Our Platform
Tim Koch and Chris “Trugs” Truglio
Official Platform for the Undergraduate Government of Boston College
Introduction:
Undergraduate students of Boston College, it is with great excitement that we, Tim Koch, A&S ‘14, and Chris “Trugs” Truglio, CSOM ‘14, announce our candidacy for the President and Vice President of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC). We have decided to run for UGBC office for various reasons; however, most significantly we believe that we can represent the interests of the student body and to serve the entire undergraduate population of Boston College. With the new UGBC structure being implemented in next year, we feel it is imperative to fuse the elements of the old UGBC that worked well, such as its programming and policy work, with a reinvigorated and more representative Student Assembly, a novel entity that requires new energy, a new vision, and a clear focus. As such, we believe that our team can provide both the internal experience to continue effective programming and policy work and external experiences that reflect the needs and desires of the entire undergraduate student body.
To this end, we have devised a platform based on five core pillars: Formation, Policy, Advocacy and Outreach, Programming, and Transparency. Collectively, these pillars encompass the responsibilities we have as the leaders of UGBC, and we have created actionable points under each in order to lead an effective UGBC. Finally, our slogan is “In Tim and Trugs we trust” because we understand the responsibility that we will inherit if we are elected to office and we want students to know that we are their primary advocates at this University. As undergraduates, we will never lose sight of UGBC’s mission: “To serve the Undergraduate Student Government at Boston College (UGBC) as an advocate, a unified voice for students’ interests and a representative body to the larger Boston College community. To lead the student body by providing social, cultural, formational and educational programs and activities that expand the scope of the educational experience...”
I. Formation:
Core Philosophy: UGBC will continue to invest in the formation of Boston College undergraduates through its programming and policy work; however, a special emphasis will be placed on introducing freshmen in the UGBC Leadership Academy (ULA) to Boston College’s Jesuit tradition by providing each freshman with the mentorship, support, and experience needed to become the future leaders of BC regardless of the organization they decide to join.
• ULA will be composed of 35 motivated students who wish to become future leaders at Boston College. The goals of this program will be to foster community and to provide mentorship in order to succeed at BC. The students composing ULA will come from diverse backgrounds in order to foster meaningful conversations and develop a group of future leaders that reflects the diversity of this university.
• ULA will be educational, social, and experiential: each week, ULA will meet in community to discuss topics ranging from discernment in the Jesuit tradition, race, gender, ability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, etc. The idea of these weekly conversations is to expose students to the diversity of experience that defines BC. Socially, freshmen in ULA will receive both formal and informal mentorship by senior members of UGBC. These upperclassmen will support and guide freshmen as they become acclimated to BC. Finally, each freshman will gain invaluable experience within and across the organization by being being placed into a specific division of UGBC, including the ALC and GLC, by the ULA leaders. Freshmen’s preferences will most certainly be taken into consideration prior to being placed in a specific division.
• Freshmen chosen will be incredibly representative of the vast diversity across campus, diversity of experience, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status, and interests.
II. Policy
Core Philosophy: Policy reformation and innovation is currently the most underappreciated product of UGBC; this will change next year with the formation of the Student Assembly, where the majority of policy reformation will originate. Additionally, the ALC and the GLC representatives will work directly on policy reformation that challenges the institutional inequities that undermine growth and development at BC. Finally, we recognize that the proper relationships with the administration must exist so policies can come to fruition. For this reason, we will not neglect the significant strides the University Affairs (UA) department in the present Cabinet has made; in this transitional year, our administration will continue the policy work on initiatives UA is currently pursuing in the Executive Branch in conjunction with the policy work of the Student Assembly.
• Work with the Deans in the College of Arts and Sciences to explore offering more minors in the Carroll School of Management for A&S students in disciplines such as Marketing, Finance, and Accounting.
• Continue present Senate’s initiative to implement less severe punishments for drinking beer to promote more responsible drinking and to implement a more defined point system, as the Senate has devised, to provide more clarity for students in order to advocate for students and dispel ambiguity regarding the current policies.
• Create more availability in the Robsham Theatre and the Bonn Studio for student performances, culture shows, and concerts. Currently, the Theatre Department is attempting to limit the number of student performances in this venue; however, this is the only theatre on campus, and this is a university. Therefore, students should be allowed to use Robsham and the Bonn if they are available and if student organizations agree to keep facilities clean.
• Continue current administration’s efforts at establishment of a peer advising system in the College of Arts and Sciences, where advising seems to be lacking the most.
• Develop formal study space aside from the residence hall lounges on the Newton campus for freshmen students.
• Work with the Lynch School of Education and the Connell School of Nursing to provide students who must travel to their practicum placements with prepaid passes for the T if the school can be reached by public transportation, similar to how the PULSE office does.
• Create a Landlord and Realtor Evaluation Profile System, similar to PEPS, to provide students looking for off-campus housing with feedback from fellow students.
• Continue current administration’s effort to include contact information for University Counseling Services on all syllabi.
• Work with University Counseling Services to provide educational and social programs that encourage students to take advantage of these resources. Additionally, these programs will promote utilizing University Counseling Services as a healthy decision.
