LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In my four years at VCU, I have been a lot like the rest
of you, fairly apathetic about the Student Government
Association. Other than free pizza during exams, rarely
did I feel inspired or motivated by the SGA.

A few weeks ago, I was approached by Steven
Latimer, Gonzalo Aida and Joshua Ronk and asked
for my support for their run for the SGA Executive
Branch. I listened to their ideas, took some time to
look into the opposing side’s platform and returned to
them offering not only my support but also my help
in getting the word out.

I finally felt motivated.

These candidates’ ideas on pushing for reforms
within the SGA, dealing with appropriations to student
organizations, fighting tuition hikes and building a
better overall relationship between the SGA and those
of us going to VCU struck a chord. Here was a slate of
candidates who got it, guys who understood that there
was apathy among the students and knew that to deal
with that, they needed to reform the SGA and turn it
into something relevant and that fights for our needs.

It wasn’t a promise for a football team. It wasn’t a
reliability on unsustainable endowments. It wasn’t attacks
against those who truly cared about this university.

It was real change.

Something that makes the words on that piece of
paper we all hope to get when all is said and done mean
something more than a bunch of debt and years of our
lives. Something that could turn VCU into a school we
could all be proud of.

I ask each and every one of you to take a moment
and look at the Latimer-Aida-Ronk platform. Get to
know what these guys stand for and understand that
this is a great opportunity for VCU to really move
forward in how it interacts with all of us.
Let’s vote for real change. Let’s vote for effective
leadership. Let’s vote for Steven Latimer, Gonzalo Aida
and Joshua Ronk and help make VCU
something we can all be a part of.

Jason Kenney

—

Friends,

Real change at VCU begins with
real leadership.

For the last few weeks, we have
had an opportunity to speak with
our fellow students on what that real
change means. Fighting for greater
transparency and accountability in regard
to our tuition, fighting for greater
transparency and accountability in
regard to the allocation of our student-
activity fees, fighting for greater
transparency and accountability in
how the SGA operates: All of these
have been to create an environment
that is open to and representative of
every student at VCU.

We are a community with as many
ideas and opinions as we have fellow
students. And each and every one of
those ideas and opinions deserves to
be heard, to be given a proper forum
with the power to truly advocate for
it. The Latimer-Aida-Ronk ticket will
be that advocate.

As we enter the final day of voting,
we ask that you give us your support
and show that you stand for open
governance by your elected representatives,
open operating procedures by
the administration of VCU-and that
you stand for a conversation among
the student body so that we can effect
real change for all of us.

We appreciate this opportunity to
represent you, this opportunity to
engage in a discussion to make VCU
a school we can all be proud to be a
part of.

Each and every one of us is part of
this school. Each and every one of us
deserves to be heard. Each and every
one of us can create real change.
Thank you for your support.

Please vote Latimer-Aida-Ronk at
www.vcusga.com.

Steven Latimer

—

Dear Editor,

I have tried my best to find out
as much as possible on both tickets
running for SGA president and all I
find from Jibran Muhammad are lame,
hollow promises and negative attacks
against Steven Latimer, including
an 11th hour attempt to smear him
as intolerant. Steven Latimer will
represent all students at VCU and will
not attack those he disagrees with as
Jibran seems to want to do.

I, as a student of VCU, do not want
to be led by a man that would bring
such negativity to the table. I do not
want hypocrites to lead us; how can a
candidate be part of the “Students for
Positive Change” party when he – the
leader of the party – is so negative?
What I want is real change and real
leadership, not negative slander that
does nothing but deter student interest
and keep the SGA locked in the same
hands year after year.

We need to take a stand against this
mud. Vote Latimer for President!
Daniel Fink

*Editor’s note: Jibran Muhammad
said he has not contributed to any
negative campaigning against Steven
Latimer.

—

Thank You!

Today is the final day of the SGA
election. Let your voice be heard! Join
the chorus! As this campaign ends
with your song, our hearts are filled
with your music.

You have our gratitude and deep
appreciation.

To all of you, thank you.

Thank you for all you have given
in so many ways.

Thank you for your patience in
wading through and responding to
our position papers.

Thank you for all the encouragement
and help you offered during
this campaign.

Thank you for your invitations to
join you in your many diverse activities
that make this a wonderful university,
including the Alternative Spring Break
trip to Minnesota.

Thank you for your ideas and
your vision for creating the VCU of
tomorrow.

Thank you for your earnest sincerity
in opening our eyes to your reality,
to your perspective on what is truly
important.

Thank you for reaffirming the
wonderful miracle of democracy
where the many come together to
select the few to represent them in a
more-perfect union.

And, finally, thank you most
humbly for your votes. With this gift,
if elected, we will reciprocate during
the entire year ahead, giving you in
return the better government you
deserve, the better university you
imagine. We will demonstrate every
day that, indeed, Actions Count at
VCU.

Students For Positive Change

Jibran Muhammad

Adam Sowder

Solle Taghavi