Brandon Thames is running for Senator of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Why should people vote for you?
I promise to do my best to make sure the voice of my peers is heard in the senate. I would like for students to benefit from the decisions we make in Senate, and I’m hoping to have a noticeable effect in the lives of every student here at USF.
What kind of experience do you have related to the position you are running for?
Currently I am an executive board member of the P.R.I.D.E. Alliance, and working as their treasurer I interact with members of student government on a regular basis. I am familiar with the way a meeting should be run thanks to my work with several committees for P.R.I.D.E. and my fraternity Theta Chi.
What do you feel needs to change in Student Government?
We need to cut unnecessary spending on excessive projects and allocate the funds to better serve the students by placing it in the hands of the organizations, not Joe Benchmaker and his company. The funds are there to be distributed in a way that would most improve our campus, and students. As such we should do all in our power to make sure it stays in the hands of our students.
What separates you from the other candidates running for your position?
Well I have a clear idea of what I want from Senate, I’m not here to just build my resume like other candidates. I want to initiate a revolution within the Senate, one that would benefit the students we serve.
What are some things you hope to propose, if elected?
If elected I would work closely with my fellow senators and organizations to streamline the budget, and fund allocation. I see student organizations as the life blood of the campus, and anything to help them saturate student life would make for a more enjoyable college experience for all. I would love to try and move to get the Chia-bull replaced with something more elegant, but I don’t think that’s within the Senate’s power. I’ll still try though, it’s expensive and an eyesore!
What motivates you to complete your goals at USF?
USF was really the only school that I applied to, I had the scores and grades to go elsewhere. But I just couldn’t leave Tampa, I love the area so much. It was not until my second semester that I really started to get involved on campus, and now you couldn’t pay me to leave. I love being a bull, and I can’t wait to prove it to you all through my work in the Senate… if I get elected that is!
