Thirteen candidates are running for four seats as University of Iowa Student Government independent senators for the 2017-18 school year. Below are profiles on six of the candidates who spoke at the UISG independent senator debate on Monday. The remaining seven candidates did not participate in Monday’s debate. Undergraduate students can vote for their favorite candidates beginning Wednesdat at 8 a.m. Voting closes Thursday at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced Friday at 5 p.m. in Hubbard Commons in the IMU.
Lauren Phalen. If elected, Phalen hopes to use her time as a senator to assure resources and opportunities available to incoming freshmen and current students are accessible to everyone. Phalen also plans to support increased efforts to address issues surrounding both on and off campus housing at the UI, including heightened risk of sexual misconduct within dorms, unsafe and expensive off campus housing situations, and more.
Joe Reed. Reed is currently a junior in the Health and Human Physiology Department pursuing a B.S. in Human Physiology with a minor in Psychology while also on the Pre-Medical track. Reed is a first-generation, LGBT student. If elected, Reed hopes work on initiatives that address LGBTQ inclusion, transfer student support, first generation student advocacy, student organization support, and mental health advocacy and awareness.
Herbert A. Meisner. If elected, Meisner would use a three-step plan he established to avoid scholarship cuts that could heavily impact students and their financial planning and establish panels and bring speakers to campus to help promote proactive conversations amongst students about politics. Meisner is also interested in introducing legislation for a Grab ‘n Go box where students could walk into the dining hall, grab food, and leave for class. Within the formation of this bill, biodegradable boxes will be a required.
Cameron Cooper. If elected, Cooper said he would make it one of his goals to use his experiences leading, and partaking in different groups, to reach out to different factions of the student body to hear as many different voices as possible. Cooper’s platform addresses issues of sexual assault prevention, student voting rights, and providing more opportunities to create more leaders on campus.
Kyle Scheer. Scheer is currently a Freshman at the UI. If elected, Scheer would work to address issues of affordability, increased transparency of what UISG does, and on promoting sustainability both in and out of the classroom.
Jenna Pokorny. Pokorny’s platform addresses the issues of widening student outreach, enhancing student organization financing, linking domestic and international students, expanding resources for programs that help nurture this link such as the Conversation Center and Tippie Buddies, and creating awards for cross-cultural collaboration.
