Despite no opposition in the race for the LSA Student Government
executive positions, Students First presidential candidate Lauren
May and vice presidential candidate Ryan Ford said they have lost
no enthusiasm.
May, the current LSA-SG treasurer, and Ford, the appointments
vice chair, plan to continue with many of the efforts that the
government has put forth already this year. The addition of an
International Relations minor to the University’s curriculum
is one such concern.
While significant progress has been made, the candidates
stressed that the work is not over.
“We’ve gotten the go-ahead from the
administration,” said Ford, a junior.
May, a sophomore, added that they would like to eventually
create an International Relations concentration.
May and Ford expressed that they still plan to push for an
increase in the number of registration brackets to help guarantee
students a registration appointment that better reflects their
academic standing.
Each bracket currently covers a range of 15 credits, so that
students who have between 70 and 84 credits are placed in the same
bracket. The proposal would reduce each bracket to five credits.
Both LSA-SG and the Michigan Student Assembly recently passed
resolutions in favor of the changes. “(The issue of) credit
brackets looks pretty positive,” Ford said.
Another current LSA-SG issue that the candidates plan to promote
is the dedication of an entire week to homecoming festivities.
“The school is full of school spirit, so why not channel
that into homecoming celebration?” May said.
Ford said the week of festivity would kick off at the Michigan
theater with a film chronicling Michigan football history, followed
by speakers from the Michigan football program such as players and
coach Lloyd Carr.
The celebration would continue with a parade, an a capella
concert at Hill Auditorium and a day of festivities on the Diag,
including a competitive clothing donation drive and performances
from dance groups. The week would then culminate with a concert by
a well-known performer at Crisler Arena.
Candidates realize that this and other ideas diverge from
LSA-SG’s customary concentration on academic issues within
the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.
“Historically, LSA-SG has been a strictly academic student
government,” May said. “We’re now trying to
incorporate issues that aren’t purely academic.”
The University’s recent proposal to make certain
alterations to the Greek system that would entail substance-free
housing, professional live-in advisors and a delayed rush for new
students until the winter term is another concern of the
candidates.
“As a member of the Greek community, it’s something
that’s really important to me,” said Ford.
“LSA-SG has a working relationship with (Vice President of
Student Affairs) E. Royster Harper, and we could use that to come
up with a compromise that wouldn’t hurt the Greek community
as much as it’s proposed to right now.”
Both candidates expressed their approval of the current leaders
of LSA-SG — President David Matz and Vice President Tania
Brown, both of whom are juniors.
“This year has been sort of a rebuilding year. …
Dave and Tania have done tremendous things for our
government,” Ford said. “They’ve gotten people to
work hard and use their full potential.”
May and Ford also have full confidence in their own abilities to
work together as an executive team.
“I think Ryan and I make a really great team,
frankly,” May said. “We complement each other really
well.”
Elections will be held on March 17 and 18. Students can vote
online at vote.www.umich.edu.