PITTSBURGH, Pa. (PTTP)– The race is in the final stretch.
After a month of networking with student organizations and utilizing social media to advertise their platforms, candidates are using more targeted techniques, such as handing out buttons and writing in chalk on campus sidewalks to advertise their candidacy.
This year’s race is between two slates: Illuminate and Disrupt. Despite only two slates running, there are a host of candidates running for both board seats and the presidency.
With current SGB president Danielle Floyd and other board members vacating their seats due to graduation, this race is up for anyone’s taking. For the presidency, there are two experienced SGB members on the ticket.
Ryan Young, the presidential candidate for Illuminate, wants to bring student voices to Pitt’s administration in a more effective way. Young, along with the Illuminate slate, wants to focus primarily on education to prevent sexual assaults and provide a platform to support survivors of assault. In addition, Illuminate also wants to make financial aid resources and Disability Resources more accessible for Pitt students.
Corbin Makar, the other presidential candidate, is running independently. While Makar is also running on a platform of support for survivors of sexual assault. He also wants to raise wages for student workers and develop better support systems for LGTBQ+ students.
The other slate on the ballot, Disrupt, is running two board candidates: Katie Emmert and Olivia Rosati. Akin to their namesake, Disrupt was started with the mission to shake up the Pitt environment. Launched because they were upset with the University’s refusal to address student concern in a meaningful manner, Disrupt is focusing on sexual violence prevention, reform to the Title IX office and demanding fossil fuel divestment.
Polls open on Mar. 21 and students can vote from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Results will be announced Tuesday evening in Nordy’s Place.