Andrew Zubyk / The Avion
Sophomore, BS Aerospace Engineering
"Hello, I am Jet Stevenson, an Aerospace Engineering student at ERAU. I am running to be your College of Engineering Senator. I aim to increase the number of tutored upper-level courses available to students, which in turn creates more on-campus jobs. Parking on campus is a mess, and I am additionally running to make sure that parking tickets are automatically forgiven during finals week and midterm exams. I will bring greater opportunities for all Engineering Majors, from bringing diverse companies to the Career Expos to allocating more funding for smaller engineering RSOs. Finally, I wish to make the SGA easier to work with. This can be done by better defining and publicizing the authorities of officers and instituting a proper checks and balances system. With the collaboration of other senators, I have no doubt that a better, more accountable SGA can be made. With your vote, I am confident that I will be able to deliver on all the above and more as your College of Engineering Senator."
What makes you a qualified candidate for this position?
"Throughout my life, I have always strived to be helpful where I can. In that pursuit, I have worked with individuals and groups to clear up problems and resolve disputes. From these instances, I have learned to effectively navigate and resolve conflicts and create. It is this skill that I wish to bring to the SGA Senate. In addition to this, I am good at balancing the various factions and conflicts that tend to emerge in internal politics. Furthermore, I have always found the process of identifying problems and resolving them to be fulfilling and satisfying, no matter how big or small. This will serve as my primary motivator to ensure that, no matter the workload, I will fulfill and surpass the duties expected of me. To conclude this section, I want to state the following: as a matter of principle, I will do my job. No matter how congested my schedule becomes, I will always do the job I was elected to do to the best of my ability."
What is the purpose of the SGA Student Senate?
"The purpose of the SGA Senate is to advocate for students, carry out projects, and ensure an accountable Student Government. It is the role of Senators to serve on committees that focus on specific projects and objectives. In addition, it is the duty of Senators to serve as liaisons between the numerous college entities, such as Sodexo, ROTC, and the Fitness Center. The SGA Senate, however, primarily serves as a legislative and auditing body. Furthermore, it is the role and duty of the SGA Senate to reform procedures and streamline them in the most efficient way possible. The Senate must also serve as the primary auditing and accountability mechanism for the SGA. It must maintain a transparent and ethical standard for the SGA. To conclude, the Student Senate must reflect the interests and desires of the student body. It must take these interests and desires and pursue them with tempered haste."
How do you plan to elevate and communicate issues that your constituents are concerned about to the Senate?
"As a Student Senator, my approach to elevating and communicating constituents' concerns involves establishing an open and transparent channel of communication. To ensure accessibility, I will conduct regular town hall meetings and open forums and utilize various social media platforms to engage with students. Through these platforms, I will actively seek input, encouraging students to share their concerns, ideas, and perspectives. Additionally, I plan to reach out to the student body to regularly gauge its pulse. This will better inform the priorities of the other senators and me. To enhance representation, I'll actively collaborate with student organizations, attend student events, and maintain an approachable presence on campus. Furthermore, I will work towards establishing a dedicated communication platform, such as a newsletter or website, where students can stay informed about Senate activities and decisions. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and communication, I aim to bridge the gap between the student body and the Senate, ensuring that their concerns are not only heard but also addressed effectively."
How will you improve the ERAU experience for your constituents?
"I will make the student experience better for everyone by making the Student Government Association easier to work with from both an individual and RSO perspective. Additionally, the elevation and proliferation of the viewpoints of the student body will allow the SGA to make decisions that better reflect the student body. My goal of bringing new and diverse companies to the career expo will allow students to find internships at other companies that are not just Northrup, Boeing, Lockheed, and Raytheon. Companies like BAE, Curtus-Wright, and JB&B all will increase the number of attainable internships and coops for all Embry Riddle students. Furthermore, increasing the number of classes available for tutoring will allow internships to become more attainable through higher grades and higher class pass rates. Finally, bringing additional funding to smaller engineering RSOs on campus will allow students to pursue club projects that better reflect their interests. All of these can be done quickly, and I am committed to bringing them to campus as soon as possible."
