LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To all VCU students: a declaration of our SGA candidacies
In a few weeks, you will exercise your power to select new Student
Government Association officers. At no time during the entire year will
you be in a stronger position to change the way you experience the
university and the way your $90 annual student activity fee is spent. We
have formed the Students for Positive Change party in the simple belief
that better student government doesn’t come from above-it comes from
within. It begins with each of you.

So, we not only are asking for your vote. We are, more importantly,
asking for your ideas – now and in the entire year ahead – about what you
want from the university. As your personal advocates, we are asking you
to share your dreams about what you would like the university to become
so together we can determine the best path to achieve those dreams.

Jibran Muhammad is a candidate for SGA president. As a pre-law,
Honors College political-science major, he is a two-year-veteran associate
justice on the SGA Judicial Board. With two year’s experience as a resident
assistant, Jibran is currently serving in the 2008 Virginia Capital Semester
as an intern to Delegate Jim Scott.

Adam Sowder is a candidate for vice president. His experiences as a
legislative activist in Virginia politics and as a writer serve him well. As
SGA deputy director of political affairs, Adam is an urban-studies junior
aiming to do graduate work in international studies.

Soulmaz “Solle” Taghavi is a candidate for executive director. A
sophomore in international relations, she serves in the SGA cabinet as
director of political affairs. She also participates in a variety of other VCU
organizations and activities, including the Persian Dance Team.

With both humility and enthusiasm, we are asking to represent you
as your servant leaders to change the SGA to a more positive force on
campus. The theme of our campaign is “ACTIONS COUNT@VCU!”
We are optimistic about our young university, excited about its progress
and amazed at the growth possibilities afforded hard-working students.
The many problems facing a rapidly-growing institution represent great
individual opportunities not to be found at older, well-established schools.
Rather than fitting into their well-worn paths of the past, here our task
is to shape new directions for the future. Like young people everywhere,
our attitude is “YES WE CAN!”

Some of our major initiatives will be in the areas of, first, making the
university more affordable and more user-friendly; second, increasing the
focus on our athletic programs and on health maintenance; third, making
the efforts of our talented musicians and artists a larger presence on campus;
and fourth, creating an environment where the fraternities, sororities and
residence halls play a more-active role in the social and political life on
campus. Our program is detailed on our Web site, actionscount.com. In
future issues of The Commonwealth Times, look for our positions on
these issues and other important topics of interest. Log on. Express your
ideas. Share your dreams. Join our high-energy team!

We must create the VCU of tomorrow. This is our time. We are
ready!

-Students for Positive Change