Earlier this week I had to sit through SA club endorsements for candidates running for SA e-board positions. I am fully aware of numerous issues and initiatives that the Student Association has dealt with recently, and I am puzzled as to why the UB Advocates party insists on claiming old initiatives as their own ideas.
A prime example of this is the Advocates' claim that they will get the administration to extend library hours. Upon election, Viqar Hussain and Leslie Meister are promising to get the Capen Library and the Health Science Library to stay open 24/7. Ironically, this action has already been taken up by numerous clubs and individuals through the gathering of student signatures for submission to administrative officials; how then is it possible to claim this as their own, taking credit from other, innocent students? Additionally, this is the same promise that students are given by the incumbent SA party nearly every year. If they are actually doing something from year to year, why do the same goals appear on their platforms year after year?
On top of this, the UB Advocates' vice presidential candidate, Leslie Meister, hasn't even been in a club, but ironically, the vice president's sole duty is to oversee all club activities. Why do these people keep trying to fool our students into electing them for another year? I am truly disappointed. The UB Advocates party is claiming that past performance is indicative of future results, leveraging their supposed experience and accomplishments. Interestingly, earlier this semester The Spectrum awarded the SA legislature, including the SA senate, a grade of 'C' for their significant lack of accomplishment this year. This year's SA senate chairman is none other than the UB Advocates party presidential candidate, Viqar Hussain.
I certainly hope that Mr. Hussain is at least able to accomplish something if (he) wins the SA election - he certainly has not done anything yet.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
