Michelle Murphy

Running for re-election, Michelle Murphy, a junior rhetoric and public advocacy major from Tuscola, is the incumbent candidate responsible for revamping school spirit through the formation of Panther Nation.

Last year, Murphy’s election platform focused on increasing student body enthusiasm and combating low attendance at sporting events, which saw an upswing in student turnout during the fall semester.

With approximately 450 due-paying members, Panther Nation is the largest registered student organization on campus, offering prizes and tailgates at exclusive events.

This year, Murphy, who served on the academic affairs committee for one semester prior to becoming student body president, said her campaign promise is to remain active and refrain from making promises she cannot keep.

As the campus Party of United Leaders Supporting Excellence presidential candidate, Murphy said she has pioneered major outreach efforts on campus to mend and build relationships, as well as solicited contributions from the community and saved student government funds in the process.

If re-elected, she intends to work with different groups to plan a campus-wide philanthropic event to raise money for a charity or a public project and believes herself to be the best candidate to serve the student body based on prior experience.

“I know what it takes to get things done efficiently,” Murphy said. “I have had a year to acquire resources and build relationships that I will take advantage of in the future.”

Murphy’s motivation to serve the student body stems from the great satisfaction she said she feels in finding a creative solution that improves the status quo.

Her major concern for the campus revolves around expanding efficiency by moving forward and not repeating the endeavors perpetuated by other groups.

“In a time of scarcity, if we are going to accomplish everything that needs to be done, we need to stop wasting resources by inadvertently duplicating the efforts of other groups in the greater campus community,” Murphy said.

In order to address this concern, Murphy pledged to foster communication among campus groups and encourage each to get involved in the undertakings of organizations outside their own.

“There has to be a way to get RSOs and other campus groups to be able to network,” Murphy said. “How many groups do the same kinds of fundraisers to promote Breast Cancer awareness? Couldn’t we do one huge fundraiser? We should learn to share resources, along with ideas. The campus community needs to be a free-trade marketplace of ideas.”

Though business-minded, Murphy is fascinated by simplicity and considers small children her role models and Eastern her home.

Nahder Houshmand

Pledging to never let politics or personal convictions get in the way of attaining his campaign promises for the betterment of the student body, Nahder Houshmand, a junior political science major from Collinsville, believes his vision is unmatched by the other presidential candidates.

“I believe that in a time of fiscal uncertainty, it is our duty as elected representatives to wisely spend the money that we have access to,” Houshmand said. “Priorities should be organized in a manner of need, with those affecting the greatest number of constituents placed first in the hierarchy of things.”

In light of substandard state funding and budgetary issues that intensify financial struggles, Houshmand has dedicated himself to ensuring that all decisions, especially when dealing with finances, are well-thought-out and considered from all angles.

He said the priorities pursued by student government this year have largely upheld this creed, but conceded that there are times when the representatives have slipped up.

Houshmand said he promises to ensure that student government actions are consistent with the best interest of the student body, and when possible, see to it that ties with the Charleston community are enhanced as well.

Running with the United Party of Students, he plans to address the issue of deficient student parking, work more closely with committees, as well as construct a student government Facebook page to serve as a quick and convenient resource for students.

Houshmand said though he has never served as the student body president before, he knows and understands the concerns of students better than any other and promises to continuously seek his constituents’ input.

As the two-semester chair of the student relations committee, Houshmand is currently spearheading a campaign to uncover student issues.

“Not only are we receiving very helpful feedback, but there seems to be a genuine interest on behalf of the senate to consider these concerns and work towards solutions.” Houshmand said. “I promise to work very hard to see student interest furthered.”

In order to achieve his campaign promises and implement change, if elected, Houshmand intends to keep the student senate adequately informed as to their constituents’ position on compelling issues, which would ultimately produce a student represented.

As a three-semester senator who has assumed a role in leadership, Houshmand said he wishes to serve the student body because he strongly believes in public service and can contribute rational solutions to the university’s problems.

Grateful for the life lessons afforded to him by outstanding teachers, Houshmand distinguished a high school teacher as his role model for showing him that anything in life can be fascinating.

Voted “Senate Sweetheart” by his peers last year, Houshmand described Eastern as a place where individuals grow and learn much about themselves, their community and their surroundings.

Tommy Nierman

Convinced of his competence to serve the student body and counteract what he views as a lack of interest on campus, Tommy Nierman, a sophomore business management major from Woodstock, initiated the new Volt party to jumpstart student involvement.

“I am constantly amazed by how many intelligent, well-spoken people I meet who don’t get involved ’til sophomore year or even later,” Nierman said.

Nierman, a three-semester senator and chair of the external relations committee, described Eastern as an institution with a long, rich history complete with plenty of pride but little tradition, and promises to employ his passion for student government to create positive changes that enhance the Eastern experience.

Along with practicing financial responsibility, Nierman’s goal is to establish a Freshman Leadership Organization in the effort to streamline new students into beneficial programs while providing them with the skills they need to be successful in school.

He also promises to create a senior class ring available to students with a minimum of 90 credit hours to not only help distinguish their achievement on campus, but allow them to take away more than just a diploma from Eastern.

“Eastern is where all my best friends are,” Nierman said. “It is where I have grown as a person, tried and failed, tried and succeeded, and stepped out of my shell. Eastern gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment. Attending EIU has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.”

In the effort to give back to the university, Nierman intends to redirect student government to better represent the interests of their constituents.

“I would like to see the senate do more programs and less paperwork,” he said. “If the student body of Eastern can’t attend it or feel its presence, then they do not care and it does not help them.”

Last fall, Nierman reached out to local businesses to conduct the second annual community business expo, which brought more than 30 companies to campus.

This gave students the opportunity to visit booths, gather information, partake in raffles and win prizes for the purpose of bridging the gap between the student body and the Charleston community.

He also organized the educational forum, “House Parties, Toga Parties, and can my Landlord Really Do That?!” and represented Eastern as an elected delegate to the Conference on Student Government Associations in College Station, Texas, where he was exposed to new ideas he intends to implement to improve interactions between student government and the student body.

Describing himself as a leader with a goofy sense of humor, Nierman aims to approach the student body in a down-to-earth manner.