Involved with the SGA since their freshmen years at the University of Tennessee, CONNECT's Jeff Wilcox, Meghan Blackwell and Taylor Reynolds are equipped with the experience to tackle some of UT's biggest issues.

Campaign manager, Mollie Robinson outlined the issues given top priority by the CONNECT campaign.

"Jeff, Meghan and Taylor want to help improve campus safety, communication between students and administration, and work towards extending the HOPE scholarship for fifth-years," Robinson said.

While a full rundown of CONNECT's goals on the Knoxville campus can be found at their Web site, SGA Presidential candidate Jeff Wilcox explained that providing a support system for the university is CONNECT's primary aim.

"Our main goal is to make SGA the support system it needs to be and connect the entire campusOur main goal is to make SGA the support system it needs to be and connect the entire campus.," Wilcox expressed. "We want to build and better communication between the students, SGA and the administration."

If elected, CONNECT has plans to collaborate with the University of Tennessee Police Department, the Knoxville Police Department, students and the administration to make the campus and surrounding areas safer for everyone.

With UT set to expand the campus, CONNECT aims to provide better security for the Fort Sanders area.

"Since campus is moving into the Fort we want to connect that part of campus with the current campus, and we want to make sure that it is just as safe," Wilcox stated.

As of now, the HOPE scholarship is only available to students for four years of schooling. According to Wilcox, CONNECT has made it a top concern to work with state officials in order to extend the life of the scholarship to fifth-year students.

"We also want to address issues like the HOPE scholarship," the presidential hopeful, Wilcox said. "We want to work with state legislators to extend the HOPE to fifth-year students and five year academic programs."

With student government elections only a day away, the CONNECT campaign will spend today talking with students in order to gain a better understanding of the concerns of their constituents.

"Campaign week is a great week to go out and meet and talk with other students," Wilcox explained. "Not only can we tell people what we are about, but we can hear from other students what they would like to see done with SGA."

Anyone seeking more information about CONNECT and its candidates can point their browser to www.connectut.info or get in touch with the campaign at connectut@yahoo.com.

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Information about the other two main groups running for SGA can be found in the following articles:

FOCUS is one of three groups running for office in the SGA elections this year ... [continue reading]

"Infiltrate, Destroy, Rebuild." The simple, self-explanatory platform of Students for a Just University has resonated ... [continue reading]