Rochester Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau
"Phi Kappa Tau, as a chapter, would like to officially endorse Brother Saad Usmani '17 and Cindy Molina '18 for their write-in campaign for SA President & Vice-President. Their platform of changing the environment of Students' Association, reducing excessive bureaucracy that acts as an obstacle for change, and changing the dialogue to implicit racism on campus is something that needs to be realized. We have full faith that Saad and Cindy will advocate for these issues, and deal with them directly.
Thus, we encourage everyone to write-in Saad & Cindy for SA President and Vice-President on April 5-6." |
Sam Lienhart
Former SA Senator
Former SA Senator
"As many of you know, I resigned from senate a few months ago. I cited an uncomfortable environment and lack of process as some of the reasons for resigning. If you would like to read my full resignation letter, you can here.
You can also read about my resignation in this Campus Times article.
I still stand by my statements that this year’s senate table was one of true hostility and little to no progress. One where money was wasted on name plaques for senators with three meetings left rather than on events to show the rest of campus what SA is doing to help students and allow them a platform to speak their concerns.
One where time was wasted in petty arguments instead of being spent on research to see what students really needed. One that was a closed system, which ostracized new members with fresh ideas, or ideas that went against what the loud voices at the table wanted.
One that rarely questioned its ways in proceeding with certain projects without making students more aware of what was going on behind closed doors.
One where you voted yes or no based on the popular vote, or the idea that you wanted to get out of the meeting as quick as possible.
So, it is not surprising to me that this year’s highly contested SA Presidential Race is full of hostility, bullying, rumors, and lack of true focus on what really matters, the students and this University.
Do not get me wrong, over the past year, Grant and Melissa have truly tried their best to focus on the students, to focus on progress and compassion and transparency in their roles. Do not get me wrong, there were a few people in Gowen every week showing true passion for helping out fellow students and who tried to speak up in the face of this hostility, whether they be senators, aids, audience members, directors, or the like. Don’t get me wrong, this was not the entire senate table’s fault, however, the climate created was overwhelmingly hostile and it was just accepted. Senators came to Gowen every Monday dreading their job, while sitting back and not trying to change the climate.
And I doubt all of you want to accept this bureaucracy, the games, the drama, the hiding. The senate table as a whole this year (excluding a few truly compassionate senators such as David Stark) was more concerned with internal drama and games then they were with truly making marked differences and improvements to help the rest of the student body. They were more concerned with individual image, or proving a point than they were with creating an environment where people wanted to show up to see what was going on within Senate.
Something needs to change. Next year, this should be seen as unacceptable.
So before you vote, think about things that really matter. We are here for four years, sometimes a little more, but all of us have some clear goals in mind. We want to have a voice; we want to feel supported; we want to enjoy ourselves here and feel welcomed, feel important, feel like we chose the right place to continue our education, feel like we are learning as much from the people around us as we are learning in the classroom, and feel as if people want to learn about us as well.
That being said, I ask you to think about write-in campaigns. Don’t like what you’re seeing from the official candidates?
Don’t feel welcomed or heard or important when it comes to big issues on campus such as mental health awareness and racism?
Don’t know if the current ballot has anyone on it that will truly want to learn about how you feel and how they can help you?
Don’t want to continue to perpetuate the current climate surrounding this year’s senate table?
Write in Saad, whose campaign is one of TRUE transparency.
One without the popularity vote, one without drama. He worked hard in PR this past year to try to pick up the pieces of this year’s senate table and make events known to students so they can voice their opinions. One with a president who refuses to just dance around hard issues such as racism and how exactly the gap is going to be bridged between senators and the rest of the student body. He has the experience, the heart, and the right head on his shoulders to really be the best person for the job.
I 100% stand behind Saad and believe that he can change SA to finally become ever better."
~Samantha Leinart
You can also read about my resignation in this Campus Times article.
I still stand by my statements that this year’s senate table was one of true hostility and little to no progress. One where money was wasted on name plaques for senators with three meetings left rather than on events to show the rest of campus what SA is doing to help students and allow them a platform to speak their concerns.
One where time was wasted in petty arguments instead of being spent on research to see what students really needed. One that was a closed system, which ostracized new members with fresh ideas, or ideas that went against what the loud voices at the table wanted.
One that rarely questioned its ways in proceeding with certain projects without making students more aware of what was going on behind closed doors.
One where you voted yes or no based on the popular vote, or the idea that you wanted to get out of the meeting as quick as possible.
So, it is not surprising to me that this year’s highly contested SA Presidential Race is full of hostility, bullying, rumors, and lack of true focus on what really matters, the students and this University.
