Student Trustee Candidates Debate on Urbanagora
The U of I student elections are quickly approaching, and there are two candidates for Student Trustee, Rob Main and Paul Schmitt. Both candidates have promised to answer a series of questions for Urbanagora. We will share their responses with the Daily Illini Editorial Board, and post them here for debate and discussion.
The following questions were drafted with assistance from three former Student Body Presidents, three former Student Trustees, a current and former member of the Daily Illini Editorial Board, the Vice President of the Student Body, and former DI columnists.
Question 1. Do you believe that a student trustee has a greater responsibility to serve the interests of the students currently enrolled at the University or the interests of the alumni and the university at large? Name one or two things that you plan on working on that serves each interest, and one or two things that you believe serves each interest equally.
Question 2. The U of I ranks eleventh in the Big Ten in the percentage of alumni donors. Why do you think this is the case? Tell us what specific steps you would take to: (1) increase the donation rates of current alumni; and (2) make current students more likely to give when they are alumni. (Note: the author of this question would like you to answer it based on the assumption that the BoT will not have enough votes to bring back the Chief no matter how persuasive you are)
Question 3. Based on past practices, the Champaign-Urbana trustee is not likely to have the binding vote this year. How can you realistically have an impact? What makes you more likely to be effective than the other candidate? Would you be willing to pledge not to solicit or accept recommendation letters from any administrators or members of the BoT?
Question 4. Name one unique, specific idea (preferably original) you want to implement during your tenure, and tell us what specific steps you would take to get it done. (please do not give a general answer like “improve educational quality” or “increase state support,” we would like to hear specific steps to make a concrete idea happen)
Question 5. Which three student groups do you admire the most, and why? (Disclaimer: We reserve the right to mercilessly ridicule you if it looks like you are merely making your selection based on what the three biggest groups are that vote as a block, rather than based on values)
Question 6. Please provide one or two examples of instances when you were forced to step outside of your comfort zone on this campus. As a student leader, how have you encouraged others to do the same?
