In a Georgetown University Student Association election that features high-profile running mates, a deluge of YouTube commercials, and cliché campaign slogans, it can be easy to miss the presidential ticket marked by sound judgment, competence, and a clear work ethic. Charlie Joyce (COL’12) and Paige Lovejoy’s (SFS’12) campaign has made few waves, but their combined experience and knowledge of the issues make their ticket the most effective and refreshing choice for executive.
Joyce and Lovejoy offer student government experience without the insularity that has become common in GUSA. From his work as a member of GUSA President Calen Angert’s (MSB ’11) executive staff, Joyce has extensive knowledge of the Student Code of Conduct, which he intends to use to reform its woefully inconsistent guidelines. Lovejoy was a member of the GUSA Constitutional Council. At the same time, both candidates have experience with leadership outside of GUSA. Lovejoy has been active with Georgetown’s Office of Leadership Development, Diplomatic Ball, the International Relations Club, and Georgetown’s foreign service fraternity—which gives the ticket a better understanding of what the student body as a whole needs.
Joyce and Lovejoy appreciate what is possible and reasonable and have set realizable goals, like increasing Department of Public Safety patrols along Prospect Street, improving SafeRides by eliminating their designated late-night pickup locations so that the vans can meet students at any University-area location, and adding a GUTS bus line that would reach these stops instead. Of all the candidates, Joyce and Lovejoy best recognize that the role of the GUSA executive is not to divvy out funds for short-lived initiatives but to communicate directly with students and advocate for their interests, pressing and lobbying both the administration and the neighborhood.
Other tickets have valuable ideas and skills to offer, but less realistic or desirable platforms. Presidential candidate Mike Meaney (SFS’12) would bring extensive experience in student government, and his running mate, Greg Laverriere (COL’12), head of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, has an unmatched understanding of budgeting. However, their vision consists too heavily of flashy new initiatives, such as the GUSA Ambassadorship program, which would pay for students to attend international conferences. Ace Factor (COL’12) has admirable plans to rework the student code of conduct and establish a student advocacy program, but the logistics of the program are not feasible. And while presidential candidate Jed Feiman (COL’12) and his vice presidential pick, Hoyas basketball player Henry Sims (COL’12), have reminded us that most GUSA presidential campaigns are insipid and homogeneous, ultimately, the ticket elected to the executive will shoulder a great deal of responsibilities—making Feiman and Sims’s lack of experience a major concern.
The Joyce-Lovejoy ticket is not perfect. One of its central goals—the creation of a WikiHow Georgetown page to help students manage class registration and housing selection, among other things—would take a lot of Joyce and Lovejoy’s limited time and energy, and its usefulness is questionable. But ultimately, they are the best candidates. They have the judgment and competence to address issues facing the student body and advocate for students both to the University and to the neighbors. Only Joyce and Lovejoy represent a confluence of good judgment, accessibility, and experience in one single ticket.
Solid editorial, though I think it’s unfair to say that Mike and Greg only have short-lived initiatives. They have the most comprehensive Access to Benefits reform ideas, which would radically and permanently change how student clubs run on campus. Joyce and Lovejoy have a similar goal, though not as much experience with the issue as Greg and Mike. Still, would’ve liked to see the Voice at least address the issue, as I think it’s going to be a big issue over the next year.
Since when is involvement in Diplomatic Ball, IRC, or DPE indicative of “the student body as a whole?” If you ask, 9 out of 10 people would probably tell you that Paige Lovejoy is condescending and arrogant with not much to back up her delusions of self-grandeur.
“However, their vision consists too heavily of flashy new initiatives, such as the GUSA Ambassadorship program, which would pay for students to attend international conferences.”
Like a review of Access to Benefits and being the only candidates to understand how the budget (which will rise to about $800,000 this year) works?
Seems pretty substantive to me.
@imr Your such a brave boy!!! Using the anonymity of the internet to make fun of a girl. Classic!
@imr completely mean-spirited, untrue and uncalled for, regardless of who you decide to vote for. 9 out of 10 people will also probably write horrible things if they can get away with not putting their name on it.
Tim Carey –
1. You hate Paige Lovejoy and many people have heard you say that on multiple occasions.
2. It’s “You’re,” not “Your”
3. Who says I’m a boy?
Brooke Heinichen –
I won’t disagree that it is mean-spirited, but untrue it is not. Uncalled for only if my right to voice my opinion is no longer protected under the First Amendment.
