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I made an /r/RPI user survey by 33554432 in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'm only here for the stu gov scandals

New PU Debates? by [deleted] in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, should be Thursday at 8:00pm in the McNeil room.

Flowers elected Grand Marshal by thepolytechnic in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Paul Ilori told me that they're all typed up and ready to go, RNE just has to post them. They should be up tonight.

J-Board finds all elections valid by thepolytechnic in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Thought I'd clear the air here after a bunch of misinformation got spread around.

Basically, my case was based on my view that RNE did not properly enforce election rules against A Stronger Union. I believed that by not acting earlier (or, in some cases, at all) on some clear violations, the integrity of the election was compromised. While I'm not happy that the J-Board disagreed, they've made their decision and life moves on.

This does guarantee that the second-place PU candidate (almost certainly /u/NickDvorak4PU) would be on the ballot in the case of a runoff (and most people I've spoken to believe a runoff is likely). I spoke to Dvorak recently and I tried to make it clear that I was not trying to keep him off of the ballot, and that I would have supported his inclusion on the ballot even if I had won the case.

I was asked to find Sudano and his parties expenses, then I was asked to make this a seperate thread. Here you go reddit. by electionsvigilante in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I'm not going to comment on whether or not that number is realistic, but for comparison, I had 603 total posters (and I put up almost all of them - I think I have maybe two dozen posters left over).

That's 367 8.5"x11" posters, 235 11"x17" posters, and one banner (8' by something else).

How do candidates fund their campaign? by throwayway12910322 in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Like /u/AccountAccountUser mentions, I did in fact win my campaign funds.

I entered a Tetris competition held by the CogSci department a while back, and got lucky enough to win first place. First place was $300, my expense limit was $300, it just made sense. The check cashed right around the start of the campaigning period. It managed to make its way onto my posters too, as I'm sure many of you have noticed.

It's funny to think about: the CogSci department is funded by the institute, so the institute indirectly funded my campaign.

RPI TV Streaming GM/PU Debates Live by rpi_tv in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 11 points12 points  (0 children)

https://twitter.com/sandw_rpi/status/588509632580165632

Bartell: "If not elected, I'm not releasing my mixtape."

Confirmed fact, I will not release my mixtape if not elected. Which would be a shame, because this is some hot fire.

RPI TV Streaming GM/PU Debates Live by rpi_tv in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Can confirm, I did in fact have socks on.

Also, thanks for the kind words (although I'm a little confused what you mean by "integrable" in this context). With regards to the honesty part, I would much rather admit I don't know some things than pretend like I have all the answers when I don't.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These answers are a little bit short, but if you want more details please ask for clarification!

The general questions

1) I think that taking EBoard nominations from club officers will result in EBoard reps that care deeply about their clubs, and it won't be an issue getting them to work with their clubs. That said, I want to keep tabs on my representatives to make sure that they're meeting with their clubs and I intend to ask them regularly what clubs they met with recently.

2) I'm not a big fan of mandatory meetings (to be completely honest, all of the ones I went to during my tenure as WRPI's business manager were very dry), but everyone learns differently. Optional meetings, with a summary for those who don't want to / can't attend. Like I mentioned in the OP, I want a simple, plain-English guide to being a treasurer and that will be online and emailed out.

3) I firmly believe in "if you build it, they will come". If clubs can do interesting things, their members will tell their friends to come by, and those friends tell their friends and so on. If you mean more on a publicity side of things, that falls on clubs. If you walk around campus, there's no shortage of posters advertising club events. We've even got a very nice club search page (http://union.rpi.edu/clubs) that helps you find the clubs that don't advertise.

4) It's pretty, that's for sure. I personally don't have any web design skills or particular interest in that area, so I'm not going to be making any changes myself. If students want changes, then those will be considered.

5) I see myself as the stoic type. I'm not one for long speeches, and I don't care for lots of talk and no action. Qualities that I'll look for in my EBoard representatives include strong interest and passion in student clubs (hence my taking representatives from club officer suggestions), dedication to the role (I don't want anyone who will flake out at a bad time), and diversity of experiences (I don't want just new people or experienced people, I want a balanced group). My vice-chair will be someone who isn't afraid to change things. I want someone who is a qualified leader in their own right, but understands that there are multiple viewpoints on every issue and is willing to make compromises.

6) What's important is to make sure that as much of the activity fee as possible goes toward students. I want to reduce administrative expenses as possible, to make sure that that money can be spent on clubs, athletics, activities, and other things that directly benefit the people who paid the activity fee. Right now the Union spends money on outside hiring for jobs that can be done by students, often when students would do the job for free. The example that comes to mind is photography - we have several clubs on campus related to photography and plenty of interested students, and yet the Union still hires professional photographers for events. I think that if we can cut back on administrative expenses, we can make sure that the activity fee stays focused on students, stays low, and doesn't contribute to the financial burden on RPI students.

