LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, 1-14-08

Dear VCU Student Body,

On behalf of my running
mates Gonzalo Aida and Joshua
Ronk, I am writing to declare my
candidacy in the March elections
for VCU Monroe Park Campus
student body president.

Elected officials should be
accountable to the people, and
accordingly, we will be the
humble servants you deserve,
protecting you from excessive
government.

Spending is out of control. As
your student body president, I
will cut costs by hiring only staff
members absolutely essential to
executive operations. We can set
a good example to the university
by being frugal with our own
money.

Secondly, Richmond has
been good to us and I think
it is time that we be good to
Richmond-a city in which 18.5
percent of its inhabitants live
below the poverty line. I am very
sympathetic to the needs of the
working poor-many of whom
serve us daily. Being student
body president is an hourly, paid
position, and as president, I will
donate all of my earnings over
minimum wage to the Richmond
Food Bank to show my solidarity
with VCU employees who are not
capable of earning a living wage.
Gonzalo and Joshua join me in
this promise. Our sacrifice can
be a symbol.

I am a second-term student
body senator and am the former
chairman of the Senate’s Legislative
Affairs Committee.

Gonzalo Aida is a third-year
political science student and a
person who prides himself on
being up to date on all current
events. As your student body
vice president, we can expect
him to be the fair moderator of
the Student Senate.

As a floor rep. to the hall
council in Brandt Hall, Joshua
Ronk is used to bringing people
together. As our SGA executive
director, we can expect nothing
less. Joshua knows that we can
do great things when we put our
heads together.

I wish you a positive, productive
semester! And I look
forward to seeing you along the
trail ahead.

Respectfully yours,

Steven C. Latimer
SGA Senator
Monroe Park Campus

Editor’s Note – According to the
2006 census, 20.8 percent live
below the poverty line, which
only further proves Mr. Latimer’s
point.