The race has begun. Candidates in this month’s Student Government Association election entered the fray this week.
Senator Maria Rozier and Executive Vice President Evan Krauss are vying for the presidency. Each leads a ticket of four candidates for other positions on the Executive Board.
Rozier, a native of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., has been involved in SGA since her second week at SLU. Rozier has served as freshman senator and administrative vice president; this year she represents the Student Village Apartments in the Senate.
A human resources and marketing major, Rozier devotes 20 hours a week to an internship at the public relations firm of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
“This year has been about doing grunt work in the Senate and working closely with my constituents. It has helped me see the overall picture of the Student Government Association,” Rozier said.
Krauss came to SLU from West Orange, N.J., a community he describes as “very diverse in terms of race, religion and economic status.”
Krauss, who is studying social work and urban affairs, has taken leadership positions in a wide variety of extracurricular and service organizations; he organized toy, clothing and food drives, and headed SLU’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, including leading a service trip to New Orleans over Thanksgiving break.
Krauss began working with SGA last spring when he was elected executive vice president.
“My time on SGA has been short, but my experience is wide. While I’ve only served since last May, the amount and range of work I’ve done has been extensive. I have really dedicated my time to it; SGA comes first,” Krauss said.
David Kilper, a senior pre-law student studying accounting, and Jack Coatar, a sophomore studying political science, are managing Rozier’s campaign. Coatar was offered a position on Krauss’ ticket but declined, choosing to work with Rozier instead.
Rozier’s ticket is composed of three junior senators and one freshman who has been involved with two SGA committees.
“Not only is Rozier’s platform cohesive, but it stems from discussions that have been taking place since December. Rozier’s ticket presents a unified platform based on the unique perspectives of five people, whereas the opposition seems more reliant on the ideas of just one candidate,” Kilper said.
While specifics of Rozier’s platform will not be revealed until 9 tonight, she has said it is a “simple, student-friendly approach.”
“This ticket is ready to go, and it has been since December. We are very excited about everything that can happen, and we are ready to answer questions students have been asking for years but SGA has swept under the rug,” Rozier said.
Krauss’s ticket-three juniors and one freshman, all with SGA experience-is under the management of Andrew Chappelle, a senior political science and communication major.
“My ticket is a diverse group of minds that is 100 percent committed to serving,” Krauss said. Krauss said some of his priorities include increasing funding for upper-class scholarships and considering ways to improve academics and academic advising.
“The name of our ticket is ‘More for Students,’ which is exactly what this group represents and is also what students deserve-more. We have a platform that addresses many student needs and concerns on campus, ranging from parking tickets to the Simon Rec, from online course syllabi to streamlining the funding process for student organizations,” Chappelle said.
Krauss said he plans to seek the presidency because it is where his “talents and abilities meet.”
“Being president is about being a servant for students. It is about meeting the needs of students, about being concerned for their academic and social wellbeing – This position is about sacrifice, and I’m fully aware of that,” Krauss said.
