Josh, Tommy, & All Your Turncoat Favorites!

Ah, the man that accused me of "slandering" Gator in a written essay, returns with one of the most socially-irresponsible/Sad-Turncoat columns to grace the Alligator in a long time. Members of the Indie Bastard Class of '07 seem to becoming slightly desperate in their ways as of late. With more and more Indie leaders supporting PANTS officially (e.g. Nikki Grant), tepidly (e.g. Ryan Nelson), like chicken-shits, fearing to burn social ties (e.g. can't say), or giving free & sketch campaign advice to the side they abandoned (e.g. can't say), the offering of the bastard class to their Greek/FBK masters may not pan out quite as accurately as they'd pereceived early on.

The Indie vote won't win an election. Let's put that baby to sleep already. However, the turncoats didn't go in offering the AA community or the IFC houses, they went in with an offer that albeit no one at Gator particularly cared about, they still made bold assurances even on this very site that the Battle for the Independent community was a non-factor.

This morning before heading over to school (the joys of a planning period to post), I sent several folks a question and an opportunity to comment on Josh Simmons' horrible letter to the Alligator. One of the first responses was Will Foster, whom simply replied with this:

"Heh and just over a month before the sell out wrote this
http://www.alligator.org/pt2/070116column1.php"

This letter was written by a genuine GDI -- or was it? Those of you that remain in denial in regards to my theories tell me, explain, enlighten me...how did this GDI go from writing a letter for students to vote, to writing a second letter encouraging students to not vote? TURNCOAT! TRAITOR! TURNCOAT!

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From Charlie Grapski:

Christian,

I cannot comment on this individual - as I have no idea who he is. And I have not followed the particulars enough to know.

However I have seen this kind of sentiment before. And I believe it reflects an extremely naive as well as irresponsible sentiment.

It often reflects one of two things, however:

1) This is often the sentiment expressed by those who have been thoroughly defeated - they have given up the struggle. This is unfortunate. But it is understandable. When facing this kind of entrenched power - and when the "law" that is supposed to prevent their abuses is silent - it is not easy to continue the struggle. But that is what they rely on. Because it is not a particular victory that is important in such a struggle - to fight an entrenched power, when you are but individuals without such authority, requires a war of attrition strategy. No single battle will determine the eventual outcome. No single victory will solve the problem. Nor will a single defeat be a disaster. The key is to keep up the struggle. Many, however, will give up - and when they do - this is one of the most common reactions.

2) I have also often seen this come from those who were only in the
struggle for their own self-interest. They first try to join "the system" - but are shut out. Then they stand up against it - and in such cases they blend in with those who are struggle against it for principle (not self-interest). When they gain some power in the opposition in this way - they are often approached by the system to work cooperatively with them. They often do - and effectively become co-opted by the system. But they are never really taken in to that system. So if their self-interest is their motivating factor, they tend to then react back again. This time they don't come back and fight - they give up the fight. But they cannot do so simply - so they discourage others from joining in the struggle. If they can't win, no one can. But then again - their goal was never the same goal as those fighting for the principle. Thus this is not inconsistent behavior - from the perspective of their aims and objectives.

Like I said - I cannot judge this individual or their motives - as I have no idea of the facts of the situation or the person.

But my experience suggests the likely explanation for this kind of
column - which if you review the history of SG elections you will find is nearly identical to others over time - is one of the two above. Which one - that is up to those who know the facts and the individual to decide.

Charlie

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From Gavin Baker
Reactions
***J.S. Alligator quote(s)
Gavin Baker

***"The Gator Party has been nothing but forthright, friendly and considerate - at least as much as an SG political party can be."

***"Pants, on the other hand, has run the dirtiest campaign in recent memory."

I haven't heard that much about Gator's tactics (other than the ratherunsubstantiated rumors about candidate intimidation). But Pants clearly does not fit the description he labels it with. It's been a bit negative, but -- the dirtiest in recent memory? Where was the author last year when a Unite partisan wrote that John Boyles had sold his soul? Mr. Simmons worked on that campaign, and I would argue it was alot worse than Pants has been. And I guarantee that Unite is not the low mark "in recent memory". So basically, this is bullshit.