Irony acknowledged, I would have thought you would have a lot of better activities to pursue on a Thursday night. Unfortunately, I had to blow off friends to study for a test tomorrow. Maybe it’s hard to socialize if you’ve decided that people in those types of organizations are just “too arrogant for you.” On the other hand, perhaps you really are just too cool (hard to believe a grammar Nazi is so well-liked).
Tim Carey filmed and produced Joyce/Lovejoy’s campaign video – difficult with a team you “hate.” I’d let them continue their lives un-antagonized, without creating the drama you should keep to yourself, and your obviously extensive campus network.
…Which must be enormous, given that Lovejoy’s feeble attempt at leadership positions in three respectable campus organizations (which she cares about) aren’t enough coverage for you.
No one is telling you that you have to be an SFS all-star. Get involved with what you want. Take an art class, join B-frat, smoke a cigarette. I don’t know, go socialize on a Thursday night. Otherwise, you can keep using your big-boy (or girl?, not into genders? that’s ok) First Amendment rights to hurt another friendship.
Vote Chikin Madness (Burger is just trying to split the Madness vote!)
@imr for GUSA!
2B clear: not imr. some1 who like ppl!! i don do sfs but paige is da nicest evah – luh U grl!!!
LoveJoyce #ftw
haha the same kid who called Paige condescending called Tim out on his grammar. #irony
Wow, I didn’t realize my one observation would cause such controversy! I almost feel special.
@imr: I’m not saying that I’m cool. In fact, I would probably say the opposite – I have no \extensive campus network,\ if I passed 99% of this campus they wouldn’t know who I am, and you’re right, I’m not involved in any \respectable campus organizations.\ (For the record, I’m not belittling Ms. Lovejoy’s participation and leadership in any of her activities, I was simply stating my own personal opinion that an \SFS all-star\ is indicative of the campus population as a whole). I am a grammar Nazi, and I’ve stayed in on the last few nights because of midterms and projects just the same as you. But, as a general rule in my life, I try not to be rude to people who have never met me or provoked me.
I made my comment because Paige Lovejoy is the only candidate with whom I’ve had contact. She knows who I am, yet has never bothered to acknowledge me whenever I’ve encountered her. I try to keep a smile on my face when I see people I’ve met, and that is not the experience I’ve had with her. I don’t know if I did something to her (before my comment) to make her ignore my existence, but if I did, Paige, I’m sorry. I am not belittling DPE, DipBall, or IRC – I don’t think people in those clubs are \too arrogant for me\ – the vast majority of their members that I’ve met have been nothing but nice. My comment was only remarking upon my interactions with Ms. Lovejoy, which have been less than pleasant.
If I had had similar interactions with any of the other candidates, I would have felt compelled to comment as well.
Thank you all for your valiant efforts to keep my ego in check. I admit that the comment may not have been necessary, but there’s nothing I can do now, and I stand my my words.
@imr
While i’m glad you were able to recognize the superfluity of your comment, you are still an anonymous internet commenter who has offended, not one, but several of my good friends.
The fact that you have gone out of your way to write these comments baffles me, as does the fact that a self proclaimed “grammar nazi” could “stand my my words”.
Through this process, Paige and I have worked hard to reach out to Georgetown students and see where we can live to Georgetown motto of “Men and Women for Others”. We stand by everything that we have done and supported. Neither one of us decided to run for the wrong reasons, and both of us are happy to congratulate Mike & Greg on a fantastic achievement. However, this article was published in recognition of the effort that we put in to this election, and it is now tainted with your comments.
You say “as a general rule in my life, I try not to be rude to people who have never met me or provoked me”. While I can’t speak to whether or not we have met before in our time here at Georgetown, it is clear from the way you present yourself that you feel responsible to weigh and measure every individual who you have come in contact with.
I know in saying this you will likely feel compelled to point out my own flaws (which are numerous), and am sure that I have no doubt offended thee as well, but I really hope that if you want to speak out against myself or those I care about, you do so with a name.
If you desire more recognition from my running-mate in your social interactions, I would make an effort to include your name when you see her. I’m hard pressed to understand how Paige could not know who you are already, given your aversion to being unknown.
The reason your comment has gathered so much attention is the simple fact that you are anonymously attacking someone who , as you recognize, doesn’t know who you are. If you are going to pass on pursuing coursework in public speaking, I do hope you at least get to take an intro to logic.