We, Adam Sorelle and Casey Driscoll, are currently running for student body president and vice president. Who are we, and why are we qualified? Here is a rundown of our history with the university:

Adam Sorelle is a junior political science major and information systems minor. He has been in Student Senate since 2006, serving as on-campus senator and on the Finance, Intergovernmental Affairs, Organizations, Public Relations and Academic Affairs commissions. Last session he earned Senator of the Year. Adam has served as the Issues and Improvements director of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and has been active in several organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eau Claire and Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society.

Casey Driscoll is a history major, web design minor. As you may know, he works as the Momentum Monday Man, and has been a committed resident assistant in Sutherland Hall for three years. Casey is a part of the Public Relations Commission on campus, has been heavily involved in the new mascot initiative, as well as serving on the Informational Technology Committee of Student Senate.

So why should you support us? Because we have and will continue to support you, the students. Right now it is our job to listen to your concerns and get your feedback regarding important issues, such as the cost of your tuition and improving your overall education and experience here at UW-Eau Claire. Students can further empower the Senate to fight for student rights that matter to them.

We believe that by working with the administration and faculty, not against them, we will continue to thrive as a university. As student body president and vice president, we would work with the administration and staff to collaborate on tough issues like the millions of dollars being lost by budget costs. Whether it be lobbying together or working to keep campus services, a strong cohesiveness and understanding of varying factions needs to arise.

We would then propose meeting with state and local legislatures to make sure that they keep students’ interests a priority.

The state needs to know we are highly concerned and willing to fight for what we need and deserve as members of a university.

We need to improve the communication between the student and the senate; our voices can be that much more powerful as a critical mass. Issues, such as our budget crisis and the impact it has on our own university, will become less of an obstacle with more people able to voice alternate solutions .

Together we will be stronger in letting our voice and our pen be heard.It all starts with student awareness of the issues that most affect them. We also want to reach out to all student organizations and be able support them. The students and student organizations must have a way to communicate their needs to us, whether that be through feedback sessions with Senate, monthly Student Senate newsletters and responses, or a podcast about what Senate is doing for the student.

We want to make sure students are aware of when and where they are able to save money. The bookstore has a lot of book buyback policies that you might not know about. Students have a right to know when it is the time to get the most money back.

Student rights are another priority that need to be addressed. With improved communication, rights cannot be taken away from unaware students. With knowledge comes power to challenge our current situation. As students, we have the capabilities to voice how we want our university to meet our needs, from the most basic issues, such as healthy food on campus to the more complex issues such as seriously considering how the university can improve upon its impact on our environment.

Our university is a nationally-recognized school, receiving awards for accomplishments such as our excellence in music, education and research. Let’s keep it this way, only to improve as a university. In the face of adversity, it is easy to divide into factions, with people only keeping interests in what will most benefit themselves. We are proposing that students, Senate, faculty and administration work towards those interests which will benefit the student body as a whole. In such times we will need to make compromises, but with more communication and respect comes greater needs being met. Only in this way can we be resolute in all that we believe, write and say.

Sorelle is a junior political science major and guest columnist for The Spectator.