***""The outcome of this election has been assured for a while, and despite whatever the blue- or brown-clad campaigners tell you, your solitary, worthless vote is not going to make one iota of difference. On Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, I encourage you to flaunt with pride your indifference, your apathy and your deliberate lack of an "I Voted" sticker."

It's pretty fucking lame that, rather than focusing on all the reasons TO vote, he would rather encourage voter apathy and perpetuate the disengagements of the students from their Student Government. Pretty fucking lame.

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From Amanda Kane

Christian,

My opinion on the matter (for publication or not, your choice):

Josh is one of the most intelligent, hardworking people I met at UF; regardless of personal differences people may have with him now, I don't think that opinion will ever change. He also has the snarkiest and most cynical sense of humor on campus. I think anyone who selflessly worked on three campaigns (either side) has the absolute right to get up and say whatever he thinks in a public forum without being called names, much though I may disagree with idea and underlying sentiment of his column.

I also think it is quite important to remember that many of the people you criticize are 18, 19, 20 years old. I'm sure at 19 I was a barely formed human being (probably not even capable of tying my own shoes). Yet these kids have had to develop in an environment that I can only describe as toxic. I'm not sure what I would say about SG and voting if my first three semesters at UF were spent in such a state.


Thanks again for keeping me updated and all the best,

Amanda

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Nikki Grant Speaks Out!

[From Monday; Fully Authorized]

"After witnessing the former so-called leaders of the Indie movement all up the asses of system kids last Tuesday at Swamp (I was there for a Savant social), then reading the pathetic onslaught from these wannabes in the Alligator, I'm disgusted. These people used to be my friends, and even now, I still love them dearly. But it angers me to the nth degree to see what sheep these cowards have become. I have no doubt that a few of them truly believe that Gator is the better, more qualified party. The rest, it sickens me to say, are just mindless followers, hoping to lap up the dregs....its just as you said, Christian...they're below the table, waiting for crumbs.

I know I shouldn't have the right to say this, because I left SG and all its drama behind. But when I stopped being an SGer, I NEVER stopped being an Indie. Out of the Impact 6, only Ally Cullin and I can say that we're clean. And that's just sad. Two people who I was elected with in Fall 2005 are now working on their FBK applications and dressing up their resumes. I understand you now Christian. I used to think you were just a nutty alumni who couldn't let go of the past, but now I understand, because it HURTS to see my old friends become SHEEP, nothing more than...not even tools...just willing pushovers for the system. I'm not even saying that because we're indies, we should automatically go with the non-mainstream party. But the way the former Indie kids, esp Action exec go on, even to the point of verbally attacking their FRIENDS in the Pants party (ie, Liz Stinson, David M, GOD BLESS HIM)....it makes me know that you were dead on in your estimation in that video you made a posts back. I have lost all respect for the lot of them, and I hope none of them attempt to run a party ever again...I hate SG, but I'd give up my plans and start a party to give the REAL indies a real choice before supporting them.

Positively disgusting. Thanks for saying on your blog what the rest of us can't." -- Nikki Grant

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This was recorded late last night; off to work I go

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Sen. Amador's Less Than Convincing Letter

Sen. Amador sounds very similar to another former H/L senator that crossed over, though I can't elaborate on that b/c I can't publish that information until 2008. I love how she talks about "what's best for her constituency" and when flat out makes this comment [about not running with PANTS and instead going with Gator]: 'if we "independents" stay on the sidelines, how will we ever achieve the ideal of true representation?'

Folks...read the letter for yourselves and read it thoroughly b/c she basically acknowledges I've called her a turncoat, attempts to make a rebuttal, and digs herself deeper by her own words (not mine). Apparently it's all about winning and the beloved "constituency" -- yeah I'm sure.

Ryan Nelson Responds!

"INDEPENDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT A PARTY; THEY SUPPORT A PERSON.

First, thank you to all the candidates who met with me and incorporated my ideas into the platforms this Spring. I'll be contacting the new execs and senate class with some ideas after the election...ideas shouldn't die just because their advocate left Senate.

My likely votes...

