Neal Casey will run for Student Association president this November, with the intention of making SA more of a results-driven organization.

‘We want to transform SA to a group that says that this is what we can and should be doing, and this is how and what we’re going to do to make it happen,’ Casey said. ‘That’s what it means to take SA to the next level.’

Casey will formally announce his candidacy to the student body Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Schine Student Center.

Casey is currently chair of SA’s Student Life Committee. His campaign goals are including students in key decisions on campus and possibly reforming SA’s process for distributing finances, he said. He will give more details regarding his goals at Tuesday’s announcement.

He plans to make his campaign student-centered and student-driven by talking to as many student organizations as possible and reaching out to all areas of campus, he said.

‘As a student president, it’s a job not only to listen to the student voice, but to amplify that student voice,’ Casey said.

Casey is the first student to announce his candidacy for president. All candidates for president and comptroller must submit their intention to run for SA by Oct. 15. The elections will be held from Nov. 8 to Nov. 15, and students can vote via their MySlice account. At least 10 percent of the student body must vote to validate the election.

Casey has been involved in SA since January 2009 and said he knew it was the right place for him when he joined because of the impact the organization could have on students.

Andrew Swab, a former assistant feature editor at The Daily Orange, will run Casey’s campaign. Swab is chair of SA’s Academic Affairs Committee.

Candidates can spend up to $1,000 for their campaigns. Individual student organizations may contribute up to $100 to finance campaigns. Casey does not plan on soliciting student groups for contributions, he said.

‘I have chosen not to really go after that because student organizations are strapped enough as it is,’ Casey said. ‘I shouldn’t have to lobby organizations for their money. I should be representing them no matter what.’

Casey joined SA as a representative for the Martin J. Whitman School of Management during the 53rd session. In February 2009, he became then-President Larry Seivert’s chief of staff. He served on SA’s Finance Board in spring 2010 and has served as the Student Life Committee chair throughout the 54th session. He has also served as a student representative to the board of trustees.

lgleveil@syr.edu

 

Published on October 4, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Laurence: lgleveil@syr.edu | @lgleveille