Six students will campaign during the next two weeks for the sole student seat on the UB Council, a high-profile advisory board to President John Simpson.
Incumbent representative David Brooks said he would not run again for the position due to conflicts with his graduate studies in UB's School of Medicine.
Brooks said he's proud of his accomplishments as a council member, and he called the race a great opportunity for all the candidates.
"They should look at this as a tremendous opportunity to have a huge impact on all students at UB," Brooks said. "It is important that they realize this is a tremendous time commitment and be able to embrace and commit to the responsibilities that come along with it."
The council consists of 10 members, nine who are appointed to seven-year terms by the governor, and one student member who is elected to an annual term by UB students.
According to Jennifer Wantz, assistant director of student activities, only 500 students voted in last year's council election, which was held online for the first time. This year's vote will run online from March 7 through March 9, from 9 a.m. to midnight.
Four of the six candidates are undergraduates: Michael Graber, Ilia Nossov, Jonathan Yedin and Zhenxi Zhang. The other two candidates are law students: Stephen Trynosky and Adam Bushey.
Each candidate will have two weeks to campaign and inform students of their platforms.
Bushey said his platform will revolve around the quality of the experiences students receive at UB. It's not just about grades in college, he said. Academics at UB are up to par, but the extras like a recreational center and improved career networks need to be established.
Michael Graber, a junior management major, said he wants to make sure students benefit from their college education.
"I think I am a great candidate for UB Council because I love the students and community at UB and want to be able to look out for them," Graber said.
Ilia Nossov, a freshman business major, said he wants to focus on improving transportation between North and South Campus, as well as improving the food services in South Campus dorms. Nossov said he's interested in how UB budgets its funds and is looking to improve finances at UB.
Stephen Trynosky, a graduate law student earning a master's in public health, said he decided to run for the position because students are the most important part of UB, and he doesn't think they are getting the personal care they deserve.
Trynosky said he thinks undergraduates at UB have become more of a number to the administration rather than individuals.
Jonathan Yedin, a junior political science and economics major, said his platform will focus on strengthening the relationship between the North Campus and the Amherst area. Yedin said he'd also like to establish a system where campus cash can be used outside the university.
The final candidate, Zhenxi Zhang, a junior pharmacy and business major, said he wants to promote diversity and cohesiveness on campus.
"UB is a large university that includes students who are musicians, athletes to nurses. UB needs to become more cohesive. I want to be the liaison between students and the university," Zhang said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
