For Student Body President
Kendra A. Adegbesan
Who Is She? |
Why Me? |
Your average goofball with way too much time on her hands and strong spirit to boot!
As a current junior studying Neurobiology, Creative Writing, and Film on a pre-med track, I have equal capacities of dedication and nonsense to impart. If I'm not thinking my way through all the movie plots I've committed to memory, I'm probably rolling around on the ground or hanging with my A1's. |
My Experience
I have been giving back into the Carnegie Mellon community since my first week freshman year, and have dedicated myself to empowering this campus anyway I can. From working on the Boss and McGill House Council as Vice President where I planned and facilitated events to enrich day to day living on the Hill, to serving on Undergraduate Student Senate for 5 semesters (3 as the Financial Chair), I have seen and experienced the ins and outs of student leadership and the role student government can provided for each and every student. As I spend my free time helping organizations across campus secure funding through the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Funding Committee, I have seen how we spend our time, our needs as both students and individuals, and the impact through, thoughtful representation can bring. I know how to navigate the demands of being a part of a system and representing it, not just to all of you, but faculty, staff, administration, and our global peers. I understand how student government functions, its strengths and weaknesses and what can be done to improve it the most effectively because I am a part of it. No catching up, no debriefs. Let's jump in head first. My Mission There needs to be massive change to the way we approach student representation and collaboration on campus. The pattern of continued disconnect between us and our peers across colleges, degrees, years, and programs is only being propagated by the lack of undergraduate connection to their representative body. While graduate student connection to their representatives has traditionally been more strong, connections across graduate departments, programs, and between the undergraduate and graduate bodies needs to be increased. We cannot have a truly engaged community without it. The current system relies on 200 bodies making executive decisions with little consultation of whom they are speaking for. This has to change. My role is not to petition only for my wants and initiatives. I am hear to listen and engage with you, each and every one of you. To make your time here not just a service to your education, but to your identity, interests, passions, dreams, and goals. That is why I wish to serve, to make everyone's experience here equal, whole, and bright. |
For Student Body Vice President
Alejandro S. Garces
Who is He? |
Why Me? |
He’s a classmate, a friend, a brother, a student, a leader, but most importantly he’s someone who wants to make a difference.
I am a current junior studying both Biology and Computational Biology (wow he loves biology). I am a music fanatic, with a special place in my heart for the great guitarists of history. Like Kendra, I also love movies, so much to the point of memorizing hilarious or super cool monologues from the various protagonists. But, more than anything else, I love my friends and family. |
My Experience
Although I do not have previous experience serving under the student government at CMU, I have been involved with leadership all three years that I have been at CMU. I currently serve as the brotherhood chair for the Phi Delta Theta chapter on campus, in which I am responsible for planning events that promote intra-fraternal growth and community. Additionally, I have been a very engaged member of the campus community throughout my time here. I am a proud representative of the Latin American community on campus and a member of the Spanish and Latin Student Association; I was accepted to serve as an Orientation Counselor for the incoming class of 2024, and I have been involved in Spirit Step Team, a very talented dance group on campus. These are just a few examples of the way I have gotten to know and engage with other students representing a plethora of backgrounds. Not only am I engaged with students, but I am a great listener and a problem solver. When someone comes to me with a problem we think through the solutions together and find the optimal way to resolve the problem. My Mission As a student here, I’ve found that the biggest problem faced by students is the lack of advocacy and resources for advocacy. Many students voice pertinent issues affecting their learning experience here on campus, but find that their voices aren’t reaching the ears of administration and student leaders who can effect the change necessary to address these concerns. It is time to bridge the gap between the people who can make the change and the people who need the change. Increased and more effective communication between the various groups on campus and student government and administration is my primary goal. I will work to represent all the different communities that make up our greater CMU community. The CMU experience is one that all students should be able to make the most of, which means being granted access to all the necessary resources they need. Thus, it is pertinent that issues regarding representation of underrepresented groups on campus such as the various cultural minority groups and underrepresented programs such as the social sciences and fine arts programs receive more attention and respect on campus. |