Candidates running for Student Council offices were announced on the University Board of Elections Web site Friday.
Third-year College student Thomas Gibson said he is running for Council president to improve the position.
"My number one priority is student safety," Gibson said. "I think that's a huge issue that breaks down into more specific things."
Gibson currently is in his second year as a College representative for Council, and he said he hopes to rebuild the organization's legitimacy.
"How is a president going to stand up and say, 'I'm going to get this and this and this done,' when we're working on a foundation of ignorance and apathy," Gibson said.
Third-year College student Curran Jhanjee also is running for Council President. He said his campaign is underway.
"I feel it is an opportunity I will never have again, so I feel, why not?" Jhanjee said. "I'm in touch with the people."
Gregory Jackson Jr., second-year Engineering student, also is running for Council President.
"I felt from my past experiences that through being involved with Council I could reach a broader base of students," Jackson said.
Some of initiatives Jackson said he sought to implement include making Council more financially self-sufficient, instituting stricter guidelines for hate crimes, creating a meditation room, and improving Council member relationships to students through forums and Council member attendance at various student group meetings.
Second-year College student Jequeatta Upton also is running for Student Council President. She said she originally planned to run for Executive Vice President, but she said Council President would better allow her to implement her goals
"My primary objective is to strengthen the relationship with the student body," Upton said.
Other plans Upton said she wanted to implement include ensuring Council serves all Contracted Independent Organizations fairly, expanding on current Council initiatives and increasing student participation.
Third-year college student Dave Lee, running for Council executive vice president, is new to the University's student government.
"Some people who have run before have been very self-interested," Lee said. "I feel like I'm a very down-to-earth guy and can get more people involved, more people interested."
Lee said he does not have a specific platform, but he said he wants to change the general mentality students have about Council.
Second-year College student Samuel White, who is also running for the executive vice president position, was a College representative last semester. He said running for office is what he sees as the best way to continue involvement.
"I would like to try to arrange that student ID's are not social security numbers and also research and address the problem with ISIS because I know earlier this semester it was terrible," White said. "I'm always open to other suggestions from the student body."
Second-year College student Darius Nabors is also running for Executive Vice President.
"I want to make sure people follow through on legislation and make sure it occurs," Nabors said. "I also want to sponsor better relations with other organizations."
Running for Council vice president for administration is Monti Lawson, current president of the First Year Council.
"I sat as a member of the representative body this year, and I was kind of saddened at the state [Student Council] is in now," Lawson said. "We want to be the people who serve student needs."
Lawson said his goal was rebuilding student faith in Council, which he said he felt he could best achieve in this "non-politico executive position."
Second-year College student Mohamed Sidki also is running for vice president for administration. He was not available for comment by press time.
Current Council Vice President for Organizations, Rebecca Keyworth, is running for reelection. Keyworth began as a member of the Council's appropriations committee her second year and said she saw a lot of groups left unhappy.
"The major things I've worked on are appropriations reform," Keyworth said. "The big reasons I'm running are to finish off what I've started and make sure it's in place and running smoothly."
Third-year College student Ji-Young Moon is challenging but was unavailable for comment by press time.
Elections will take place Feb. 25 through March 2.
Read More
Will the Faculty Senate’s no-confidence vote impact the U.Va. Board of Visitors?
By Brandon Kile | 13 minutes agoIn many cases, a no-confidence vote may soon be followed by steps taken to remove the leadership that may be acting against the wishes of a community.
Two senior U.Va. Health leaders quietly take new jobs without formal announcement
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayKibbe’s departure marks the end of an ongoing battle between U.Va. Health employees and their senior leadership.
Letter from 12 deans to Board of Visitors goes unanswered for almost two weeks
By Naima Sawaya | YesterdayAt the time of publication, the academic deans had received no response from the Board regarding their offer to meet with the Board “as soon as possible.”