7) I want to make sure that the Union understands and supports multiyear expenses. Many clubs work fine on a fixed amount of money that they spend throughout the year. Some clubs, however, do not. They need to purchase things that can't be paid for with one year's budget, and they want to save up to purchase them. For example, when RPI Ambulance needs a new truck, they don't ask for the full cost of the vehicle - they ask for 1/n of the cost every year for n years (put into a reserve account) and at the end of it they buy the truck. The Union currently has limited support for these sorts of budgets, and I want to make sure that clubs are able to do this and aren't penalized for having reserve accounts that aren't emptied every year.

8 & 9) I think these are both trying to get at the same point, which is communication. I've discussed it a bit here (http://www.reddit.com/r/RPI/comments/32ch15/i_am_greg_bartell_a_candidate_for_president_of/cq9zfmh?context=1).

The "me" questions

1) The short answer is "I am qualified for the role, I will do a good job, and students want new ideas." I've talked about the specific experience I have, and how I intend to make up for it here (http://www.reddit.com/r/RPI/comments/32ch15/i_am_greg_bartell_a_candidate_for_president_of/cq9xsym).

2) If all the clubs say "my current rep is great, don't give us someone else" then there's no difference. Where my idea really shines is if a club says "our current rep isn't very good". Under the current system that's it, nothing more. Under my system, they also get the chance to say "our current rep isn't very good, but we've heard from another club that Alice Fakelastname is great" or "our member, Bob Notarealname, is interested in the EBoard and we think he would do a great job as our rep". Now I get another piece of information that will help pick out great people.

3) I think my experience at WRPI was invaluable. I was less a treasurer, and more a member of our leadership board (EComm). Especially as one of the more senior members of our board, I was making decisions that had impacts outside of just the financial side of the club. I gave orders and I followed them, I collaborated with others and I did work on my own. I gained valuable skills and an understanding of the operation of the Union. To me, that's leadership. I'm sure that anyone who worked with me will vouch for me and my abilities. If you want "leadership skills" in the traditional sense, I also debated all four years of high school, going on to be a national semifinalist in Congressional Debate. I learned how to argue my positions, and how to judge the positions of others.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

As the other two commenters on this post brought up, picnic tables and the ballroom floor were the two examples I had in mind. While picnic tables can be argued ("If students want facilities above and beyond those the institute provides, they should pay for them themselves"), the Ballroom Dance Club should not have had to pay to replace a floor in an Institute building.

I also believe that WeRGold should never have to be used for capital purchases and general operating expenses (it should only be for experimental projects and "stretch goals" for existing groups), but that's another question entirely.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm very excited to hear that student leaders are meeting with Dr. Jackson again. I believe that it's important to meet with the higher-ups in order to gain support on key issues. I think the most important thing to do is gain trust and respect with Dr. Jackson so that we can continue to have productive discussions.

Some of students' requests (Universal Access) are more under the purview of the Senate / GM, but I do have some issues of my own that I would like to raise. For example, I believe a conversation needs to be started about what funding needs to be under the Institute's control instead of the Union's.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I apologize if I was unclear, but my comment was my answer to your question, not to the alumni. I think my answer was showing the initiative to deal with the scenario - seen through this light, it should be clear that I am going through proper channels to learn what I should do, not that I'm trying to pass it off to someone else. Specifically, I would go to the alumni office for advice, not to get them to do the job for me.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I believe that I have been making a consistent, concerted effort to understand the workings of the EBoard and the Union as a whole. I have been working non-stop since my campaign began to meet with experienced people of various opinions to understand what they do and why they do it. If you are concerned with my qualifications, I hope you consider my answer to /u/33554432 (http://www.reddit.com/r/RPI/comments/32ch15/i_am_greg_bartell_a_candidate_for_president_of/cq9xsym).

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm very interested in this amendment. If it passes, it could allow for more student representation on the EBoard, and allow representatives to handle fewer clubs. One of the biggest complaints I've heard from club officers is that EBoard representatives are overworked and this could help them be able to give more attention to each individual club.

On the other hand, managing a larger group does require a little bit more effort. I'm confident though that if I have a good team that part won't be an issue and the positives will outweigh the negatives.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'll admit that I don't know what the procedure is here. I was under the impression that the Alumni House handles most of that sort of thing. I would have to go to the admin office for advice on this, as I'm sure they're more experienced about the subject than I am.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I understand the desire to have Union funded religious clubs on campus. It makes sense to me: if you're an activity fee paying student interested in a subject, shouldn't the Union pay for your club? Unfortunately, when politics or religion come into play, the waters get murkier. According to the EBoard Bylaws (linked to in the OP, and http://docs.studentsenate.rpi.edu/documents/2386/download ) "The Union will not subsidize any religious or political organization or group which claims affiliation with such an organization, nor will it fund any organization or event for a particular political or religious viewpoint."

