Fresh Start CUA

By Noelia Veras and Theresa Whitfield

Fresh Start CUA is certainly different from the other two tickets running. This campaign believes that their limited experience in the Student Government Association (SGA) is actually a strength, as they have a less establishment and more grassroots approach to leadership. Fresh Start CUA’s main goal is to be a voice for students who feel like they have not been heard by SGA before.

Junior economics and finance major Sean O’Grady has previously served one year on SGA before. Beyond this, O’Grady is also a resident assistant in Centennial Village, an international development research assistant, and a member of the Encounter the Spirit core team. 

O’Grady’s plans for SGA include changing the current approach of SGA, what he describes as a “bottom down approach” where “senators come up with their own legislation and see whether or not students like it” to a more grassroots approach, allowing students to approach senators and tell them what they want to see. 

Some ideas to implement the grassroots approach include requiring at least ten signatures from constituents on new resolutions as well as greater advocacy for student petitions to the administration. 

O’Grady has also made special emphasis on his ticket’s goal to focus on problems for which SGA will actually be able to effect change. In a jab at opponent Gerald Sharpe, he remarked in the presidential debate on the importance of the senate to focus on problems that actually need to be solved, rather than trying to get a maximum number of pieces of legislation passed. Sharpe had previously pointed to his number of pieces of legislation passed as a testament to his hard work in the senate and as an integral part of his campaign. 

Donald Michel Jr., a business management major with a media studies minor, is running for vice president on the Fresh Start CUA ticket. Michel Jr. is a house minister at Catholic U and was on the executive board of CUAccel. Although he has never been a senator on SGA he has been a part of SGA’s Diversity Task Force. Michel Jr. believes that an ideal VP should be able to streamline transparent communication between SGA and the student body. He prides himself on his love for “encountering others” and being able to really listen to them. Michel Jr. is passionate about the concept of working with students and the idea of being a voice for them to bring real change on this campus. 

“Is it true that I have never served as part of SGA’s senate? Yes, “ Michel Jr. said. “Does this mean that I am any less passionate or willing to bring apon the best possible change as any of the other candidates? Absolutely not.”

While sophomore economics major Elizabeth Noe has not served in a director’s capacity on Treasury Board, she has experienced Treasury Board from the perspective similar to most students, that of a student org leader. She has been involved as treasurer for WCUA and also as its newly elected station manager. She is also a member of CUAProjectArts and a teaching assistant for Economics 100 and 223. 

Proposed changes to the Treasury Board include greater transparency and communication with clubs presenting to the board. Concerning budget allocations, Noe believes it is important to prioritize newer clubs to help them establish themselves, as well as clubs that have shown growth in leadership over the past year because “they will be a good bet to invest in.” 

Junior business management major Jamal Gauthier believes that his ticket is the best option for running SGA next year because– according to him– there is “a kind of ivory tower for student government” at Catholic U. Gauthier has no prior experience with SGA but is highly active and connected on campus. He is involved with the Knight of Columbus, the anime club, and the Chinese club. Gauthier is passionate about bridging the gap he sees between SGA and the students. He is confident in his ticket’s outreach and believes that they can engage students in a way that will make them care about SGA.

“I feel like in SGA you become a general without ever serving, and how can you lead other people if you don’t understand what it takes to be in that position,” Gauthier said. “We’ve been foot soldiers in the CUA experience. We’ve had the time to learn what it takes to make this school great and that’s what will put us over the top.”

Fresh Start CUA’s sentiments regarding the divide between the student body and SGA are certainly shared with many students. The question arises if this ticket, made up of four Busch school students, will be able to fairly represent the needs of all the schools in the university, and whether or not a ticket with virtually no experience being on SGA is equipped enough to face the challenges that the job entails.