Do not get me wrong, over the past year, Grant and Melissa have truly tried their best to focus on the students, to focus on progress and compassion and transparency in their roles. Do not get me wrong, there were a few people in Gowen every week showing true passion for helping out fellow students and who tried to speak up in the face of this hostility, whether they be senators, aids, audience members, directors, or the like. Don’t get me wrong, this was not the entire senate table’s fault, however, the climate created was overwhelmingly hostile and it was just accepted. Senators came to Gowen every Monday dreading their job, while sitting back and not trying to change the climate.
And I doubt all of you want to accept this bureaucracy, the games, the drama, the hiding. The senate table as a whole this year (excluding a few truly compassionate senators such as David Stark) was more concerned with internal drama and games then they were with truly making marked differences and improvements to help the rest of the student body. They were more concerned with individual image, or proving a point than they were with creating an environment where people wanted to show up to see what was going on within Senate.
Something needs to change. Next year, this should be seen as unacceptable.
So before you vote, think about things that really matter. We are here for four years, sometimes a little more, but all of us have some clear goals in mind. We want to have a voice; we want to feel supported; we want to enjoy ourselves here and feel welcomed, feel important, feel like we chose the right place to continue our education, feel like we are learning as much from the people around us as we are learning in the classroom, and feel as if people want to learn about us as well.
That being said, I ask you to think about write-in campaigns. Don’t like what you’re seeing from the official candidates?
Don’t feel welcomed or heard or important when it comes to big issues on campus such as mental health awareness and racism?
Don’t know if the current ballot has anyone on it that will truly want to learn about how you feel and how they can help you?
Don’t want to continue to perpetuate the current climate surrounding this year’s senate table?
Write in Saad, whose campaign is one of TRUE transparency.
One without the popularity vote, one without drama. He worked hard in PR this past year to try to pick up the pieces of this year’s senate table and make events known to students so they can voice their opinions. One with a president who refuses to just dance around hard issues such as racism and how exactly the gap is going to be bridged between senators and the rest of the student body. He has the experience, the heart, and the right head on his shoulders to really be the best person for the job.
I 100% stand behind Saad and believe that he can change SA to finally become ever better."
~Samantha Leinart
Joshua Rosser
VP Society of Physics Students & Astronomy Club
VP Society of Physics Students & Astronomy Club
"I as the standing Vice-President of the Society of Physics Students and Astronomy Club would like to announce my endorsement to Saad Usmani for Student Association President.
I have known Saad for about 2 years and when he first told me that he was going to run as a write-in after the disappointing results of the debate, I thought it was a comical and crazy idea. We made an event, posted some funny memes, and popularity grew. I thought to myself, maybe he has a shot.
I have always been for the underdog, and coming into an election late in the game taking a strong stance against the injustice of the current SA could not be a more daunting task.
Saad has said in his platform what everyone else was too afraid to say, we need actual change at this University, we need actual transparency in the SA, we need a candidate who cares to take the issues head on opposed to circumventing them with month old accomplishments, WE NEED SAAD USMANI."
~Joshua D. Rosser
I have known Saad for about 2 years and when he first told me that he was going to run as a write-in after the disappointing results of the debate, I thought it was a comical and crazy idea. We made an event, posted some funny memes, and popularity grew. I thought to myself, maybe he has a shot.
I have always been for the underdog, and coming into an election late in the game taking a strong stance against the injustice of the current SA could not be a more daunting task.
Saad has said in his platform what everyone else was too afraid to say, we need actual change at this University, we need actual transparency in the SA, we need a candidate who cares to take the issues head on opposed to circumventing them with month old accomplishments, WE NEED SAAD USMANI."
~Joshua D. Rosser
Bo Peng
Astronomy & Physics Student
Astronomy & Physics Student
"As an executive board member of the Astronomy Club and a member of the University community, I hereby endorse Saad Usmani for President of the Student Association.
Before Saad's run for presidency, I never really cared about the SA government. As most part of my life and the operation of my club can continue without them. Saad's candidacy, however, strikes me that an SA out of reach with many of its electorate is not an SA that I want.
In Saad, I see a man with both an insider standpoint and an aspiration to change the status quo. This is the person we need to end political apathy and inaction. As Saad has said, we can do better."
~Bo Peng `18
Before Saad's run for presidency, I never really cared about the SA government. As most part of my life and the operation of my club can continue without them. Saad's candidacy, however, strikes me that an SA out of reach with many of its electorate is not an SA that I want.
In Saad, I see a man with both an insider standpoint and an aspiration to change the status quo. This is the person we need to end political apathy and inaction. As Saad has said, we can do better."
~Bo Peng `18
Society of Physics Students
"The University of Rochester Astronomy Club offers their endorsement of Saad Usmani for SA President. As a Physics and Astronomy Major, Saad has been extremely involved in the PAS department and among his peers as a teaching assistant and as a tutor. We have seen Saad’s leadership skills and diligent work ethic first hand and hope that he is able to bring his talents to the SA Government next year."