Caddie Nath: If you are elected, what do you hope to accomplish in the next year?

Antoine Perretta: We focused on three distinct areas; pioneering strong foundations, strength through unity and unity through traditions and pride. Within pioneering strong foundations we want to increase transparency of the Senate.

For example, I’ve already reached out to the Clarion to see how we can work together to publish Senate updates. I want senate committees to publish a spending report so students can see where we are spending their money. We want to post weekly video updates, not only from myself and Jim, but from other senators as well so that students know who their senate is. We also want to revaluate the budgets of certain larger organizations so that smaller student organizations can receive the money that isn’t being used. This year we were able to give about $11,000 to smaller student organizations.

Next year we’d like to push an additional $10,000. Finally, we want to bring senate to the students. Right now we meet in the Driscoll Gallery, but not very many students come. We want to bring it to them, have it in the J-Mac Lounge or the Halls lounge so that people can see that there actually is a Senate and that we actually are doing things and being proactive.

Jim Francescon: Currently Senate does not have a judicial branch. There is no real checks and balances system in the senate constitution. There is no way to handle conflict between student organizations. Our next major point is strength and unity. We want to build key partnerships among different organizations on campus. A lot of organizations have similar goals and could help each other accomplish their goals faster. We’d like to work with alumni relations and student life. Currently, the career center is strong in the preparation- getting the interview, resume building, etc. – but we’re not as strong with actual placement. Our next point is Pioneer Fusion. It’s sad when everyone says, “I’m a Daniels student,” or “I’m a Korbel student,” because we’re all DU Pioneers! We will work to bring everyone together as one group; consequently, improving our campus identity and improving campus traditions and pride.

AP: Ultimately, we’re all here to serve the needs of the students and we want to make sure that we do that together as opposed to separately.

We’ll be creating opportunities for first year students to get involved. Over the summer I’ll be working as a Discoveries Orientation intern so I’ll have access to the incoming first years, and be able to work with the organization presidents to make lasting connections so that we engage first years over the summer and they will already feel like a part of campus come September.

Then there is the Departures Program. We do a really good job with orientation- but there’s not enough emphasis on the culmination of students’ DU experience. There have been different attempts at creating a Departures Program. Seniors should be excited that they were Pioneers for four years, and we should focus on reminding them that they are Pioneers not just for four years, but for life.

CN: If you are elected, what do you hope to accomplish in the next year?

JF: Our platform is very specific, realistic and can be accomplished.