When the polls close on today's student government elections this evening, juniors Taylor Hans and Betsy Hudson hope to be the new faces of the Saint Mary's student body.
Hans, the current vice president of the class of 2013, and Hudson, a community committee member, are running for student body president and vice president, respectively. Their campaign is based on a platform of "bringing back tradition but making our own history," Hans said.
If elected, Hans and Hudson plan to bring back dorm dances and the "Big Sister" mentor program, in which upperclassmen help first years and sophomores become more acclimated to the Saint Mary's community.
The mentor program would follow the example of an existing niche mentoring program within the College's nursing program, Hudson said.
"Actually, the nursing program has developed a type of mentoring program this year and it has been working really well," Hudson said. "I really think that it is something that would be great to build for our campus."
Hans said the recent events of "Love Your Body Week" inspired her and Hudson to include the promotion of body image awareness in their platform.
"We would like to work with Women's Health on body issues around campus," Hudson said. "They have a ton of resources that just are not really known. Also, hearing another Saint Mary's student talk about these issues would give other girls confidence and let them know they can open up about body issues and talk about it."
Hans and Hudson said they want to promote school spirit by increasing student attendance at Saint Mary's athletic events through the distribution of free giveaways to fans.
"Incentives for attending sporting, whether it be giving out sunglasses or t-shirts, would be the way we would have more student attendance at sporting events," Hudson said. "I feel like those giveaways are a big push for people to come out and support their peers."
"Posting flyers and hanging posters around campus about the events for that week and incorporating the cheerleaders to make banners for the team would draw awareness to the athletes," Hans said. "This will bring more unity to our campus, [which is] something we really want to get across to the student body."
The ticket also values the voice of the student body, Hans said.
"We also thought of having a type of hall meeting where students can come once a month and voice what they want to see on campus," Hans said. "We think it's really important that the students get involved and let us know what we are and are not doing."
Hans and Hudson said they want to promote a greater sense of sisterhood and community among College students by helping girls foster relationships with their peers during their first year at Saint Mary's.
"Incorporating a day every semester during syllabus week where people get together and not just introduce themselves, but really talk together, would bring a greater sense of sisterhood to our campus," Hudson said.
Hudson said she and Hans hope to create a master calendar in which students can find out about upcoming campus events.
Since the Senate has recently been restructured, the student body must become familiar with the new duties and responsibilities of the organization. Hans said she hopes to express the role of the new Senate to the College community and promote student involvement.
"Next year when we get back, we will really need to have information sessions on what the Senate entails," Hans said. "The student body needs to know what the Senate can do for them since they are unsure of what the Senate actually does. It will be a great change for the whole student body, so we want everyone to know how they can get involved."
Hans said her affinity for her school drives her ambition to improve the College through student government.
"I love Saint Mary's and I really want to make the necessary changes to our community," Hans said. "I just hope that we are elected so that we have that opportunity to make the changes we need."