SBP/SBVP:
Undecided. I am leaning towards Bruce/Eve. I believe Ryan/Vanessa would do an amazing job, but I believe Bruce/Eve would too. Both platforms have their pros/cons, and both sides have extensive experience and new ideas. However, I wonder if I were to apply for a position in SG (say Lobby or a seat on a University Committee) as a qualified, 2-year senator and Party Chairman which SBP would give me a shot? I'd love to say Ryan, but I know the reality he has to deal with. That being said, I think Ryan would do a significantly better job than John (which is technically if he does anything at all).

p.s. John, where are those $50k commercials you defended in the Advertising Line (not SoE line)? Did we use the Senate/Honor Court lines yet? And thanks again for rejecting me from every university committee. You are a great public servant. Love ya!

SBT:
EJ. Liz is qualified, but EJ has more experience after 2 yrs serving as IRHA Prez. He was also Chair of the Transportation Advisory Commission, and knows the budget inside and out (on the state and local levels). Right now, he is my only 100% sure vote.

Senate:
I was going to vote for Jesse Kirsch, David Meyrowitz, and 1 of the remaining Pants guys I liked...but then I realized I'm not in the BA college anymore due to my less-than-stellar "SGPA."

I'm CLAS, and after hardcore facebook stalking I am only 100% voting for 1 person - Allie Fugate (G). Never met her, but her statement of why she is running is strong, and her ideas are well thought out and candid. I like her already. Other than that, probably Rene (G), Eddie (P), Earl (P), and 1 vote undecided.

...

In reality we're gonna see a Gator sweep, with the possible exception of Engineering (6 candidates). To everyone still in the game - remember you can support a party and still vote occasionally for the other side. Tell your friends who you support, but if there's this 1 amazing candidate on the other side, push for them too. You know there's at least 1 kid on your slate who has NEVER campaigned and you've barely even met...don't vote for them! Gator Party ideals and platform points can still be accomplished by Pants Senators. And vice-versa.

Last, for leadership positions, I'd love to see the following:
- ACCENT: Weiss (wait around a year and try again damnit!)
- SGP: Matt Jones (bribe him to stay if you have to)
- Lobby: Tommy (no one on campus could do it better...except maybe Rose but she's graduating)
- Sen Prez: Agrusa
- Sen PT: Asher (um, where the hell did PC go in this election?
Are you gals content just rolling over and dying?)

That's all I got. Parting words:
Play nice. Go to class. And regardless of where fault lies, the
700 Codes are NOT bureaucratic idiosyncrasies.

Thank you.

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CLAS Sen. Gavin Baker was invited to participate in this forum, but declined.

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God Bless The GDI's

Speaking Out

I would like to thank the Alligator for taking my criticisms over the course of 2006 and still showing their true Independent side by publishing my column. There were a few type o's but I am happy with the end result. Oh & btw "Virgil" I didn't slander anyone, I wrote about common knowledge and if need be I can substantiate it. I think one Charlie Grapski is all that's needed...

p.s. Slander is the spoken word, I think what you meant to write in that comment Virgil was "libel." No, I do not believe I committed any wrongdoing, I simply stated facts as I believe them to have occurred and substantiated by legitimate sources. I couldn't bare to see a Party I really believe in get beaten up day after day by turncoats, it's bad enough they abandoned their supporters, but to have them beat up on the GDI's that remained to fight...well that's just to use an Argento line, "not nice."

p.p.s. Expect upcoming revelations from CURRENT STUDENT LEADERS in the next few days.

Elizabeth Stinson Speaks

Exact Same Questions w/one joke included
TR: Why are you running for SBT? And what direct experience, if any, do you feel you have for this position?

Elizabeth Stinson: I'm running for SBT because as a student working directly with the office I felt that there were major changes that could be made in order to help students and student organizations reach their greatest potential on campus. After being involved on campus I simply wanted to make a difference in how student government helped students and felt that this was the best way to do it.

As for direct experience with the SG treasurer's office, I am currently the Conference Services director for the Model United Nations debate team on campus. I've had to work directly with the treasurer's office regarding ModelUN trips which are subsidized 50% by SG. I've seen the inner workings of the treasurer's office from a student's point of view, and have learned quite a bit about what goes on to make the treasurer's office work.

TR: What are some issues that you feel are of particular importance to you? And what innovations, if any, do you have for the office of SBT?

