Meet the three candidates running for vice president of academics for Utah Tech University’s student body elections.
The vice president of academics chairs the student senate. The senate focuses on representing students by getting feedback and voicing concerns and opinions within each college at the university.
Maya Christopherson
Maya Christopherson is a junior elementary education major from Cache Valley. Christopherson started her journey with Utah Tech’s Student Association as the senator for the College of Education. As a senator, Christopherson was able to network and solve problems, which she realized she was passionate about doing. Christopherson is running on the basis of “support beyond the syllabus.”
“I notice that a lot of the time when students are struggling, they’re struggling not just because the curriculum or their classes are hard, but because of everything else college life brings them,” Christopherson said. “I see a lot of issues with mental health or financial stress, and I think our campus is really good at having resources for all of those needs.”
Christopherson wants to emphasize support from professors and staff so students feel supported not only in the classroom, but other aspects of campus.
Christopherson’s three pillars:
- Support
- Advocacy
- Connection
“Having strong connections at Utah Tech is what made it such an enjoyable experience for me as a student,” Christopherson said. “I know if I didn’t make those strong connections, I would not be having the experience I have.”
Christopherson’s goal is to work on the concerns students have about their academic advisers. She plans to save funding for hiring more advisers.
“I want the students to know that their voice matters and it’s heard in every decision that’s being made,” Christopherson said. “They should feel empowered and confident to share their opinions and what they want in their education because they’re the ones paying for it. Your voice, your education.”
Ethan Harney
Ethan Harney is a junior accounting major from Queen Creek, Arizona. Harney got invested in the politics at Utah Tech when he heard about funding potentially being stripped away from different organizations and departments, including the Trio program, which is for first-generation, low-income and disabled students.
Harney applauds Trio advising because it’s accessible, but advisers specific to a degree are harder to meet with, which is needed for student academics.
Harney’s three pillars:
- Spirit
- Advocacy
- Tradition
“The most important pillar to me is advocacy,” Harney said. “That’s what mobilized me to even run for this because no one was speaking for me. It felt like no one really had my back. I’m talking to students and they’re all feeling that way. Who else is going to stick up for us?”
Harney’s goal is to prevent infringement on students’ rights.
“Student rights are infringed all the time, and we don’t even know it,” Harney said. “Representation is so skewed that I’m talking to students and they feel like their rights have been violated, but no one is sticking up for them.”
As vice president of academics, Harney wants to be a voice so students can feel represented on campus instead of just being a political role.
“I don’t like having to shake hands, kiss babies and use these big buzzwords; that’s not what I’m about,” Harney said. “I’m about issues that students are facing. If these issues didn’t exist, I wouldn’t run, but I have to run because no one else is trying to fix these issues.”
Jaycie Tate
Jaycie Tate is a sophomore chemistry major from St. George. Tate is currently the Biological and Physical Sciences senator. Tate loves to help people and problem-solve, which sparked the inspiration to run for vice president of academics.
“I just want to make sure we keep pushing for academic growth, but then keep the students centered so they can be themselves and feel like they’re comfortable in the classroom, go to student events and still keep that active learning, active lifestyle we have here,” Tate said.
Tate’s three pillars:
- Authenticity
- Inclusion
- Elevation
Tate’s slogan is, “Be smart. Be weird. Be you.”
“As an individual, to just decide how you want to be, whether it’s what you want to grow into or having yourself mirror what you feel like on the inside,” Tate said. “Authenticity is a really big one [pillar] because when you’re yourself, you perform better. You’re a better person, you’re a better classmate, a better peer, and it helps you find your place quicker.”
With students being authentic, Tate wants more inclusion so students can feel comfortable with their true selves and have a place where they can do so.
“Find your place, and even if it’s a little uncomfortable, you’ll still grow, try new things, find your senator and just be you,” Tate said. “You’ll have a good time, and you’ll find a place.”
For elevation, Tate would like the students to grow as people, but also for the campus to elevate by fixing issues and making the campus more accessible as it becomes bigger.
Tate urges students to vote and get involved this year and be a part of the process, no matter who they vote for.
Voting opens on March 2 and goes until March 4, closing at 5 p.m. Voting can be found here.
