The WSA as an institution is broken. The same vicious cycle continues, where motivated individual representatives are forced by the controlling veteran elite to keep their thinking inside the box. The walls of this box are made of bureaucratic protocols that do nothing but prevent REAL CHANGE.
In that I represent change, I am exactly what we need in a WSA President. Coincidently, I am also a lightning rod for public criticism from many members of the WSA. It does not surprise me at all that my candidacy elicits an immediate Wespeak denouncing my fitness to serve. If only the WSA could display such passion when dealing with issues that matter to students. To those in power, I represent a radical shift from the status quo. But isn’t that exactly what we need?
Now, I don’t mean to suggest that the majority of WSA members are not dedicated and hard working. Nor do I mean to imply that their motivations are anything but honorable; they are eager to accomplish that which they believe is best for the student body.
You may already know that I resigned from the WSA earlier this year. I am not ashamed of this. While I do regret that I let my frustrations push me to the point where the last thing I wanted to do was go to another meeting, I am proud of the fact that I took a stand. I am running as president to make sure that next year, no WSA member experiences that same disillusionment. I will encourage diversity of opinion and seek out fresh ideas, rather than squashing everything new or different.
In regards to the dismissal from my RA position: yes, I did make a mistake. I was in violation of my job’s alcohol policy, and I take full responsibility. However, if you talk to any of my residents, they will tell you that there was not a single other RA on campus who was more approachable and available to their residents. To this day every single one of my residents appreciates the job I did, and I still spend a large amount of time in my old hall.
I’m brimming with ideas and excitement. In my opinion, we need to actively recruit diversity for the WSA. My opponent cites intangible improvements in transparency as a method for righting the gross under-representation of certain groups in the WSA. That just won’t cut it. As a leader, I will not save face by only offering shallow solutions to the difficult problems that we as a school face.
You have a clear cut, old-fashioned decision between “insider” and “outsider.” If you as voters know what the WSA’s current priorities are and are happy with the way your interests are being represented, then the “insider” is for you. But if you, like me, see a need for REAL CHANGE, be bold and vote for Adit Shah.
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