Elizabeth Stinson: Streamlining of the process that students go through in order to use their budgeted money is a very important priority for me. Student groups on campus need to be able to access their funds quickly without all the messy useless red tape that they have to go through now. I want to make it easier for student groups to access and use their funds for what they want to do.

I also want to make it where groups can use more of their budget for food expenses. If a group hosts a lot of events, or has a use for it, there is no need for them to be capped to the small amount that they are now in the amount of food they can buy. It's their money; let them use it in a way that's useful for them.

I want to make the processes more clear to students. Putting the information about SARs, various budget rules, etc. into a friendly format that students can read online would be a main point for me and be a big help for students. When I was working on travel for the Model United Nations team, I made a lot of trips to the treasurer?s office that could have been eliminated if I had a user friendly website with all of the codes and information in one place that was easy to read.

TR: In what ways, if any, does the PANTS Party differ from the Gator Party?

Elizabeth: This is an easy question. Pants differs from Gator in that we want to represent the entire student body and not just specific
interests placed on a platform. The Pants Party platform is student oriented and practical. A lot of our platform points are ideas that should have been put into action years ago. We want all students to have an active role in student government. We want an open administration that attempts to communicate with Students weekly not twice a year during the elections.

TR: To your knowledge, has the PANTS Party run a clean campaign up to this point and should your party ever consider carrying out ethically-questionable tactics, what would your response be? As the SBT candidate, how informed are you of campaign-related operations?

Elizabeth: Pants has run an extremely clean campaign. We feel that our campaign should be as clean and open as we want student government to be. All of our meetings are open to the public and anyone is welcome to attend. We even invited the Alligator to watch us as we picked our candidates. All our candidates have the opportunity to help out in the process of campaigning. If someone in the campaign has a good idea, we'll use it. Pants isn't about secrecy, we aren't about back-room deals or bar tabs at local bars. If the campaign considered dirty tactics, my answer would be no, but that's sort of like asking what I would do in the event of an alien invasion.

TR: Are the pants being displayed on these poles clean? There are growing concerns that your party has not done the laundry.

Elizabeth: We use a ton of Febreeze.

TR: What are you feelings on CLAS cuts and the growing concerns that some of UF's best professors are in fact on their way out? Do you feel that there is any way SG can have an impact on this realm of campus policy or do you think SG's critics use to SG's detriment since student officials are virtually powerless on the matter?

Elizabeth Stinson Student Government can be a very powerful lobbying tool to tell the faculty what the students want. We will do what we can to express to the administration that the students are unhappy with the proposed cutting of the CLAS budget. We understand that CLAS is vital to the majority of students on campus and we are upset over the unfair cutting of the CLAS budget. This is going to adversely affect UF's reputation and the quality of the education that UF provides to its students. We will do everything in our power to let the administration know that we are unhappy with their policies regarding class.

TR: Tell us about your presidential candidate, what qualities do you believe he possesses (aside from his cabinet directorship) that truly make him a better choice to lead students than GATOR Presidential candidate Ryan Moseley?

Elizabeth Stinson: Bruce is one of the most dedicated and creative student leaders on campus. He's got the drive to turn student government into something much greater than it is now. His ideas and enthusiasm for student government are unmatched by pretty much anyone here at UF. He started Pants on his own as a true indie party on campus and has taken that idea from last semester and turned it into a party with great ideas for the campus as a whole. Starting a movement on your own is an incredibly difficult thing to do, and Bruce has managed to do it with flying colors. Hopefully the student body will help bring Bruce's idea of a student oriented student government to fruition.

TR: Any parting words?

Elizabeth Stinson: Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed on your blog. It was a lot of fun to answer your questions. I'm really excited about the elections this year and am glad that I got to answer some questions for your readers.

E.J. Walicki Speaks

TR: Why are you running for SBT? And what direct experience, if any, do you feel you have for this position?

E.J.: I am excited to become a better leader on our campus and improve my leadership skills. This will provide me with the chance to make UF a better place for all students. For the past few years I have had the pleasure of representing mainly the on-campus residents. Now I have a chance to represent the whole student body. I have been involved in SG through replacement senate seats and committees but never to the level that I wanted to, but now I can. It was the position that fit my leadership style, my abilities, and my experiences.

