Emily Jensen and Sara Faber will build student visions out of student voices as president and vice president of the Government of the Student Body.

The Jensen/Faber campaign is based on experience, involvement and dedication to Iowa State. As executives, Jensen/Faber will represent, advocate and work for students.

Jensen and Faber present unique opportunities to the student body in their campaign. Jensen offers executive branch experience, having served as director of student affairs and in her current role as chief of staff.

Faber has worked with many academic clubs, including Block and Bridle and Public Service Administration. Faber has also been involved in college organizations, including Agricultural Ambassadors, which allow her to offer a unique perspective as a GSB senator. Together, Jensen and Faber have the relevant experience to lead GSB and the student body in the next year.

GSB offers many opportunities to develop new programs and improve existing programs. Recently, students have expressed major criticism of GSB’s ability to communicate. Jensen and Faber would implement many tactics to increase efficiency and effectiveness of communication between GSB and the student body. First, members of GSB need to be held accountable. As representative leaders, GSB needs to reflect the opinions of the student body. By speaking with student organizations, holding roundtable discussions, brown bag lunches and open forums and by creating a student organization board, Jensen and Faber will increase communication and effectiveness of GSB.

The relationship between the ISU and Ames communities is very important, as is continuing the “One Community” theme. ISU students have a long-standing tradition of developing and performing community service projects within Ames. Jensen and Faber will create a position that will coordinate all community outreach projects within Iowa State and Ames, and work with existing student organizations to collaborate efforts. As Veishea organizers, Jensen and Faber are continually trying to enhance relationships and experiences of the celebration by linking Iowa State to Ames and other communities in Iowa.

The multicultural center has been long-promised to students at Iowa State, with little follow-through. By meeting with student groups, administration and the Memorial Union board of directors, Jensen and Faber will ensure that the center is built in the available space during the MU renovation, and that student input is considered in the process. Jensen and Faber advocate for student voices, and in this process it is essential that students be accounted for.

Jensen and Faber also work closely with existing groups to lobby for lower tuition and more funding for the Regent universities. Working closely with the Iowa Board of Regents to educate students on the Transformation in Excellence Plan, Jensen and Faber have developed relationships with students, legislators and Regents. Through ISU Ambassadors, Jensen and Faber will continue to lobby for funding but maintain the individual identities of the three Regent universities. Because students would pay for lobbying and administration of a state association, Jensen and Faber will work with existing strengths within the student governments in Iowa, and will continue to push for state funding.

Jensen and Faber have met with the new athletics director to build student-athletic relationships. Working with the student advisory board, Jensen and Faber will increase student input and influence on athletic decisions. This will enhance the student traditions and relationships within athletics. Modeling the success from the Hurricane Katrina fundraising at ISU football games this year, Jensen and Faber will create a position to coordinate collaborative efforts with athletics to coordinate student service events.

Through student involvement, Jensen and Faber have become increasingly aware of student issues and initiatives.

Emily Jensen and Sara Faber look forward to the opportunity of serving the student body, and to use student visions and student voices to shape Iowa State’s future. Please feel free to contact Jensen and Faber at www.jensenfaber.com and vote March 3 to 6 at www.vote.iastate.edu.

– Emily Jensen is a junior in political science from Ankeny.

– Sara Faber is a junior in public service and administration in agriculture from Sioux Center.