Not surprisingly, as the presidents of the Cal Poly College Republicans and Cal Poly Democrats, we are rarely in agreement. Our paths first crossed in middle school, back in the days when life was so much simpler, when student elections depended on who the nicest person was, or who was more popular, or maybe even whomever passed out more candy with their name on it. College changed everything. Freshman year, we ended up on opposite sides of our dorm room, and ironically, four years later we’re on opposite sides of the political spectrum. And while our respective parties are usually at war, we’ve found it necessary to put aside our differences and unite over what we feel is for the greater good of our campus – Angela Kramer for Associated Student Inc. president.
After taking a look at all three candidates’ platforms, we realized that each candidate has a very different stance on how ASI should be run, and each one appeals to a different type of student. But if Angela’s campaign can unite two polar-opposite people like us, just think about the effect her presidency will have on the campus as a whole.
The role of the ASI president is to listen to student voices and act on student choices. Many students feel that they have not been represented during the past few years or that their student government leaders are unaccessible. Now more than ever, change has become crucial in order to promote a real student community on this campus. Angela can be our agent for change.
You may wonder what kind of experience Angela has to offer, but as fellow campus leaders, we can vouch that she is no stranger to campus politics. As a political science major, Angela understands government in ways that the others are hard-pressed to compete with. From her extensive work as a student activist, she has led campaigns, marched for equality and stood up at ASI board meetings when all others remained silent. An important example of this lies in the recent student outcry over the pending contract with JUC in Saudi Arabia. Students wanted a forum to have their concerns addressed when previous attempts to talk about the issue were shut down. Angela was the only member of the Board of Directors who stood up in public repeatedly, not only against discriminatory programs, but also in support of the rights of students to be heard by members of the Cal Poly administration, including President Baker.
One thing is clear when talking to Angela: She looks to take into consideration the many different points of view of the student body. She will not exclude voices that do not agree with her own because she is a true advocate of free speech. Representation that notes diversity of opinion, background and social perspective (as her platform states) is vital to a well-rounded college experience.
A significant part of her platform is her focus on sustainability – a realistic goal with possible solutions. At the risk of sounding like the recent Gingrich/Pelosi or Robertson/Sharpton commercials on “Global Climate Change,” we’re going to tell you why both of us can get behind this platform point. Liberals often discuss their motivations regarding sustainability as being about protecting the environment, as well as alleviating our dependence on foreign oil. To continue that thread, it’s safe to say that conservatives would lean toward discussing the ways that sustainability is good for the economy. The more money we can save on energy costs, the better we can stimulate healthy spending in our communities and our individual pocketbooks.
So, we want someone who can walk the walk, and Angela’s track record is proof of her dedication to this movement. During her time on the Board of Directors, she co-authored a resolution promoting the Office of Sustainability. And her current campaign includes a pledge to create a campus-wide composting program and recycling bins in every classroom. Improving the Health Center and generating relationships with downtown businesses are formidable ambitions; however, we need to put our energy first to improve areas that are within the jurisdiction of ASI and use student government lobbying power to influence the rest. Angela’s campaign is about tackling a variety of student challenges, including student safety and diversity, yet still maintaining goals that are genuine and feasible.
Today and tomorrow, you have the opportunity to elect a woman who is passionately committed to being your leader. She bleeds green and gold and is determined to provide a student government that promotes the student voice above all else. We believe in creating an ASI that we can all take pride in, and that’s why we’re voting Angela Kramer for president.
Christina Chiappe is a social sciences senior and the president of the Cal Poly College Republicans. Erica Janoff is an industrial engineering senior and the president of the Cal Poly Democrats.