I have held leadership positions at the University of Florida for the past four years. I was the IRHA Auditor, which is the chief financial officer of the organization. I have sat in during the last four budget hearings for IRHA, and the last three for Residence Hall Week (IRHA's special event). As President, I still have to review and approve any SARs for our organization. I have worked with Student Body Treasurers and the finance office and I know what my fellow organizational Presidents want to see from the SBT. I understand what student groups go through during the budget hearings and what we can work to improve upon for next year. I have also served on committees ranging from Transportation and Parking, to the Faculty Senate, to University Employee Searches. All these are important in understanding how UF works and how we can work with other areas of the university to offer the best resources and services to our students.

TR: What are some issues that you feel are of particular importance to you? And what innovations, if any, do you have for the office of SBT?

E.J.: There are two issues that are of importance to me. The first one is safety. Our students need to know that this is a place where they are safe and secure. We need to make sure that we are doing everything we can so they do not have that anxiety while they are here. By increasing the ARREST programming we will give the students more education on how they can take proper precautions to protect themselves from violent acts. This also gives them more opportunities to attend and take advantage of these programs.

Then we have sustainability. It's everywhere on this campus. The university is taking strides to make this campus that way and I see no reason why we shouldn’t try it for Student Government. We should be setting the example for sustainable initiatives and practices. A big goal of mine is to identify where we can be more environmentally-friendly in the third floor offices.

There are a few innovations that I have been thinking of for SBT. First, I want organizations to put down dates for their programs when the go through budget hearings. This way, my staff and I can look at their budget, see when the program is, and send out a reminder 6 weeks or so before time to submit their SARs for the event if they have not done so. I don't want student organizations, the finance office, or myself to be rushing around at the last minute for these requests. If I am reminding them about submitting SARs, then they know they have been told about it. It's important to take a proactive stance on this issue. Also, if there are issues (with an office resigning or some communication problems) then we have 6 weeks to work it out instead of submitting the SAR right at the two week mark and possibly not having it approved. I want these programs to take place because I want the students to have the opportunity to partake in them. I also want to have a training session at the beginning of the fall semester where all presidents and treasurers come in to a group orientation session. There will still be individual training, but sometimes it is better if they see it first hand and someone will usually ask a question that another person may not want to ask or wouldn't think of during a one-on-one meeting.

TR: In what ways, if any, does this new Gator Party differ from the Boyles' Swamp Party? Do you feel that being dubbed the mainstream or FBK-backed party does Gator justice? Why or why not?


E.J.: Gator is very much its own party. We have a fresh, diverse group of people on our Senate slate. In fact, only 6 of our 45 slated Senators were previously registered with Swamp. With a group assembled from all corners of this campus, we are able to design a new platform with innovative ideas. Yes, CD course packs is one that has carried over but that has been an issue that Ryan has been working on and we feel it is beneficial for the students. I do feel that our big focus is on the relationship between SG and the students. Our ticket is going to be very proactive in reaching out to students and student groups, not waiting for them to come to us.

I don't think being dubbed the "mainstream" party even matters. If putting qualified candidates for our executive ticket and having a very impressive and diverse senate slate is considered mainstream, then I will take it every election. We want to have the greatest impact on the student body and the Gator Party has the best people to do that. Everyone who is involved with the campaign has worked hard in their time at UF and it is the students that have been, and will be the ones benefiting from it.

TR: To your knowledge, has the Gator Party run a clean campaign up to this point and should your party ever consider carrying out ethically-questionable tactics, what would your response be? As the SBT, how informed are you of campaign-related operations?

E.J.: We have run a clean campaign. Everything we tell candidates and volunteers is about being positive and focusing on the experience of our ticket and slate, as well as the issues and concrete goals that we have set forth. We are committed to an upbeat campaign that will benefit the students. I stay very well informed from a variety of the staff who is working on this campaign.

TR: There have been alleged sightings of Tommy Jardon leading a group of unknowns around the Reitz Union. Witnesses aren't can't make a clear ID, but they have seen what resembles a shoe-shine-box. Has Tommy or any member of Action shined your shoes or that of any candidate of the Gator Party?

THIS WAS A JOKE QUESTION, JOKE!

E.J.: The only person who has been shining my shoes is me (with a few tips from my dad).