• Begin a Zipcar program on campus in order to provide more accessible transportation for students living on campus.
III. Advocacy and Outreach
Core Philosophy: “For here all are one” - this will be the governing mantra of UGBC’s advocacy and outreach efforts for the 2013-2014 year. While we believe that standing up for people is important, we believe that standing with people is even more important. Our hope is that we will promote being men and women with and for others in all that we do and for all students that we represent. As the unified voice of the undergraduate student body, issues previously thought of as AHANA or GLBTQ issues will be UGBC issues and university-wide issues. For if something affects one person or one group of students, then it also affects our entire community; we will make a more concerted effort to address mental health, socioeconomic status, gender, and ability among others. We will be advocates for our entire community.
AHANA Policy and the AHANA Leadership Council
• Inclusion of the Chair of the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) in Executive Council Meetings, so that AHANA issues, which are UGBC and campus-wide issues, remain in conversations with administrators.
• Expressed focus for this administration to advocate for AHANA students at all levels of the UGBC; through the ALC, the Student Assembly, the Department of Programming, the Department of Student Initiatives, and the Department of Diversity and Inclusion, the Department of Student Organizations, and any other group that has the ability to better the academic or social life of any Boston College student.
• Recognize the incredible significance of policies and issues that specifically affect AHANA student on campus, and therefore not specify that this work be done by one group in UGBC; rather the entire government should make these priorities its priorities.
• Work in tandem with the GLBTQ Leadership Council and the AHANA Leadership Council to nominate a deserving Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion (VPDI), whose job it will be to work with and check all other branches of UGBC, especially the Presidency and Student Assembly, to ensure that AHANA issues (and other inclusive issues) are being heard and discussed in student government, and also that these issues are devoted the proper resources to affect meaningful improvement across the campus.
• Establish a productive and incessant relationship with the Office of AHANA Student Programming, the Vice President of Student Affairs, and the Student Programs Office, among others. The Presidency, through its vice presidents, ought to at all times communicate the change advocated by the greater student body and hold the administration accountable for all decisions that single out or affect AHANA students in particular. Through its influence in programming, public relations, and the Student Assembly, the President will champion these issues along with the VPDI.
• Ensure that the proposed dining changes that specifically affect student organizations’ ability to buy food from off-campus vendors are implemented or modified in a way that ensure culture groups’ ability to obtain authentic food with their money.
• Make it a priority to petition the administration to both increase the hiring of AHANA faculty and staff, and ensure that they are given the necessary resources and incentives to endure at Boston College. This especially has the ability to greatly enhance the learning experience, the social culture, and the guidance opportunities available to all students at BC.
• The continuation of AHANA events and policy work is a priority, and ensuring that these two facets of undergraduate government persist and thrive in a new UGBC structure will be a personal mission of the President.
GLBTQ Policy and the GLBTQ Leadership Council
Short-term Goals:
• GLBTQ issues are a priority for all of UGBC, not just the GLC.
• Include the GLBTQ resource guide in the freshman welcome packet.
• Provide the Student Assembly with access to the current GLC’s 10 Year Plan and communicate with Senators their critical role in working on policy, in conjunction with the GLC, that empowers and supports the GLBTQ community.
• Inclusion of the Chair of the GLC in Executive Council meetings, so that GLBTQ issues, which are UGBC and campus-wide issues, remain in conversation with administrators.
• Hire a Graduate Assistant in the Dean of Students Office who is solely committed to GLBTQ issues.
• Assign a faculty advisor to the Queer Peers program.
• Complement Queer Peers drop-in hours with an anonymous online forum to increase the number of students who utilize this resource.
Long-term Goals:
• Hire a full-time GLBTQ issues staff member in the Dean of Students Office.
• Implement Safe Spaces Training, an educational training program, for RAs, OLs, RSOs, UGBC, faculty, and staff to help students be more comfortable on campus.
• Create of a Queer Studies minor.
• Create a GLBTQ Resource Center, staffed by full-time staff, graduate assistants, and students, who implement university-wide programs, similar to the Office of AHANA Student Programs.
General Policy Reforms
• Specification of Standing Committees in the Student Assembly; for instance, certain Senators in the Campus Climate Standing Committee will work specifically on policy related to AHANA issues, in conjunction with the ALC, policy related to GLBTQ issues, in conjunction with GLC, etc. This will provide Senators with a very specific focus and will ensure that advances in policy are occurring.
• Increase the number of events UGBC sponsors with the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) to help combat women’s decrease in self-confidence upon leaving BC and publicize the WRC as a resource that supports, educates, and empowers Boston College women.
• Work with the Center for Student Formation to expand the Freshmen League, which seeks to provide freshman men with fellow male support during their freshman year.
• Maintain initiative programming that is currently performed by Cabinet’s Community Relations and ALC’s Initiative Programming departments.
