Forrest Bennett, candidate for student body president, wants students to know they can impact campus through UOSA.
Bennett and his running mate, Katherine Borgerding, both emphasized their hope to bring students into greater communication and participation with UOSA.
Bennett, political science junior, is a representative in Student Congress and the vice chair for the public relations committee of Congress. Bennett is a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, where he has been pledge class president, secretary and new member educator.
“What I believe qualifies me is that I know a wide range of people, and I truly want their ideas to be the focus of student government,” Bennett said.
Borgerding, journalism junior, is also a representative in Congress, as well as the media relations coordinator in the executive branch of UOSA. Borgerding is the chair of the public relations committee in Congress. She said her current responsibilities in Congress and in the executive branch are similar to the vice president’s duties.
Students who work with Bennett and Borgerding said both candidates are effective leaders.
“The way in which Forrest and Katherine work together is remarkable. Both are very genuine people ... down to earth, approachable students who actually care about their fellow students,” said Zach Milvo, University College freshman and public relations committee member.
Bennett and Borgerding base their platform on three points: 1) Creating a more effective executive branch, 2) improving communication between students and UOSA, and 3) advocating on behalf of students.
They said they would improve the executive branch by filling all of its positions, creating summer projects for those positions and deepening the responsibilities of the vice president.
“Now, the vice president’s role is very limited ... we want to make it more proactive than in the past,” Borgerding said.
The candidates said they would use social media to post video updates letting students know what the executive branch is doing and where they are doing something.
Since his freshman year, Bennett has wanted to create a monthly South Oval office where the executive branch sets up on the South Oval to interact with students.
“I know in this vast sea of students all the right answers are out there and I intend to find them,” Bennett said. “If we can get students to take an active role in student government, then UOSA can be effective.”
Bennett’s relationships with the OU administration, state representatives for the district covering OU and the chief lobbyist for OU put him in an advantageous position to work with them to improve the lives of students, Bennett said. He said he wants to use students to get the attention of administration.
“I intend to bring ideas to the administration that have clear backing from thousands of students,” Bennett said.
