Petitions for the Fall 2011 student government executive branch are currently available in the Student Activity Center as well as online and will be due April 7.

Dan Rolando, a senior physics and economics major, is the current student vice president for student affairs- a position that currently has one Student Senate member running for fall 2011 position.

Kaci Abolt is the lone candidate thus far and is from the Party for United Leaders Supporting Excellence.

“The large events that the (student vice for student affairs) is responsible for coordinating are the Pantherpaloozas, the RSO fair and Panther Service Day,” Rolando said.

The student vice president for student affairs serves as the liaison between students and their governance in student government, Rolando said.

The student vice president for student affairs have to be in touch with what Eastern students want and be able to translate that into action on behalf of the students.

This year, a spring Pantherpalooza was added with positive feedback from students and the Registered Student Organizations, and it is set to become an annual event.

“The (student vice for student affairs) and the student affairs senate committee conduct polls and student satisfaction surveys to find out if student government is meeting the needs of the students it represents,” Rolando said.

Rolando said the position entails a lot of cooperation with other executives, senate members, administration and faculty.

“The (student vice for student affairs) must seek out a diverse set of resources to meet the desires of our diverse campus population,” Rolando said.

The student vice president for student affairs has to make sure that the student government is putting on programs to entertain Eastern students and ensure that their opinions are being expressed.

Kaci Abolt

Year: Sophomore

Major: Political Science

Party: PULSE

Hometown: Charleston

Time on Student Senate: Two semesters

Current position: Student affairs committee member

Promise to students:

I want to be more vocal as the student vice president for student affairs because it is a position that people should automatically put a face with the title.

Project goals:

Everyone remembers their first weekend at Eastern and I want to make every student or at least a majority of the students feel like they belong here. I want them to see where they fit.

First goal if elected:

One thing I really want to do is to help new registered student organizations get started and put their information out to students who might want to join. The Student Senate approves all RSOs, but we should try to be more involved with them after they are approved.

Best candidate because:

I think I already have so many of the qualities the person would need. I am a part of so many different organizations on campus and I know each of those positions would only strengthen my role as the student vice president for student affairs.

Changes to Student Senate:

A big problem this year was the (Student Senate) not participating in its own sponsored events and the University Board would generally have to pick up the slack. I think we need to be more accountable toward our own programs and how we choose to run them.

Biggest challenge:

Because of necessary budget cuts almost 90 percent of budgets took a cut and the events that I have to put on depends on funding. It might be hard at first but I know it will challenge me to not only rely on free T-shirts, but the quality of the programs.

Nike Ogunbodede can be reached at 581-2812

or ovogunbodede@eiu.edu.