iUnity kicks off campaign

With the words “we like Mike, what’s not to like?” the iUnity ticket for IU Student Association officially kicked off its campaign Feb. 15, with junior Michael Coleman as its candidate for president.

At a rally in the Kelley School of Business, the ticket discussed its campaign platform and encouraged student involvement.

“We’re building one of the largest campaign organizations, we’re hard at work trying to get someone on every floor of every dorm and every pledge class of every fraternity and sorority,” said sophomore Neil Kelty, iUnity’s chief of staff.

The ticket emphasized its age and experience as a strength over its opponents on the Kirkwood ticket.

Sophomore Sierra Hsieh, candidate for treasurer, said having current IUSA president, junior Peter SerVaas, on the ticket will help make the transition into office easier.

She said most administrations have a difficult time accomplishing what they set out to do because they have only one year in office.

Hsieh said iUnity will pull upon the experience of SerVaas and other members such as junior Jen Peterson, candidate for vice president for congress, Kelty and herself, who have all been involved in IUSA, in order to more effectively implement the ticket’s platform.

“We’ve made so much progress on all of our goals as well as some others this year, and I see that they’ll easily be able to be completed next year, and that’s because we have so much knowledge that will be rolled over into the ticket this year,” SerVaas said.

Coleman emphasized his own personal experience and passion for diversity, which he said he believes puts him in competition with Kirkwood ticket’s candidate for president, sophomore Justin Kingsolver.

“I represent different communities. I’m greek, I live in the residence halls where I have a leadership position, I’ve been an RA and, I mean, a host of other things really set me apart from Justin,” Coleman said.

Coleman also said iUnity has worked hard to represent many organizations within its campaign.

iUnity’s ticket centers around six platform initiatives, which candidates have titled iSustain, iSafe, iBreak, iBike, iBus and iConnect. iSustain, iUnity’s most heavily touted platform initiative, would push for the implementation of the Green Initiative Fund, a way for students to donate money during course registration.

The Green Initiative Fund could then be used to fund projects such as hybrid buses and solar-panel installation in residence halls, Coleman said. This will first require 10,000 signatures from students who support the proposal.

“We’re working with the Student Sustainability Council and the Greeks Go Green Initiative as well as other groups and clubs to deliver the 10,000 signatures needed to make the Student Sustainability Fund a reality,” campaign manager freshman Barrett Tenbarge said.

SerVaas said it will be great to have Coleman “at the top,” which will allow SerVaas to focus on working with students.

SerVaas challenged many of opponent Kirkwood ticket’s platform initiatives by saying that Kirkwood does not have the experience necessary to accomplish its goals.

In a segment meant to prepare iUnity supporters for questions from voters, SerVaas challenged the Kirkwood ticket’s experience with city officials and administrators.
“Both the current administration as well as our ticket has been in contact with their representative, the school representative, as well as we have our own, so we’ve been a part of this process,” SerVaas said.

Sophomore Danielle Coffin said she attended the rally because she is interested in running for a position as the Kelley School of Business representative in Congress. Coffin said she was attracted to the ticket because of Coleman’s message of diversity.

“Mike really cares about the student body; cares about unifying everyone, which I think is something that will really make the University stronger; the student body as a whole,” Coffin said.