Story by Katelynn Tyner, March 8, 2021

University of Arkansas students on tickets “Make it Matter” and “Vision – Your Voice, Our Mission” campaigned for the executive offices of the Associated Student Government Feb.17 to March 3, prioritzing programs for diversity and inclusion and addressing racial inequality. 

March 5, the ASG announced Vision as the winning ticket. Elective candidates are Kaleigh Koc as Secretary, Hannah Patel as Treasurer, Teia Anderson as Vice President and Colman Warren as President.

Debates between both tickets’ candidates for Secretary and Treasurer took place Feb. 24, and candidates for Vice President and President happened Feb. 25. The debates concluded Feb. 26 with a town hall style debate between all candidates. 

Each year, the ASG debate revolves around programs and events. Executive candidates suggest policy for expanding available resources to the student body through communication efforts. 

“Strategically reach(ing) and represent(ing) each and every student” requires a “fresh perspective” and “experience in marketing,” said Kaleigh Koc, secretarial candidate for the Vision ticket.

When asked about applying her experience in marketing in an interview, Koc suggested gauging students’ opinions through the creation of a cabinet position titled Director of Outreach. 

The Director of Outreach would “direct all ASG members and branches to resources already available,” Koc said. 

Increased accessibility for students on campus often occurs through Register Student Organizations (RSOs), serving as a liaison between individual students and the Associated Student Government. 

Suggesting a new council initiative in the town hall debate, Shalu Jivan, the Treasurer candidate for Make it Matter, said the “development of the Cultural Community Leadership Council (CCLC) is a way for cultural RSO’s to learn and connect instead of competing for an audience.” 

Competing for resources like funding is common for RSOs. Students must submit detailed budgets to the Office of Financial Affairs (OFA), a student board of representatives for funding. 

Budget denials are often the result “for marginalized students based on technicalities,” said Hanna Patel, the Treasurer candidate for Vision.

Student representatives sitting on the OFA board are not required to have experience in submitting budgets. Members follow a set of standing rules that are confusing, Patel said. 

“Programming goes away when students are not equipped for the process,” Patel said. 

Caleb Parker, the presidential candidate for “Make it Matter” said “administration ignores” the voices of minority students. “We need action. We need education…from the top down.”

In an interview on Saturday, Parker said an opportunity for programming exists through community outreach. Through ASG touring, the student government would speak at schools across Arkansas.

Similar in approach to the Multicultural Center, reaching out to high school students in eastern and southeastern Arkansas directly markets resources available at the University of Arkansas to students of various demographics. 

High school students in eastern and southeastern Arkansas “do not feel like home is at Fayetteville and that is a changeable narrative,” said Parker. 

Coleman Warren, the presidential candidate for Vision said reforming the Homecoming process and implementing diversity and inclusion training alongside the Multicultural Center and National Pan-Hellenic Council were practical steps towards inclusivity. 

Warren said the ASG should spend more time with RSOs that represent international students, relaying information for policy change in program development to administrators like the Chancellor. 

Make it Matter and Vision made statements on Instagram summarizing the initiatives and policy changes for promoting campaign priorities of diversity and inclusion.

For more information, visit @makeitmatter_uark and @vision.ar.21 on Instagram.