Editor’s note: More in-depth looks into those running for student government executive positions can be seen later in the week in the Daily Eastern News or on dennews.com 

Focused on the key duties throughout the election, two candidates, Brandon Goodman and Lauren Price, step up to the challenge and compete to become the executive vice president next school year.

The other positions on the student government executive board only have one candidate running leaving the executive vice president position as the only contested position for the election.

Current Executive Vice President Mitch Gurick said it was important that the candidates realize the gravity of the position and must present themselves professionally throughout their term, especially during the Board of Trustees meeting.

As the Board of Trustees student representative, the executive vice president is the voice of the students helping decide such things as tuition and room and board increases for the university.  

Student Senate Speaker Goodman had the same sentiments as Gurick. Goodman said the most important thing going into these meetings with other trustees is keeping a level of professionalism throughout.

Price, the vice chairwoman for the Student Action Team, said she prides herself on being a professional women and professionalism is key to her as well.

The voter registration drive is also a duty of the job both Goodman and Price said will be a prime focus if elected. Each had different opinions on how to get students registered and, more importantly, registered soon.

Price said she plans to have registration forms next to the sign-in sheet in the residence halls at the beginning of the year.

She said students need to know the importance of the election by talking about laws that are being discussed such as the sales tax referendum. She plans to have training set up for people interested in helping with the registration drive, She added they also need to know how to entice people to vote with facts of what is going on.

“If you have facts, they are more willing to move and vote,” Price said.

Goodman said he planned to have emails sent out to Registered Student Organizations across campus asking for support to encourage their organizations to vote. He said it was important to him to get co-sponsorships with College Democrats and College Republicans as well as other groups sent out before the school year to get things on track quickly. Timing was a big issue for this semester’s registration drive, Goodman said.

“All it takes is an email, maybe not just one,” Goodman said. “It takes going and shaking their hand when they have a meeting.”

He said he believed everything was done “last minute” at the latest drive.

He also planned to contact candidates to make sure they know students matter.

Student Action Team was also a big issue for both candidates. Goodman said he didn’t think this years lobbying trip was organized and that he would plan more effectively for future trips if elected. He mentioned they went at a wrong time with anti- gay marriage rallies going on throughout the Springfield governmental areas. He added he would also have responses ready for the Student Action Team to be then used if a legislator tries to throw them off. He noticed many were easily swayed by legislators and didn’t know how to respond to them.

Price said she would expand the team by having a video planned to show the “cool” things Eastern is doing and the importance of why they are there. She said the latest trip was “experimental” and it was understandable that is was a little rough.

She also planned to revamp the mission and objectives of the team. Many of the members of the group get bored only lobbying twice a year. She would have them be more active in local politics.

“(Student Action Team) is my baby,” Price said.

She could not see anyone else running it in the state it is in.

Both Price and Goodman have experience with lobbying in Springfield.

Experience with being a part of the executive board was an issue Goodman felt strongly about. He  said he felt his experience on the board qualified him to handle the position effectively. Of all those who are nominated, he is the only one who has had experience on the board giving him a leg up.

He said he could not see the executive board without at least one experienced executive member.

Price said she does not think her lack of experience on the board will be much f a hindrance. Advisers are there to make sure the board is doing the right thing.

“I have seen what works in his office and I think that is a privilege most people have taken advantage of,” Price said.

She added she has shadowed Gurick through much of his term giving her a good sense of the position.

Another focus for Goodman revolves around promoting what student government is doing and making sure students are taken into account at every student senate meeting.

He said he plans to have more frequent outreach tables in order to get the students feedback on issues concerning them. The plan is to have one day set out for outreach tables every two weeks.

“We hardly mention issues that are presented by the student body,” Goodman said. 

Goodman said he was disappointed with the lack of information going out to the student body. He added the University Board has been successful in promoting their events and programs and he hoped to adopt many of those ideas in student government. He said he believed student government should work more with UB.

“UB has very nice platform and student government and UB should have a closer bond,” Goodman said.

He also plans to advocate for changes and with the physical sciences building like updating the “inaccurate” periodic table in the building as well as push for renovated piping throughout his potential term.

Students are graduating from a university and the campus should have up-to-date information in their academic buildings. His first step would be to get in contact with the dean of the college to point out his issues with the building and ways to fix it. Especially with Eastern under accreditation, it should be a major focus.

Price planned have legislators understand the seriousness of how rundown the biological sciences building. She added she is currently working on a paper that she plans to send to legislators strengthening her point.

He said he planned have student government host the Taste of Charleston, which would have various groups on- and off-campus bring food to the event. He would reach out to local business to have them bring food to the event as well.

“It would actually help the whole city of Charleston and the campus to improve on the attitudes all in one,” Goodman said.

Price said she planned for to have the Charleston Mayor and City Council come for luncheons with students so students can be informed on what the city is doing. 

Price also said she planned to update the off-campus website, which is now offline, and refine it to make it easier for students looking for off campus housing.

She said she had difficulties when she was finding an apartment and the website didn’t help.

The election will take place from midnight April 7 until midnight April 8.  Kaylia Eskew said platforms for each of the candidates can be read online on the student government website soon.

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu