Presidental Applicants (Elect One Pair):

Adam Olson (President) and Kellcee Baker (Vice President)

To create an effective student government you need accountability, consistent transparency, and solid experience. Keeping these themes in mind, we hope you will elect Adam Olson and Kellcee Baker as President and Vice President and we look forward to working with you during the upcoming year. We have several beliefs that shape our definition of a responsible, available, and productive student government that we hope to outline for you here. We believe that in order to excel in governance that a consistent and responsible level of experience is required. Together, we have six years of experience in student government and we have served on over a dozen committees and student groups. We've been members of search committees, standing committees, and constitutional committees. We've served as officers in diversity groups, political groups, publishing groups, academic groups, and governance groups. We believe that a dedication to transparency is a requirement for any governance structure. If elected, we will make votes on controversial issues public so it is clear how your student representatives are representing you. When we tackle important issues, we will default to democracy and ask the Forum to vote. We will meticulously record and publish every resolution, vote, and ruling of the MCSA. We will expand our communications with the campus using new forms of media like blogs, YouTube, and Twitter. We believe that strict accountability standards must be in place to ensure that student government acts responsibly and in your best interests. To that end, as co-authors of the newly-passed MCSA Constitution we simplified the process of removing student government officers and if we do a poor job we invite you to utilize this mechanism. We will stand by every action Forum takes and tell the student body why we took such stances. As such, we will not lie or hide contentious issues from you. We believe in diversity. If elected, we will bring together members of the campus from all walks of life. We will bring together new people with those who are more experienced. When we act, we will consult faculty and staff, administrators and student groups. Together we will not only have a student government that brings together all types of people, but we will also have a student government that respects the opinions of those people. We will exhibit strength through diversity on all levels and at all opportunities. Finally, we believe that student voices must be taken as seriously as the voices of faculty and staff. Through UMM's model of shared governance, we are equal partners with staff, faculty, and administrators in shaping our institutional policies are formulated – from the ground up. We have many more ideas about how student government should work, but we believe that accountability, consistent transparency, and solid experience are necessary for good government. We look forward to having an ongoing and evolving discussion with you regarding how student government should run, your ideas for action, and how we can work together to make things better.

Campus Consultative Committee (Elect 4):

Attina Earl

As a Freshman student of the University of Minnesota Morris Campus I feel qualified to logically and rationally represent the student body of this campus. I have been working as the Executive Assistant for MCSA this semester and I feel I have new and innovative ideas that will positively influence the student government. I am comfortable with communicating with professors and the Chancellor and vocalizing my opinions. With these skills I am confident that I will be able to discuss with the members of the campus community the issues that are affecting the University while keeping the students interests at heart. I will make sure goals are met efficiently while also taking into consideration the long term effects on the students. If you vote for me you can be confident your interests will be taken into consideration.

Zak Forde

My name is Zak Forde and I am asking for your support to serve as a student representative on the Consultative Committee here at UMM for the 2009-2010 school year. Membership on this committee (which has much impact both broad and specific all around the campus) is a serious commitment, and I take it as such. That said, I would not be asking to represent you in such a capacity if I did not fully believe I was completely capable and up to the challenge. Not only will I bring experience and institutional knowledge to CC, but will do so coming purely from the perspective of a positive, politically minded and idealistic perspective of an as-yet uncorrupted second year student, always providing input and help in decision-making with you, my fellow students in mind.

Matt Privratsky

I feel that I am well suited to serve on the Consultative Committee because I have plenty of experience working with staff and faculty, and I represent a wide variety of students. I have worked with faculty and staff on URS entries, research design, at the Information Center, and on the Assessment of Student Learning Committee. Not only am I comfortable interacting with faculty and staff, but I'm also not afraid to speak up when issues need to be discussed or touched on. I also represent a variety of student groups on campus. Having been involved in Soccer, Football, Intramurals, Theatre, Music, Dance and Student Government, I feel that I'm very well suited to represent many groups of students on the Consultative Committee.

Sydney Sweep

I would like to serve on the Consultative Committee because my broad experiences in student organizations and campus governance has expanded my knowledge of campus operations. This experience will help me add informed and rational input to the discussions of the committee. As Staff Coordinator for the Information Center, I am frequently updated with information regarding campus events, plans, and changes. Working in the Student Center has also allowed me to encounter staff, faculty, and students I hadn’t or wouldn’t otherwise meet in my regular courses or organizations. Combined with my membership on the Activity Fee Review Committee, I have had the opportunity to interact with many members of the UMM campus and would therefore be able to account for multiple perspectives as a student representative to the Consultative Committee.

All-University Senate (Elect 2) :

Katie Barron

Dear Friends and Fellow Classmates, My name is Katie Barron and I am running for re-election as an All-University Student Senator and a student representative to Campus Assembly. I would like to run again for both positions because I am interested in representing the student body of Morris and being able to give our student body a voice in the workings of the University of Minnesota system. As a Senator I have been successful in initiating more open communication between the campuses and I intend to continue this dialogue into the future. I am also looking to have Morris host Student Senate related events in an effort to better incorporate Morris into university-wide decisions. As a member of the All-University Senate and Campus Assembly, I will continue to initiate new ideas between campuses and I will stand up for our campus as we make tough decisions about our future. I will make sure our campus community will continue to be strong and productive for now and the years to come. Best wishes and good luck to you all

Natalie Johnson

I have a great devotion and commitment to the Morris campus and it would be an honor to be allowed the opportunity to further serve the campus and community. I want to be involved in helping to make UMM into the university the best school it can be and the best school for us. I have strong leadership skills. Currently, I hold office in the International Relations Club and enjoy my on-campus job thoroughly working for University Relations. My experiences with University Relations only helped me to further understand the workings and intricacies of the campus that would allow me to better help the student body and the surrounding community. I believe that every student should have the same positive relationship I have with my school and I hope that through my work with MCSA we can help accomplish this.

Kathy Julik-Heine

I have had the privilege of serving as representative to the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) this past semester and am now seeking your vote to elect me Student Senator for 2009-2010. On SSCC I was able to meet with other campus representatives and set the agenda for the All-University Student Senate. In this position, I witnessed and became part of the voice that Student Senate generates for each student in the University System. Upon being elected a UMM Student Senator, I plan on running for the position of chair of SSCC and therefore the chair of Student Senate. I aim to provide a distinct presence for the Morris Campus while working to represent the concerns and needs of all students within the University of Minnesota. As a Student Senator from UMM, I am able to ensure that the coordinate campuses of the University of Minnesota system are not marginalized.

Mark Privratsky

I’m running for the position for University Senator because I would love to represent the students and institution of the University of Minnesota Morris. In this position I would be aware of the great number of individuals that I would represent, and be very excited to do so. The University of Minnesota is one of the largest educational institutions in the United States, and UMM plays a big role in that. I would make sure we are never forgotten for our prestige, hard work, and dynamic activism that we bring to the U of M system. I have been involved in student government before, and plan on being active in MCSA next year. I would make it my obligation to get student and faculty input to represent UMM at the all university senate. If you give me your vote, you will always have a voice.

Campus Assembly Representative (Elect 16):

Talia Earle

Majoring in Art History and working on a French certificate, I can assure you I am extremely hard-working and dedicated to being the best representative I can be for this student body. As an active student on campus, I feel I am greatly qualified for a campus assembly student representative position. Currently, I am an Art History student representative and serve as a student representative on the Humanities Division Activities Committee. Recently, I have started the Art History Association on campus and am the current president of it. In addition to this, I am also the Student DFL secretary and am working on the Little Hands Green Corps initiative. For the 2009-2010 school year, I will have time to fully serve the student population as their representative in the assembly.

Zak Forde

In the single short year I, Zak Forde, have been a part of this great institution, I have learned much as a member of MCSA forum, Campus Assembly committee CRPC (Campus Resources and Planning), and most recently an elected member of Campus Assembly itself. I thank my fellow students for granting me these opportunities and hope to continue doing so as a student representative on the main campus governing body for the 2009-2010 academic year. As I said when first running for office, "I am approachable and open-minded. I have a big mouth and am not readily ignored which I plan to use in promoting ... what you guys think and would like to see happening on campus." None of this has changed. Thank you.

Ashley Gaschk

I am Ashley Gaschk and I’d like to continue to represent the student body as a member of the Campus Assembly. I’ll be a senior next year, and will graduate with degrees in English and American Studies. I’ve been in Campus Assembly since I was a sophomore, and was elected MCSA Vice President of Student Services last spring. While in MCSA, I’ve served on the Student Services Committee, and serving as VP of Student Services has reinforced my belief that student activities are a vital part of the UMM experience—they certainly have been for me. Aside from student government, I’m involved with MPIRG, Campus Activities Council, and The University Register. I have experience in student government and my involvement student organizations has allowed me to meet many students. I believe I’m an ideal candidate for Campus Assembly and I hope you’ll vote for me on April 22!

Manjari Govada

Going to UMM has proven to be one of the best decisions of my life, as it has epitomized the true college experience of making great friends, living in a peaceful environment, and learning from great professors. However, I have a goal to better enhance not only my experience here, but also help others enjoy their experience here as much as I do. One way I can achieve this goal is by maintaining my leadership position in MCSA. I am accustomed to taking on a leadership role, as I was president of the National Honor Society, and the Future Leaders of America in high school. In addition, I run a food drive each summer in my neighborhood and I have been able to raise over 1500 pounds of food. Overall, I believe I am well-suited for this position and hope to continue being a Campus Assembly member.

Robert Henjum

This past year of MCSA has been a fairly productive one, but work still remains to be done. When I campaigned last year, one of my goals was to look at beginning a reformation process for the technology fee. This process has been started and needs to continue in order to make sure that the money we are charged every semester does not get wasted on pet projects. If elected again, I will work my hardest to make sure that MCSA looks at every option available to it and does what is in the best interest of the student body not what is best for MCSA.

Remy Huerta

This past year I have served on Forum as the MCSA representative for E-Quality. I have had the opportunity to work with the current MCSA administration and learn how forum works. I also had the chance to propose and pass a resolution this semester, allowing me the full experience of MCSA forum. Currently I am involved as an active member of E-Quality and worked to get the keynote speaker this year. I am on the Multi-Cultural Experience Committee and sub-committee where I have been working to bring a speaker for diversity, as well as the Queer Issues Committee where we have been working with ORL to better serve GLBT residents. However, to fully be involved with the campus and to make a relevant impression on this school, Campus Assembly participation is a must. I want to have an impact, to help guide UMM along as we adapt and develop.

Kathy Julik-Heine

Dear UMM student body, I have absolutely loved serving you this past year in Campus Assembly. Throughout the past year I have served on the Campus Resources and Planning Committee which this year has deliberated over and provided recommendations to Campus Assembly regarding issues such as the budget, capital projects, the new mission statement, and new resource initiatives for UMM. I have also served one of the Self-Study subcommittees which created a report for UMM’s reaccreditation next year. I truly believe in the importance of the student voice in such an important policy making body such as Campus Assembly. I value my role as a student representative and consider myself a voice for all the students on the Morris campus. This is a position I take very seriously and I ask for your vote so that I may continue to serve the students of UMM.

Mike McBride

When in the course of academic events, one student should aspire to institutional office through electoral means, it is fitting that he declare his reasons, motivations and hopes. Aspiring to such an office and in such a manner, it is only right that I declare myself here. For one semester now I have diligently attended every campus assembly meeting as an appointee of the MCSA executive committee. In that time, I've worked to represent the manifold views of my constituent groups. Having been engaged in various democratic arena's from the Student DFL to organizing Support the U day and representing in my constitution and daily interactions many schools of opinion on campus, off campus, and in the surrounding community, I feel a unique responsibility to present these constituent opinions to the greater university. These being my prejudices, motivations, and desires I present this, my petition of reason.

Ian Patterson

I’m Ian Patterson and I’m a freshman here at UMM. As such, I have a strong grasp on the concerns of incoming students needs and desires. In addition, I am going to be a Community Advisor in Gay Hall, which will put me in a position to be an attentive ear to the needs of the student body. I am not shy about speaking in public, and I have no problem with sticking my neck out for something the student body desires. I am a firm believer that representatives have a primary responsibility to those whom they represent and I would be honored to faithfully represent the desires of the UMM student body.

Joshua P. Preston

Currently an on-campus PSEO student, I am active in several student organizations with the most prominent ones being Student DFL and MPIRG. Prior to my election to the Campus Assembly early in the spring semester, I served on the Multi-Ethnic Experience Committee of the Morris Campus Student Association. While on this committee I gained insight into some of the problems students of color experience at the University, specifically the concerns around recruiting and retention rates. The reason why I am so adamant about my candidacy is because I fear that the repercussions of the decisions made in the next few months will not be put into full context as our University focuses its attention on the looming budget cuts. My concerns are legitimate and I want to make sure that all perspectives are considered when the questions of dilemma arise as they no doubt will. So, “Here I stand; I can do no other.”

Matt Privratsky

I feel I am well suited to serve on Campus Assembly because I represent a variety of students and I have solid experience in objective decision making when it comes to student government. Having been involved in Soccer, Football, Intramurals, Music, Theatre, Dance, and student government here at UMM, I represent a very wide variety of students. I have a very broad perspective when it comes to student opinion. I also have experience in student government and decision making. I served in Student Government all through high school and was the Vice President of my high school and Minnesota’s central division student councils. I also served two years on my school board and represented my student body individually. I know I can make objective decisions based on student perspective, and represent the student voice effectively as a Campus Assembly Member.

Joshua Smith

As a representative I would act to pursue the goals described in the constitution of the MCSA. I would support policies which encourage the student body to be more proactive in its interaction the Executive Council and the Forum. Encouraging the student body to demonstrate its interests, follow the actions of the MCSA and understand the issues facing the University will allow for a more responsive student government. As a representative I would also bring with me skills necessary to effectively represent the students of UMM. In my short time as an appointed representative I have been a part of budget process, working to ensure the financial and academic interests of the student body are protected. The current budget issues, which will likely persist in the future, are a particular interest of mine and I plan to work to create an effective compromise to resolve the issue.

Colin Stemper

It has been one year since my election to campus assembly, and it has been a busy year. I have attended every meeting of the student services committee and voted for issues that will greatly benefit the students of UMM. Earlier this year, I voted to increase the wages of on-campus student workers which will go into effect next year. In addition to my participation with the student services committee, I have served as an MCSA election commission member and was recently elected to the MCSA executive committee. For the future, I hope to work closely with the new President to create a student government that is more relevant to the lives of students. MCSA has not been as transparent to students as it ought to be and I wish to see that changed. If re-elected, you can expect my continued support of students and the issue they find important.

Sydney Sweep

I hope to continue my position as a Campus Assembly Representative next year. Through my work as a representative this semester, as well as my leadership experience and participation on campus, I am adequately prepared to apply my knowledge of varying student perspectives to UMM’s governing body. As a part of MCSA this semester, I have participated in Tech Fee allocations; currently, I am on a related working committee planning to increase the efficiency of the process while ensuring student input. I am also a member of the Activity Fee Review Committee, which has allowed me increased interaction with students and organizations, as well as experience in preparing annual budgets. Additionally, I am a Campus Ambassador and the Staff Coordinator at the Information Center. With my strong background in student activities and organizations as well as experience in MCSA, I am well prepared to effectively serve as a student representative.

Elizabeth Thoma

I am Elizabeth Thoma and I am running for Campus Assembly Student Representative. I am a double major in Social Studies and History, possibly with a Secondary Education Licensure. Currently this is my second year here and in addition to being actively involved in all my classes, I am also engaged in a variety of activities: Dance Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Intramural sports, and I am currently a Community Advisor. I would do a good job as a representative because I am well rounded, responsible and incredibly organized. I listen to other’s opinions and know how to work hard to achieve a goal. As a representative I will work hard to represent you, and to make our campus even more awesome than it already is. Please vote for me on April 22nd and let me show you how I can help make our campus even better!

Kaitlin Thompson

I would like to be your next MCSA representative because I feel I am very well qualified for the job. I am a sophomore here at UMM and I know the campus and surrounding community very well. I know what it is like to be a leader. I was president of my 4-H club for 4 years and held many other offices throughout the years, secretary, historian, etc. I'm well adept and comfortable with working with faculty and staff. I know many of them already through involvement in various groups and my on-campus job. I want to serve the campus in a greater way and I believe MCSA is the way to do it. Although I am involved in various organizations, my dedication to MCSA will not suffer. I would like to be a part of MCSA so that I can make a difference and leave my mark on this campus.

Chris Thorne

My name is Chris Thorne and will be a junior next year at UMM. I have been a member of Campus Assembly, MCSA, and Student Services Committee this entire past year and I would really like to continue representing UMM students my junior year as well. I have been involved in student organizations both in high school and in college. In high school, I was a part of National Honor Society, Student Council, and peer tutoring, and here at UMM I have been a KUMM DJ since my freshmen year. I be kickin' the beats every Thursday night from 8-10pm (tune in if you want your mind blown). I try to stay as involved as I can on campus and I am not afraid to be confrontational when important issues are at hand. I would appreciate your vote and I won't let you down!

Tasaneeya Viratyosin

During the first week of my freshman year, I recall being told that MCSA is one of the best ways to make a positive impact on student life. As Campus Assembly Representative, I would aim to do just that. Never complacent, if selected I would seek to understand, consider, and incorporate all facets of student opinion and strive to empower the entire student body by ensuring this vital voice is heard. I believe I am the type of person who, when faced with a problem or goal, will immediately conceive half a dozen feasible solutions and methods of action, proceed to thoroughly weigh each option, and then decisively follow through—during this process, involving you, as students, advocates, and catalysts of the changes you support, in achieving your own successes.

Things to note: A new UMM Constitution was approved by the Student Body on Sunday, March 29th, 2009. This constitution made several changes to the leadership position, most notably having a single ticket for President and Vice President. Once elected, the President and Vice President will appoint 3 secretaries (formerly Vice President of Academic Affairs, Student Services, and Finance and Operations) who will need to be confirmed by MCSA Forum.

Please look at MCSA's bylaws for any questions concerning Election Regulations.