It’s that time of year! Student Council President is up for grabs, and you may have noticed the campaign posters around town for the three candidates! I had the pleasure of sitting down to ask one of the candidates, Lazlo Hunter, a few questions about is plans should he become elected!
Roro: What exactly inspired you to run for Student Council president this year? From what I understand, you have been at Woodcrest for a while. Have you ever been in any type of Student Council role previous or is this all a brand new outlet for you?
Lazlo:I was inspired last year to run however by the time I’d come to the decision the deadline had already passed. I’ve been watching from a distance this past year and I came to the conclusion that the Student Council could do more. More engagement with the community through events, a yearbook, a calendar featuring the students themselves. It felt that although they meet, we don’t see much of them. So I want to improve that. I haven’t held a Student Council role before, no. In fact I think that makes me a good choice. I’m not influenced by past leadership or decisions.
Roro: You know, I have to agree, being a fresh face with a fresh perspective could really make some changes! I read over your pamphlet before the interview, and I have to say it really does take a simple, direct approach to wanting to engage with the student body more. You say you would like to dedicate a position in your team from the Greek Council as well. We all know the Greek community is quite active at Woodcrest, so that seems like a wise choice. Speaking on bringing a fresh ideology to Council, what qualities would you like to see from your administration if you were to be elected to ensure that your term as President is efficient and successful to carry out your goals?
Lazlo: Yes, firstly I absolutely want to get proper Greek representation into the Student Council. It would be wrong to say it doesn’t exist now, it is almost entirely staffed by Greek students, such is the way of our student body. But this position will allow the Greek Council to have their representative vote on their behalf. The position itself will be governed by the Greek Council and will be filled as they see fit. As for what I want from a council ran by myself, I want them to be honest. If I’m wrong or going in a direction that isn’t good for the student body I need to be told that. I am only human and I am fallible. It’s a council, not a dictatorship. Plainly, I want the overall administration to be honest, responsible and mostly, act on behalf of everyone and not themselves or the council itself.
Roro: That is truly a good way to incorporate the student body as a whole. Honesty and integrity are pretty vital when it comes to making decisions for the student body as a whole. We all know sometimes a title can carry with it a chip of attitude if not careful. You mention you want accountability and for your administration to for lack of better words, hold you accountable and call you out should you slip, how exactly do you plan to keep the transparency and accountability open within your council?
Lazlo: The intent is to ensure that the student body themselves feel as though they can tell us when we’re not meeting their expectations. Going forward there will be detailed, clear meeting minutes of what has been discussed and the steps we’re taking towards achieving what we set out to. If we find that the student body either doesn’t talk to us or seems to have no complaints then introducing forums to speak to the students is an option, where they aren’t just watching a meeting but it’s their meeting to bring forth their concerns. We need their opinions and thoughts. Without them we’re acting on our own and upon what we _think_ is best for them. To wrap back around to attitude, there is certainly a hazard of that with any role that comes with perceived power. I’m guilty of perhaps being too brash on occasion. It’s my job to keep myself in check and if I slip, its the student body and university administration that will make sure that I stay in line lest there be punishment.
Roro: A public forum might be pretty useful! I agree that this could definitely help maintain the transparency and accountability of not only you, but your administration as well. Are there any long term initiatives that you would like to get started this term that you hope will carry on with the administrations after should you be elected?
Lazlo: Certainly, beyond the obvious wanting the minutes and Greek Liaison position to be a non-negotiable administrative standard, I’d like for the return of the yearbook to also be permanent. Beyond that however, I’ve recently been in discussions with a few people about non-affiliated groups within the student body. I want to start the ball rolling to get them the support and reach they need to be successful. Something else I’d like to do is improve the new student enrollment process. I would say in the past 6 months I’ve seen or assisted many students that have come to Woodcrest and been uncertain of where to go to enroll or what to do following enrollment. More clarity and ease is a pain point right now that I think we can solve with a bit of work with the university administration.
Roro: Which other non-affiliated student groups do you see needing support from the council? And what kind of plans to you propose to help support these groups?
Lazlo: One such group mentioned to me was a darts league someone is trying to get started. Under normal circumstances they would see maybe mild success? Given the reach of the student council we can promote this to everyone. Some may have not known it was happening, others may go and check it out as a social event. We can use the power the position brings for everyone as I believe it should be. Another is businesses, something on my cards is introducing a career week. We have many great businesses here in Woodcrest and just as many passionate students. By allowing the businesses to setup as the Greek houses do regularly, we give them the outreach to the community they may have otherwise struggled with.
Roro: Career fairs seem to really bring the businesses to the forefront for sure! So your reach as Student Council President extends beyond the walls of just the university. You seem to really want to build a strong community that helps and supports one another to succeed. I have to ask now, with all of your platform issues addressed, one question everyone is truly going to want answered… Knowing your two opponents, what would you say sets you apart from the others that can make the students feel confident when they attend the polls to vote for their candidate, hoping they choose you?
Lazlo: Yes, absolutely. I think that the students deserve to know what is happening, get the assistance they need and generally feel more interconnected. I wholly believe that I can achieve this. I believe I’m set apart from my competitors in that I will take this role seriously, I’m not just proposing parties or chaos. I am independent, I won’t act on behalf of any Greek house and instead act with the interest of everyone at the heart of it all. Ultimately, voting for me is voting for yourselves and not another year of inaction.
More communication and transparency between Student Council and the student body, more School dances and events not centered in Greek, and a Greek Liaison chosen by Greek Council to sit on the administration to help advocate more communication between the groups, and let’s not forget the promise to help promote and support the smaller University groups that don’t get much limelight! This sounds like a pretty solid platform, what do you think?
