Before they settled on the phrase "Empower You," Catalyst candidates considered the slogan "React with Us."
The slate wants students to be a part of the change, which includes more communication, more school pride, more involvement in student services and more sustainability around campus.
While its goals are similar to those of Campus Voice, the opposing slate, Catalyst has won our vote for its practical goals and the diverse backgrounds of the candidates.
They didn't want to run a "shock and awe" campaign. They want to empower students and Student Government Association senators to help bring change around campus.
"We want students to start the reaction," Catalyst vice presidential candidate Chris Buck said to a panel of Daily News editors Sunday. "We want to work with them and make this happen."
With SGA elections taking place today and tomorrow, the Daily News editorial board invited candidates from Campus Voice and Catalyst to share their platform points and answer some questions.
Catalyst presidential candidate Kayla Pickersgill has been involved in SGA since she was a freshman. The current President Pro Tempore, she's had her eye on the prize for quite a while.
"Beth [Cahill, SGA president in 2009-2010] put me in a leadership role early on," Pickersgill said. "My joy is in helping people help other people."
Other slate members bring their own experience to the table, as a leader in the Residence Hall Association, a Muncie native and a leader in the greek community.
Catalyst's plan to reorganize the SGA budget also caught our attention. Student Connection's term ends at the end of this week, and after buying some new computers and office supplies, they'll still be leaving $3,000 for the next slate to use. Most of SGA's funding is rolled into the executive discretionary funds, which are sometimes hard to access. Catalyst wants to allocate some of these funds for senate-led programs to address specific issues around campus.
We won't leave Campus Voice unspoken for. It had some decent ideas too — a Facebook page where students could voice comments and concerns and an additional cabinet member to oversee environmental affairs.
But some of its goals are unattainable or already in the works. The idea of using Cardinal Cash in the Village and other places around campus is good but it would affect only a handful of students. It has been discussed by Campus Council for a year without any real progress, and it won't be implemented until spring at the earliest. It also may have a hole in its leadership board with the candidate for treasurer having no prior experience in SGA.
Both slates had some good ideas, but Catalyst seemed to have experience on its side.
We've chosen a slate and we've given you our reasoning. Now you decide. Cast a vote at bsu.edu/webapps/votebsu.
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