If elected Government of the Student Body president and vice president, Justin Hattan and Jeremy Davis said they will work to increase student awareness of GSB and continue to carry on some of the ideas of current president and vice president Bryan Burkhardt and Jamal White.

“We want to first increase accountability of the senators,” said Hattan, senior in economics and political science. “We also think there might be two ways to increase student awareness.”

One of the slate’s ideas is to hold a “meet the senators” day, giving students a chance to know who represents them, Hattan said. Another idea is to send out an informational letter to students, especially freshmen, to inform them of what GSB has to offer.

“We would also like to promote communication with students and student organizations through the executive council,” Hattan said.

Davis, junior in agricultural education, said these steps are important in getting students involved with GSB.

“Once students are able to find out what GSB is addressing at the current time, they can take a more active role in what GSB is doing,” he said.

Davis said he and Hattan will focus on a variety of other issues, some old and some new.

“Campus lighting and safety is a big issue for us,” Davis said. “That’s where we would like to see the money from the special projects account go towards.”

Davis said some of the other issues he and Hattan would like to carry on from Burkhardt and White’s platform include mid-semester teacher evaluations and a textbook exchange.

“I think these issues addressed could be perceived as smaller issues by students,” he said. “But these are the issues that are more important and are more tangible and real to students.”

Davis said he and Hattan also plan to address tuition and diversity.

“Justin and I feel that the best way to address the topic is to begin working with the Board of Regents by June or July and express to them how students feel about tuition and the financial constraints put on students by raising tuition,” he said.

Hattan said they feel it is important to work on the issue in collaboration with the other regent universities.

“Working with other universities might provide more success in keeping tuition costs low,” he said. “Going unified is better than going one at a time.”

Hattan said they also are in favor of keeping specialty seats in the senate.

“Specialty seats also play a part with the diversity issue. Those seats bring in opinions from those students, and those senators do a great job of doing that,” he said. “Adding the minority affairs position to the cabinet and the construction of a multicultural center are also good options we are willing to look into.”

However, Hattan said some amount of caution should be exercised in taking these steps.

“With these things, funding issues might be a barrier,” he said. “It’s a great idea, but it might be insurmountable.”

In regard to student fees, Hattan said the student check-off system is a “great idea,” and the team will give it serious consideration.

“First, there might be a legal issue involved, but it is something to be thinking of in the future. Secondly, it’s a great gauge of where students want their money to go.” he said.

Hattan said they feel the special projects account needs to stay intact.

“From an ideological point of view, refunding it to students sounds great,” he said. “But that account has to be kept. It will cost GSB about $15,000 to give $8 back to each student.”

If elected, Hattan said he and Davis will strive to create an environment where people work together.

“We’d like to see more consensus-building with the president, vice president and senate. There is currently too much gridlock bogging down GSB,” Hattan said.

Davis said they are looking forward to campaigning, despite their late entry and write-in status.

“Justin and I made this decision because we want to serve the students of ISU, and through serving as GSB president and vice president, we feel that we can truly do that,” he said.