The candidates running to become Executive Council President were Jimmeshia Wilder and Mugdha Mokashi. After giving their initial statements, they proceeded by debating the different issues regarding campus issues and student life.
Mokashi’s goal, if elected, is to assign as many different people to positions in USGA as possible. She said that to reflect the diversity of UAB properly, USGA needs to make sure different groups are equally represented. Mokashi also plans to work on making the university more sustainable, focusing primarily on making UAB Dining’s waste system.
Wilder said that with her in the position, she would represent the majority of the UAB student body, which, according to her, does not receive enough attention and is not sufficiently represented in the USGA. Wilder also has plans to make UAB student life more dynamic by organizing more events, which will allow students to become more involved in activities on campus and help promote school spirit.
Ayo Ayokanmbi, a junior in biomedical sciences, said he came to become more informed on the platforms of the candidates. He said that he most likely will vote for Mokashi, because of her longheld experience in related fields and plans for inclusion of the different groups on campus.
“Mugdha has more experience,” Ayokanmbi said. “I feel like through her experience, she could make improvements to the life of UAB students and the campus as a whole.”
Fanta Diabate, a senior in public relations, said she was leaning more toward Wilder. According to her, Wilder would better represent the average UAB student in the senate, since it currently consists of a large number of honors students, medical-minded students and students that are part of Greek life.
“I think it’s important for the typical student to feel as though their needs and wants are heard and by having a leader outside the norm,” Diabate said. “I’m confident that she can help UAB reach its full potential.”
Voting opens on Tuesday, Mar. 7 at 8 a.m. and closes Wednesday, March 8. at 8 a.m. UAB students can vote for the different USGA candidates through Blazernet during that time period.
Kristina Balciunaite can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @kscopekristina.