IV. Programming
Core Philosophy: Under our administration, UGBC will continue to expand its programming; large scale events will continue to be social hallmarks of the academic school year, and we will continue to understand what students want, reflecting the diversity and interests of BC students. We will challenge the administration in the Student Programs Office, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Vice President of Student Affairs so we can continue having 2 large concerts per year, in addition to Modstock, if this is what students want. BC to Boston will become even stronger than it already is, and UGBC programming will work closely with Nights on the Heights in order to plan events that are more highly attended. Finally, heritage events such as ALC Ball, Showdown, and GLC Gala will retain their educational and historical components but will gain the UGBC brand - as such, we hope to inform the entire BC community about issues that are not just relevant to the AHANA and GLBTQ communities, but are relevant to the all BC students in accordance with our responsibility to be men and women with and for others.
• Continue this year’s effort to have the traditional Fall Concert on Shea Field so that students are not confined to staying in their seats and in order to provide better sound compared to Conte Forum’s acoustics.
• Strengthen BC to Boston’s relationship with the House of Blues and TD Garden so the department can purchase a large quantity of group tickets to concerts featuring popular artists and athletic games that are in high demand.
• Formation of a committee that is equally composed of students and administrators to divide the Student Activities Fee among student organizations to ensure that programming accurately reflects students’ interests.
• Work with Athletics and new Athletic Director, Brad Bates, to move the student section for basketball and hockey games in an attempt to increase attendance.
• Institute an Athletic Loyalty Program, in which students continue to receive discounts on their season tickets for their attendance of prior years’ games. Similarly, work with Athletics on keeping ticket prices affordable.
• Work with Nights on the Heights (NOTH) to coordinate more large-scale events and more events that occur in Boston.
• Formation of a student consulting committee that meets with the Vice President of Programming to bring programming ideas and to address problems to the Programming Committee. Independent students will apply for this committee at the start of the next academic year. Upon their selection, these students will meet ad hoc with the Vice President of Programming. This would help students feel more efficacy over what the Programming Committee produces and would ensure that programming is student focused.
• Encourage Nights on the Heights to send all undergraduates an incentivized survey at the beginning of the year to receive event ideas.
• Using myBC, the Vice President of Programming will devise a poll for the end of this academic year to survey students, requesting input about talent for concerts, feedback about their favorite UGBC sponsored programs, and areas where we can improve.
• Expand the reach of ALC Boat Cruise, ALC Ball, and GLC Gala; in effect, these events will have a larger target audience, which will help educate more of the Boston College community in a fun, social setting.
• More effective marketing of events promoting the AHANA and GLBTQ communities as events open to the entire Boston College community.
• Promote discounted college nights at venues in Boston with your BC ID, such as the Fenway Regal Stadium (discounted movie tickets every Thursday), J.P. Licks (10% off for students), and J. Crew (15% off in-store purchase). Continue promoting Boston College’s membership to museums that allow BC students to enjoy them for free or at a discount.
• Distribution of customized croakies to the student body at the first football game of the season to match the sunglasses we have previously received.
• Programming collaborations between UGBC and RSOs will continue to exist, primarily through the Vice President of Programming and the Vice President of Student Organizations.
• Expand this year’s Senate Shuttle program to provide service to Logan Airport and South Station for Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and Easter.
• Create an “Eagles on the Warpath” committee, dedicated to generating mass student attendance at every Varsity sporting team’s most important game, meet, or race of the season through high volume marketing. Provide transportation to teams’ sporting events that never play on-campus, such as Sailing and Track & Field.
V. Transparency
As the voice for the entire undergraduate student body, UGBC will strive to be more proactive about informing students of policy updates and events under our administration. More importantly, we want to receive more feedback from students, specifically regarding the types of events we plan both on and off campus as well as the policies that the student body would like addressed.
• Continue to develop a positive relationship with on-campus newspapers.
• The Office of the Press Secretary will work in conjunction with The Heights, Inc., The Gavel, and The Observer to ensure there is constant communication between these publications and the UGBC. To do this, we will send bi-weekly updates to the editors that describe UGBC internal progress in order to promote transparency.
• Encourage members of the Executive Branch and Senators in the Student Assembly to write letters to the editors of the aforementioned publications, highlighting their projects and providing a public record of encounters with administrators. This will provide an outlet for UGBC to hold administrators accountable for inherent problems existing at the University and is a way to incite a student body wide response against administrators who are inhibiting reformation. Additionally, this is a great way to hold students in paid positions (Vice Presidents) and Senators (directly elected by the student body) accountable.
• Instead of solely relying on bi-weekly email updates, we will publicize UGBC’s upcoming events and initiatives through social media and video updates since these venues are much more likely to attract attention.
• Executive Council meetings will be more focused; the agenda will not just entail updates. Rather, at the meetings, specific administrators from the Student Programs Office, the Dean of Students Office, and the Vice President of Student Affairs will be asked to attend Executive Council meetings to ensure that UGBC is communicating with administrators to tackle as many issues as possible, as effectively as possible.
• UGBC will develop a more equal and cooperative relationship with the administration to solve problems from the outset. When administrators are making decisions that both directly and indirectly affect the student body, UGBC will demand equal representation. As such, students and administrators will each comprise 50% of the group.