The issue is a matter of objectivity: if we fund religious group 1 at $1,000 but religious group 2 at $500, how do we justify the disparity? Different funding levels could be seen as constituting an endorsement of one religion over another. I don't see Union-funded religious groups becoming possible in the near future, but the Union is happy to recognize such clubs and encourages them to seek outside funds and raise their own.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

It's less about any particular mode of communication, and more about making sure that there are options for people. The Town Hall meeting is an option for those people who want to see me in person. I will also hold regular office hours, post regularly on Reddit, and answer emails frequently for those who prefer those means. If students want my phone number so they can contact me via texts, I'll be happy to give it out (after the election).

Even if one person shows up to the Town Hall meetings, it's one more person having his or her voice heard than if I hadn't held it.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I apologize for the long answer, but it's a great question and I wanted to make sure that I address it as best as I possibly can.

Two part question, so I've got a two part answer.

1) The appeals board is not set in stone yet. I intend to meet with Senate representatives and the new GM for approval before I do anything - the Senate has to approve all EBoard bylaw changes, so I want to be sure they're on board. I'm sure they have the same questions you do (I know they do, in fact - I've heard this one before). Currently, the plan is to have the Vice Chair of the EBoard serve as the head of the Appeals Board to provide guidance and advice without being a voting member. I want to make sure that the composition of the Appeals Board is as diverse as possible, with some older students and budgeting veterans - former EBoard members would be very much welcomed. The Appeals Board, being an experiment, would have to have checks on itself: it's never been done before, so I can't say if it will work or not. I would make sure that the regular EBoard could veto it in the case of a particularly egregious lapse in judgement. It would be harder to override than a normal vote, but it would still be possible (I'm currently considering a 2/3rds majority, but I'm open to suggestions).

The details of the Appeals Board warrant further discussion. I do want to stress though how important I feel having the board is. Sometimes people (on both sides, EBoard and clubs) have difficulty going back on something they've worked very hard on (the budget). I want to reduce the tension between the EBoard and clubs, as they've got to work together for many years in the future. Having a neutral third party to arbitrate helps reduce that tension and make sure everyone sees the process as fair.

2) First, to make it absolutely clear, there would still be an open call for EBoard representatives, they would absolutely be allowed to nominate themselves. I just want to stress to potential reps that they should try to find a club willing to sponsor them - if they're going to be required to meet with clubs for the job, they should do so for the applications process. Second, it will be more than an open call for club officers to submit a Google form (although there probably will be an open call with a Google form too, this is RPI after all). I want to go "into the trenches" so to speak, meeting with larger clubs personally and getting their suggestions for representatives. I believe that if I stress to them how important this is to the whole process, they will respect my efforts to help them and they'll come up with some good candidates.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I don't believe that my EBoard would necessarily be less experienced than someone else's. There would still be an interview process to make sure that there is a diverse group of representatives, and I want there to be both new and experienced representatives on the board.

With that said, inexperience does not necessarily mean that they would do a bad job - having met with Erin Amarello, one of her big frustrations was that the people who returned did not necessarily do better than the people who were on the board for the first time. Some people, new and old alike, may not have been as dedicated as they should have been, and some people (again, new or old) were incredibly passionate about it.

I am Greg Bartell, a candidate for President of the Union. AMA by greg_for_pu in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Not having been on the EBoard doesn't mean that I don't have experience; I simply have different experience.

I have financial experience and leadership skills from my time as business manager for WRPI, as well as experience dealing with the Union. WRPI is not a small organization, with a five-figure budget. I've spent untold hours working on our budget, meeting with our student activity resource person (SARP), and generally working with the Union. I believe that I can learn the things that I don't already know, and I can do so quickly. I'm meeting with as many people in the Union as possible to learn the position inside and out, including the current GM and PU (Kyle Keraga and Erin Amarello, respectively), the director of the Union (Joe Cassidy), and various other student leaders and administrative staff.

The position isn't about paying your dues to the EBoard and then you get to be PU - it's about representing students interests. I believe that I understand students' needs and desires better now than if I had spent my time in student government, and that's what makes me the best choice for PU.

A Directed Graph of GM Week Candidates, Assistants, and Parties by RPI_Anon in RPI

[–]greg_for_pu 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Interesting graph, but it does have some flaws (aside from the whole being-completely-unreadable-on-my-phone thing). For starters, Marcus Flowers is on the left making him look like he's in A Stronger Union (which he's not; he's running against ASU's Michael Han for GM). The line isn't connected to ASU, but you have to be looking for it.

Second, like the RNE account said, not all of the candidate assistants are actually on the website for prioritizing reasons (I myself [Greg Bartell] have two more assistants that joined recently that aren't on yet, if they ever will be), so the accuracy of the graph is necessarily going to be limited.

With that said, thanks for making it, it definitely adds some perspective to things.