TR: What are you feelings on CLAS cuts and the growing concerns that some of UF's best professors are in fact on their way out? Do you feel that there is any way SG can have an impact on this realm of campus policy or do you think SG's critics use to SG's detriment since student officials are virtually powerless on the matter?

E.J.: These CLAS cuts are such a huge issue because so many students are affected by the college. I don't like to see cuts because then you are taking away services to the students, but the college is having some financial trouble so they need to be doing that. Until they can get back to normal or get increased sources of funding, it would not make sense (fiscally) for them to operate at the same level. I do think SG can have an impact on this area and should work hard to do so. Let's have students sit down with the Provost, the Dean of the College, some professors, etc. and look at the budget. The issues in CLAS affect so many students, so they should be involved with this process. If there is one thing I have noticed about the students at UF is that we should not be underestimated. We are smart and full of ideas. If we see something in the budget that seems out of place or there is a flaw in a certain policy, we will find it. I hope students will not be ignored because we could find something that the administration may overlook.

TR: Tell us about your presidential candidate, what qualities do you believe he possesses (aside from a number of SG titles) that truly make him a better choice to lead students than PANTS Presidential candidate Bruce Haupt?

E.J.: Ryan has a great vision for what he wants for the University of Florida and what the relationship between SG and the students should be. He is willing to go out there and start reaching out to students so they know what SG does for them. He understands the time commitments that being SBP takes; he has been around it for a year as an executive officer. He is familiar with the staff, the administrators, and the students.

TR: Any parting words?

E.J.: I am extremely excited for this election, to be running, and to be able to answer some questions. I want the students to get excited and get out there and vote this year. We have a great group of individuals in the Gator Party and I am privileged to be running with them. They work hard and it shows.

Another Day

Man...I wish I could have attended Bob Graham's presentation. Normally I don't get all jittery to hear another member of Florida Blue Key babble about making society more egalitarian, but Graham was a political legend every Gator should be proud of. From Workdays to his love of Florida to the fact he never lost an election. Hold on guys, this isn't a eulogy, this is a credibility build-up.

Not sure if any of you care, but there is a disease in elementary and secondary education going on right now. It's called the FCAT. Yes, the FCAT is another one in a long line of standardized tests that determine funding for schools and prevent teachers from teaching. They have made schools into factories, children into robots. Social studies and history are usually excluded from the curriculum until March-May once FCAT's have been completed. And the State rarely recognizes outside factors such as socio-economics or parental involvement in tabulating scores and grades.

"The average elementary student gets less than two hours a week of exposure to any of the social sciences in school," Bob Graham (Today's Alligator)

Kudos to the fmr. Senator!

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Gator's Platform
It's ok...Create Opportunities for Greater Student Participation in the Gainesville Community... CLASSIC! This coming from a camp trying to elect a SBP on whose watch as SBT Chomp The Vote bit the proverbial bullet. I'd imagine the lame duck executive will be blamed for this as well as any number of other Swamp failures, but CTV was in large part a fiscal disaster.

Let Students Choose the Accent and SGP Talent. Yes, indeed! The students pick the shows, meanwhile SG will perpetuate the AEPi/TC legacies one more year.

Investigate Costly CD Course Packs. What is this Kojak, Monk, I'd hate to find out who the Gator Party's version of Andy Sipowicz is. What hogwash... does lobbying take place in student government? Who knows.

Improve the IBC / La Casita facilities through Corporate Sponsorships. Clearly you want those Sam Green AA and Pedro Morales H/L votes and mentioning the two houses are a great foot in the door, but what exactly are we talkin' here? Are you going to put five new computers in there? Are you going to re-do the carpets? Are you going to build a mult-media-ready conference hall in each so they can have better presentations? Or...are you just going to name-drop and if you win, you'll give them a new Gator Growl doormat?

I hate these broad, generic initiatives that don't commit the parties to absolutely anything. Increase SGP Partnerships with Campus Organizations, what again with SGP? Holy shit man, it's obvious you're grateful to Theta Chi, but don't give the house away. Sheesh!


THINK!

