With Student Union elections approaching, students will have to choose representatives who can lead the student body, initiate change in the Union and best advocate on our behalf to administrators and the Board of Trustees. This board had the privilege of meeting with all three candidates for president: David Clements '14, Ricky Rosen '14 and Daniel Schwab '14.
Schwab raised many concrete points, including suggestions for necessary improvements in the arts and athletics. However, we feel Clements and Rosen have proven, both in our interactions with them and throughout the election process, to be remarkably professional and presidential. Clements and Rosen exemplify characteristics that we strongly feel a Student Union president should have, and for that reason, both deserve our accolades.

Yet, after much deliberation, this editorial board believes that Mr. Clements has the ideal combination of experience, diligence and responsiveness to be our next Student Union president. We offer Mr. Clements this board's endorsement for the position of Student Union president.

Over the past few weeks, Mr. Clements has unveiled a new plan to restructure clubs at Brandeis. While this board harbored reservations about the plan at first, Mr. Clements took the suggestions in stride and worked tirelessly to reform the plan. He incorporated student feedback through a survey to the student body and an open forum for all students to attend. Clements combined all aspects of feedback-both those he agreed with and those he may not have-and incorporated them into the plan. It is this responsiveness to the student body, combined with his ability to look at big-picture issues that affect all students, which makes Mr. Clements a formidable candidate.

Moreover, Mr. Clements' experience as Union treasurer underscores his responsibility and diligence. Club leaders respect Mr. Clements for having brought a level of previously nonexistent efficiency to the treasury. Additionally, Mr. Clements has proven his ability to delegate efficiently by re-organizing the treasury under the domains of different assistant treasurers. The ability to delegate is a key component of any leader and it is clear Mr. Clements holds that skill. We hope Mr. Clements will bring a similar level of efficiency and reorganization to the Union as a whole, so that it ultimately runs smoothly and effectively to benefit the student body.

Through his role as treasurer and his club restructuring initiative, Mr. Clements has had occasion to interact and build a rapport with all sectors of the University. We think these skills will certainly prove to be beneficial to a Union president. Mr. Clements' attitude towards working with the administration and the Board of Trustees is refreshing. He promises to work with them as a partner rather than a subordinate, and we are confident he will not be afraid to advocate on behalf of students.

Mr. Clements' platform features a wide array of specific-yet-broad ideas. Mr. Clements intends on demanding fiscal transparency from the University, specifically in regard to the consistent tuition raises. He expressed the need to expand BEMCo and Brandeis Police service to off-campus students, while also affirming his intent to pressure the Board of Trustees for more campus renovations. His desire to remake the Stein as an on-campus social destination is just one of the highly beneficial measures he has proposed for the student body.

Although this board endorses Mr. Clements as the strongest candidate for president, we applaud Mr. Rosen for his strong ideas and evident passion for the Union. Mr. Rosen's track record as executive senator is strong, displaying many accomplishments of his own. His work in reforming the senate committees as well as in advocating for extended hours at both the P.O.D. Market and Einstein's Bros. Bagels deserves praise. We agree with Mr. Rosen that this is a crucial time for the University in terms of its dining contract, especially as the current contract with Aramark will soon expire. We hope that the next president will use this opportunity to pressure the administration, Board of Trustees and dining service provider to tailor the meal plans to students' needs. A student voice in this process is crucial.

The Brandeis student body is fortunate to have well qualified candidates for Student Union President, and yet, only one can win. Ultimately, we hope that the president-elect will seriously consider incorporating the best aspects of the other candidates' platforms into his own plans. Additionally, we hope that all candidates will continue their involvement in the Student Union to enact this necessary change.
*