Reflection

It's been a year since Samantha and I made the decision to run for President and Vice President. It was not a decision we took lightly. Sam and I understand the great potential of UCCS, its students and its SGA. We have faced many challenges along the way. Working under a new Constitution and Constitutional Bylaws, we learned how important the little things, like conjunctions, are. We worked to reestablish and strengthen relationships with administration, the Board of Regents and student leaders from all over Colorado. We fought hard against major state initiatives that would have caused drastic increases in tuition. We still continue to work against the lack of student knowledge about and participation in SGA. We have never forgotten that we represent a diverse student body of 8900 students, even though only about 2-4% even know who we are. Our vision of a strong Student Government that will represent the UCCS student body as UCCS grows to become the largest college in Colorado has been the motivation behind all of our actions. UCCS will be the biggest college/university in Colorado. This is a simple fact based on the amount of land we have available for growth, and our ever increasing number of students. It isn't about the glory, the benefits, our resumes or the power. It's about the future.

As we move forward towards tomorrow, the SGA needs to be strong. In the early years of UCCS, the SGA was created for the purpose of handling the student newspaper budget. Today, we are the caretakers of over $200,000 in student fee money as well as advocates for student rights, wants and needs. The possibilities are endless, but our time as President and Vice President is nearly at an end.

Samantha and I have decided not to run for re-election. We will both be graduate students next year, and although we still qualify to run, we feel we need to focus on our studies and future careers. Between April 11th and April 15th, students will have the opportunity to once again vote for those they wish to represent them. I ask each student to not take this decision lightly. There are a number of little things that need to be cared for, reviewed and discussed - each that affect students in some way or another. The vision of the future needs to be cultivated and protected. Before we leave office, Samantha and I will take the time to train our replacements as we have obtained a multitude of knowledge that we previously were not aware existed.

As I look back at what we have accomplished, not only as an Executive team, but as an entire SGA, my only true hope is reflected in the following quote by John Quincy Adams: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader"

Staying the Course

Nearly every time a politician opens his or her mouth, you hear something about "staying the course," but what does this mean? I like to think of the imagery. Imagine being on a ship headed for a particular point. You and your crew planned out your course before you left. You knew, and hopefully, still know where you're headed. Along the way, you and your crew are faced with many challenges - both internally and externally - tempests, pirates, leaks, stress and scurvy. Sometimes, all you can think about is just surviving. Sometimes, you just want to find the easiest way to survive. The problem with that is that you may lose your way in doing so. You might get so distracted trying to survive that you forget to watch the stars and to track your navigation.

This is kind of what my life is like. Almost a year ago, I  fell into running for Student Body President. I never had any desire to be in a position of power. Really, I just wanted to make a difference. Simply put, I ran for President because I believed (and still do) that I could do the job better. Why else would anyone run for office?

It hasn't be an easy journey. I've faced many of my own challenges. There are so many variables that need to be considered with every decision, and it is rare for things to be simple. The hardest thing has been having to make those hard decisions that may be unpopular, but are beneficial to a majority of the student body. I often find myself wondering why I work so hard and often consider taking the easiest route so I can survive, but I know I have to stay the course. Anything can be said, but it is what one does that matters. With only a little over 3 months left until the end of my term, you can be assured that I will be working hard to make sure I arrive as close to my original destination as possible. 

Conversation on Ethics

It would be a losing battle if I were to attempt to explain ethics to an individual who doesn't have the conscience to understand the concept. Ethics takes more than knowledge; it takes feeling. Even though you can do something, it doesn't mean that you should. This is especially true for those in a position of power. In a position of power, one should have the utmost respect for the rules and laws that govern the populous. A person who has knowledge and power without integrity is dangerous to all those who follow. With power comes influence and without a true reverence for ethics, one with power can negatively impact the viewpoint, behavior and progress of a society. Ultimately, it is up to the individual follower to be aware of this influence and to examine a leader’s integrity, but unfortunately, it can be difficult to separate truth from fiction. The necessary faith we put in our leaders often blinds us to their unethical behavior. However, I ask each of you to take the time to question the truths you are told. Be an active participant in the rules that affect your life. Keep your leaders accountable. Furthermore, when deciding upon a leader, chose one with reliable integrity. Do not allow yourself to be blinded, see the truth.