"Infiltrate, Destroy, Rebuild."

The simple, self-explanatory platform of Students for a Just University has resonated with a number of UT students who felt disenfranchised by the more traditional Student Government Association parties and dissatisfied with administration. 

"We Wanted something new, different, and real. We wanted a just campus, a democratic campus, a campus where everyone was valued and included," says SJU's mission statement. "SJU is also putting a large amount of focus into administrative accountability."

SJU, which began in the Spring of 2007, promises to change five key areas of the University: Social, Environmental, Student Health and Safety, Student Convenience and SGA.

SOCIAL

The key changes SJU promises to make to the social situation at UT are the implementation of a "Living Wage," a non-discrimination policy and creating a legitimate system to recruit and retrain qualified professors of color.

"One year ago Dr. George White was denied tenure for what many believes were reasons related to his political and racial identity. While this is merely one example, policies need include implementing a legitimate strategy to recruit and retain more faculty, staff, and students of color, honoring the commitments of the Ready for the World initiative," said SJU Presidential candidate Samuel Mortimer.

The "Living Wage" is a movement to give all full-time UT employees a significant wage increase, enough so that all employees of the University have the ability to afford the cost of living. The key difference between SJU's proposed non-discrimination policy and the one currently in place is that SJU would include a provision protecting gender identity and all sexual orientations.

Well, the clear reason is that it is the socially responsible thing to do. The University of Tennessee is an institution of higher learning and should not have to worry about skimming the lowest wages of its employee's salary. Many of the lecturers at UT don't even make a living wage - which a lot of people don't know. A living wage for all UT employees would only improve the reputation of our university and quality of life for all those intertwined within the UT system. Samuel Mortimer, SJU Presidential canididate

ENVIRONMENTAL

The highlight of their environmental platform is to continue pressure to follow up on climate commitments towards carbon neutrality on campus, a move that began with the initiative known as "Make Orange Green." This would be achieved mainly by increasing the availability of recycling bins.

SJU would also work with other UT system schools to get President Petersen to sign the same climate commitment as the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY

The two biggest changes with student health and safety both directly involve the UT Police: A medical amnesty alcohol policy would be implemented and a police oversight committee to make UTPD accountable to students would be created.

"Many students, myself included, feel that a medical amnesty policy is necessary to keep people from being afraid to get help for their friends," says one supporter of SJU.

A medical amnesty policy would protect students who are on campus and afraid to seek help in a situation when alcohol consumption is risking the personal safety of a UT student. This would not protect the student from any local laws, but (using the model Clemson university has adopted) once a year students would essentially be exempt from university policy (assuming a medical emergency). However, the student would have to go through alcohol counseling for a period of time. There is much more information about this on the internet which is easily accessed. Samuel Mortimer, SJU Presidential canididate

STUDENT CONVENIENCE

Additional vegan and vegetarian options would be added in all cafeterias, more so than the beans and rice which are currently offered. Additionally, legislation forcing UT to reconsider dining contract with Aramark would be passed.

Most important to all UT students who are unfortunate enough to drive on campus, SJU would call for changes in the parking system.

There has been an outcry from students who need to get to campus to study, access the library, etc and are forced to either pay to park in their own registered lots or walk tremendous distances. The issue here is the priority of the university - to the athletic department or to its student’s education. Samuel Mortimer, SJU Presidential canididate

SGA 

The main change in SGA would be the establishment of a party system outside of the election season to make campaigns accountable to the executives and senators they put in SGA.

Additionally, more responsibilities would be given to SGA to senators and more emphasis would be placed on lobbying the university, local, and state levels of government once bills are passed.

Finally, there would be a complete overhaul of SGA’s online presence that would fully disclose up to date information (attendance, bills proposed, voting results, minutes, etc) on SGA’s website.

There is an extensive amount of information (bills proposed and passed, attendance, calendar, voting records, party affiliations, etc) which should be available online is not immediately available without venturing to the SGA office or emailing someone within the office itself. For the everyday student, this is not only a burden – but often times not even immediately clear how it would be done. As far as senatorial responsibilities go – more emphasis needs to be put on holding deadbeat senators (which currently make up the majority of senate) accountable. Furthermore, the senators that pass legislation need to actively pursue its implementation, etc. Samuel Mortimer, SJU Presidential canididate

Voting will take place from April 1-2 and can be found on the official SGA Web site. 

--

Information about the opposing parties, FOCUS and CONNECT, can be found in the following articles:

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

Involved with the SGA since their freshmen years at the University of Tennessee, CONNECT's Jeff Wilcox ... [continue reading]