Robert Lierenz
Political Science/Economics major, Senior

What do you hope to accomplish while in office?

“I want to magnify the voice of the students. I want to collaborate with organizations and connect students and the state with legislative policies that affect us.”

What specific responsibilities will you have?

“Essentially lobby state and national politicians for certain pieces of legislature that we support. Also raising awareness here with students and making sure we as a student body stay informed and active in voting and in state legislature.”

Why are you running?

“I think democracy is fantastic and I really want to do my great to show people how it is to get involved and vote. I want to bring my passion to the people and show how important it is that we stay active in our civic duty. I would like to draw a division between politics and civics. Politics is people pushing their side. Civics is being involved. I would like to shun politics as much as possible, promote civics as much as possible and encourage voting power.”

What previous experience do you have with student leadership?

“Hall council president/student service leader/ inter-fraternity council president/ service chair and vice president of Kappa Sigma chapter.”

Why do you think you will be the best for the position?

“The thing that my central point for my platform is that USG is not known well enough on campus. I want to work with student organizations that already have the connections to the student body and utilize student leaders. I have connections and I know people and I believe I facilitate well. I want to do my very greatest to have unified front when it comes to voting and making sure we have a voice in the state.”

Now that College Dems/Reps & PRIDE! aren’t endorsing any candidates, what will you do for endorsements?

“I’m going to do my platform speech every chance I get. I think the most important thing is getting out the vote. Endorsements do not matter as much to me. I want to show people that we as college students represent a great voting block.”

Kayla Morrison
Paralegal Studies major, Junior

What do you hope to accomplish while in office?

“I want to be an advocate for student organizations, because that they aren’t being heard. Student organizations have a lot of influence with a lot of students that are engaged in their activities and I think it’s important for them to know that USG is affecting them positively. I also want to educate students on things that are happening in the government as far as voting and politics. I want to educate students, empower their voices, make sure they’re heard, and able to engage with USG.”

What specific responsibilities will you have?

“As the director of governmental affairs, you handle everything related to government and politics that relates to student life. One of the big things that’s easily correlated with the position is voting, so students on campus are huge a percentage of voters. We did have Obama come, so that’s kind of an indication. The problem is, a lot of students in general just don’t know the things on the ballot if there’s not a president up for election, then they don’t see why they should vote. The position also contains anything that pertains for advocating for the students in the state and federal governments. One of things we’re working on right now is student regent’s proposal. We’re trying to get student voting rights in the Ohio Board of Regents. Engaging students in politics and government to feel like they’re included in the process.”

Why are you running?

“I love government and I love politics, but I’m also well-versed, and have the experience. It’s one of my passions. I’m a paralegal studies major, but I have minors is political science, history, international business, and three others. I have a large knowledge base. Politics happens to be one of my passions. I can do the job well, because I’ve done it before. I have a lot of accessibility and a lot of contacts that I actively keep up that I’d love to be able to use for the benefit of Kent State University students.”

What previous experience do you have with student leadership?

“At my time here at Kent State, I’ve been on executive boards and all that on student organizations. Currently, I am president of the pro-Israel advocacy group on campus and I’m also vice president of a student independent political group called Young Americans for Liberty. Basically anyway that I can be a leader on campus, I try to be. You just have to be that student that kids know they can come to and ask questions and trust that they know what they’re talking about.”

Why do you think you will be the best for the position?

“I am so determined, hard working, and passionate about this position. For me, it’s one of my passions and I love pursuing it. There’s so many things about it that are so intriguing to me and honestly it’s something I’m just good at it, and I know that I’m good at it. I want to be able to use that ability and that talent to benefit other people, because I can’t do anything for myself, I’m one person so for the chance to represent students that I know that have good ideas and good voices—that’s something that I want to do.”

Now that College Dems/Reps & PRIDE! aren’t endorsing any candidates, what will you do for endorsements?

“I actually am a member of College Republicans. I am really good friends with a lot of the members of College Democrats and Pride. I actually had approached College Republicans when I first discussed running, and we were kind of mulling the idea over, and when they told me they weren’t endorsing anyone, instead of being upset or offended I understood their reasoning. I said I totally agreed with them, and I have personally posted on my Facebook page and saying that there is something I’m very passionate about in this race and it is standing with the student organizations because they hold a very special place in my heart. Student organizations are my main experience here on campus, so it’s important for me to be a candidate and a voice for the students to know that we hold a certain level of integrity. We will hold USG accountable and we will make the right changes to what’s not happening now.”