Jimmy Tapia is running for Senator in the College of Arts and Sciences.
1) Why should people vote for you?
They should vote for me because I’m prepared to initiate a change in the Senate. I have been a Student Leader on this campus for a little over a year and within that year I have catapulted myself into the position of President of two Student Organizations (Mexican American Student Association M.A.S.A. and Members Empowering True Awareness META). I want to bring more light and transparency on how Student Government spends their funds and where they go to.
2) What kind of experience do you have related to the position you are running for?
Like I said previously I am a student leader on campus and have been for over a year. I have plenty of experience working with student groups, individuals, and off campus entities such as businesses and other community outreach programs. I am capable of using these connections to benefit not just Student Government but also the Student Body.
3) What do you feel needs to change in Student Government?
The lack of transparency and diversity in Student Government. To often students are kept in the dark about what goes on in SG and we really don’t know what programs our student fees are paying. So I would love to create a program that information is readily on hand to any student who asks and frequently divulge the information to our student body.
Obviously I plan to change the lack of diversity in SG by running and by helping other minority students win their SG Senate election.
4) What separates you from the other candidates running for your position?
Probably my personality I am very persistent very hard working and not easily intimidated. I hold strong to what I believe, however, I am always open to hearing the concerns of people and make it my mission to wanting to understand what their needs are. However, I love working for the students and love doing outreach programs with high schools and middle schools.
I am also a person who has led by example and thanks to that M.A.S.A. has a great group of students that one day will be great leaders on this campus.
5) What are some things you hope to propose, if elected?
I want to propose like explained earlier a program that helps bring light to the issue of what programs and here our student fees are being used.
6) What is the biggest contribution you have made for the USF community?
I think its the outreach as a student and as a member of M.A.S.A. and META I have been privileged to speak with students from high school and middle schools in the Hillsborough County district. To be able to inspire minority students to attend or think about attending an institution of higher learning. On Sept 30th M.A.S.A. helped the ENLACE program at USF bring in 91 students from Plant City (Durant and Strawberry Crest High School) one of the greatest experiences and maybe the greatest contribution to date. However, hopefully not the last.
