Iowa State Student Government presidential candidates Colby Brandt and Josie Pursley spoke on their campaign platforms and what they can offer to students during the Student Government debate Thursday in the Memorial Union.
Brandt, who is currently the director of governmental affairs for Student Government, is a junior studying agricultural and rural policy studies. He said he has found a common theme among students he has talked to, which is that “Most people don’t know what student government does.”
“We are here to change that,” Brandt said in his opening remarks. “Will and I are committed to breaking down barriers, connecting with students and making sure that students are connected to student government.”
Pursley, who is currently the vice speaker of the student senate and Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC) senator, is a senior studying political science. She said she has “discovered [her] talent for leadership and honed [her] abilities.”
“Together we can create community on Iowa State’s campus, where every student feels like they belong and their student government is working to represent their best interests,” Pursley said in her opening remarks.
Diversity
Both candidates expressed a need for protecting the student body’s diversity at Iowa State, highlighting recent actions from the Iowa Board of Regents directing the restructuring of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at regent institutions in Iowa.
Pursley spoke on the concern that students have had since the Board of Regents passed its 10 DEI directives.
“This is scary,” Pursley said. “This is scary for me as a student. This is scary for other students I’ve talked to… I want to be able to celebrate who I am authentically. I want other students to celebrate who they are authentically.”
Brandt shared that, within his role as director of governmental affairs, he has taken the concerns of students to the national level during legislative trips to Washington, D.C.
“These issues are things that we have been advocating for for the past year,” Brandt said. “I have been advocating, along with my team and other regent institutions, about DEI.”
When asked how he would ensure that Student Government represents the diverse needs and interests of the student body, Brandt said his campaign is focused on “connecting with students where they are at.”
“We will work to ensure diverse perspectives are heard in the process,” Brandt said. “[And] making sure that their voices are heard when student government is making big decisions that impact our student body.”
When asked the same question, Pursley said she wants to create “a community that fosters every student and make sure they can feel included and engaged in our campus.”
Sexual violence on campus
Part of Pursley’s campaign platform is based upon sexual violence prevention, including advocating for the creation of a sexual violence prevention task force. She shared her experience attending a candlelight vigil organized by Theta Chi to promote awareness of sexual violence on campus.
“We were able to be there and be there for the students,” Pursley said. “Something that we have also been working on is talking to people at student wellness, making sure that we can make sure their goals come to life.”
Brandt said that during the second day of his campaign, 60 people from his team became Green Dot certified.
“That is what it looks like to prevent sexual violence,” Brandt said. “We know that it’s a problem. We need to find the solutions and some of the solutions already exist on our campus. It’s about spreading those [solutions] to the diverse student groups on our campus.”
Pursley further advocated for the importance of “being there for others” when they are affected by sexual violence.
“When you have a friend or a family member or someone close to you that has experienced something like this, knowing the resources, knowing what to do, and being there for that person, I think that’s one of the most important things,” Pursley said.
Brandt said his campaign is focused on promoting Green Dot training to students, especially first-year students.
“When you first step foot on our campus, whether that’s orientation [or] Cyclone Welcome Weekend, that is where you should have access to Green Dot training because that might be the most impactful session throughout that entire time.”
Additional positions
Brandt’s campaign platform also includes promoting safe, affordable transportation to the airport for students who don’t have other means. His campaign also calls for more accountability within Student Government through a “partnership with the Iowa State Daily to release a recap of how the $94 student activity fee is spent.”
Pursley’s campaign platform includes increased student engagement through events, such as a watch party for the Cyclone’s season opener in Ireland, as well as the creation of a platform for students to express their ideas. Her campaign also plans to create composting initiatives on campus if elected.
