By Paige Godden

Daily Staff Writer

Chandra Peterson, a candidate for the 2010–2011 Government of the Student Body elections, has split her campaign into three parts: things she and her running mate Jacob Wilson have already accomplished during their time in GSB, projects they are currently working on and future goals they have yet to accomplish.

Peterson started her time on GSB during the spring 2008 semester as an Inter-Residence Hall Association senator, soon switched to a Campustown senator and has served as vice chair of the Finance Committee.

Wilson started the spring 2009 semester.

“I had known that I wanted to run since I started GSB as a senator. I enjoy helping and representing students,” Peterson said. “I have had all of these goals and a long time to think about them.”

She would like to solve the problem of empty campaign promises.

A lot of the projects that have been started up this year need the continued support of GSB for them to succeed, Peterson said.

One of the projects Peterson mentioned is the Green Umbrella Organization.

The organization was created to unify the sustainability groups on campus.

Another group she would like to see expand is the Campustown Action Association.

Peterson said that efforts in the past have been made to bring together the city of Ames, business owners and the university, but it’s hard when the student heading organizations to improve Campustown will be leaving in a few short years.

“If a student has the support of GSB … an organization that isn’t going to leave … it is more likely we would be able to get cooperation out of business owners,” Peterson said.

The “Mind the Gap” campaign, which was created to spread diversity on campus, is another organization that could be left out.

“This campaign could be left out in the dust if two people come in without a vested interest in it,” Peterson said.

She also addressed some ideas to help students with financial debt issues.

GSB could pass out fliers on financial debt, or just get an e-mail out to students and their parents about what tax breaks are available to them, Peterson said.

Peterson said the one day she always looks forward to is the day at the Capitol because it is GSB’s big lobbying day.

The three public universities — Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa — come together to voice the same thoughts and the same messages to legislatures, Peterson said.

“My goal for next year is to bring as many students as possible with us. We’re going to have to do training sessions and prepare letters to professors to make sure they know students are doing something worthwhile, and the legislatures will ask difficult questions to the students,” Peterson said.

“But if we start this in October or November when students seem to be the most upset, we could build off that momentum. We could really put our foot down and make an impact.”

She doesn’t think of GSB as a powerful organization, just one that is supposed to represent the student body’s opinions and act as a resource for students’ use.

Peterson said she has a lot of goals for next year, but she likes to come into things and establish foundations that people can build off of every year.

Running for office isn’t something she considered lightly.

“I had plans to go to Greece, but when Jacob and I decided to run together, I knew it would be a great opportunity,” Peterson said.

For more on Peterson’s and Wilson’s platform, their Web site www.petersonwilson.com features more on their goals for Campustown, diversity on campus and sustainability.