Big Ten launches IUSA campaign, outline platform

Just one week after challenger BtownUnited announced its intention to run, the Big Ten ticket, led by junior Justin Kingsolver, did the same Wednesday.

Last year, he led the Kirkwood  ticket. Though the bid proved unsuccessful, Kingsolver said running was a learning experience.

“Last year, I really enjoyed my time, but I didn’t necessarily pick a diverse group of people,” he said. “I didn’t pick a group of people that really mirrored the University.”

Chief of Staff candidate junior Hannah Kinkead said this year’s ticket is inclusive of many people of different backgrounds.

“I think we really learned the value of different experiences,” Kinkead said. “Experience does count, but not just in IUSA. We want experienced leaders from across campus because again, IUSA is one part of it, but maybe 200, 300 students are really the core of that. Where are these other 40,000 students coming from?”

The ticket intends to speak to 200 student organizations and students in the near future, Kinkead said.

“We want to make sure our platforms are reaching out to students, and if they’re not, we’re gonna change them,” she said. “We’re going to make this be the ticket for the students, the voice of the students. We really want to make sure we are representing the students we claim to be representing.”

The Big Ten platform is composed of six points: establishing a basketball student section, Student Recreational Sports Center sustainability program, medical amnesty law and a cell phone application for campus mapping; reforming the IUSA budget by limiting overhead spending by 25 percent and enacting a tax-free textbook weekend with the potential to save students $2.8 million annually.

Freshman and political science major Daniel Cheesman attended both campaign rallies and noticed a difference in platforms, he said.

“The Big Ten ticket has a more specifically targeted platform, and BtownUnited has a broad brush stroke platform,” Cheesman said. “I don’t know which will be a more desirable platform. It seems like it’s going to be a tight campaign.”

Originally, Kingsolver intended not to run for a second time, but he changed his mind after he learned that 73 percent of IUSA budget is overhead spending.

“Last year, after I lost, I bowed off IUSA,” Kingsolver said. “I said, ‘this is something I don’t think I can do again and put myself through again.’ It’s tough to campaign. But then the IDS ran a big story. That made me angry just as someone who is a taxpayer to IUSA.”