Imagine...imagine what SG would be like this very day without a PANTS PARTY. Imagine the two days of elections, probably the lowest voter turnout in decades, debates would be canceled, tabling would have no meaning, there would be no suspense in the O&B, the value of the office would plummet, the little student body respect for SG would completely wither away, the administration would finally be able to sell SG to the Board of Trustees & Tally as so powerless they can't even find two students willing to lead the Gator Nation....you have no idea how absolutely pathetic UF would have been, had it not been for Bruce Haupt & the heroic PANTS Party.

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Mail-Bag
From Fmr. Sen. Pedro Morales:

Hey Christian,

Thanks for the offer. I was taken aback by the opening, I was a bit irritated that you didn't even ask for my opinion before sending me your one-line comment. So that prompted my not so thoughtful reply.

I'll take some time to write, but I will send you my comments. I'll send you a sanitized, publishable version also, but please don't post the unedited version on the blog.

Now have to combat my own inner desire to procrastinate, and read a bunch of very interesting but dull readings for my Latin American Politics seminar (CPO 6307), and I have a bunch of papers due for that class soon.

This has not been a simple decision, and I had many other choices, one of them being, simply not participating at all, and graduating peacefully. It has been quite liberating to have Tuesday nights back again. But I care too much about the institution to just let it go. You could say my world flipped upside down that night (Spring '05) in the Orange and Brew, when my name was pronounced amidst the shouts of "I said it's great to vote the Gator Party". I do mean it when I say that "There ain't no party like the Impact Party 'cause the Impact Party don't stop!", it was simply amazing.

I respect your continued interest in student government, while I simultaneously disagree with it. I have been given permission (long story) to graduate with my M.S. degree, so I have "tabled" the Ph.D. for the not-so-near (if ever) future, and I am ready to make the next steps in my life, outside of UF. Heck, maybe if you come to the elections validation & double Senate meeting you can hear my final speech, and potentially see my Gandalf costume!

TR here, just to give some reactions. Not sure how Sen. Morales can disagree with my interest in covering SG being that he's one of my regular contributors and remains one of my favorites in today's SG, but ok. Also do want to make the point that as of a February 3rd email I've been waiting for Sen. Morales, who in that email wrote: "I'll need some time to write the long answer to that question. Part of that answer is somewhat embedded in your previous writing, but for now, the short answer: bring on the Gator Party t-shirts and stickers."

Note To Indies: As of yet, with the exception of Tommy Jardon (& sadly most of these comments cannot be published), very few former Indies or Indie's incognito have actually delivered on why they left. I thank Pedro for allowing me to publish this portion of his email (the second part of the email has not been published at the author's request).

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ACCESS The PANTS Page

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Rallying The Troops

"I always sensed a falseness in Jardon's crew. I like Tommy, Ben, Josh, Kim, Ryan etc. as people, but they are pretty mediocre SGers." -- A Key Independent Leader

"After learning more about it, I'm not dissapointed by some of the former indies, I'm disgusted. Keep up the good fight" -- Amanda Kane

Some nice emails to date. I want to thank Amanda Kane for a short but very encouraging email. I also want to let you guys know that despite working m-f, I'm trying to be there for Bruce & Pants in more ways than just on the net. tomorrow I'll be attending a meeting with Bruce & Charlie Grapski to discuss s variety of issues. I'm also talking to people I worked with in Access about fundraising (not really my forte) as well as getting more people to advise the young, independent PANTS Party.

Although I didn't attend, I heard the PANTS meeting tonight went very, very well and the candidate's meeting held earlier last week was also a huge success with all but one candidate showing up and/or excusing themselves. The Party is also finalizing its much-anticipated platform and will likely have an article in either tomorrow or Tuesday's Alligator.

I want to stress that PANTS is fighting an uphill battle against turncoats for the key backing of the Independent community. The Party needs this backing to hold a secure bloc before moving onto the unchartered waters of the Greek Rows and the multi-cultural orgs. It has been speculated that the turncoat's deals wrest on their ability to keep PANTS from regaining the GDI vote. This theory holds truth in that during many of PANTS' recent campaign stops they have not seen members of Gator in any capacity. Gator leaders are confident that the turncoats will make good on their end of the deal in exchange for deals, positions, and in some cases taps*.

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ACCESS The PANTS Page

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What Do You Think?

• NINA Interview: Sunday/Monday Release
• Gator's E.J.Walicki: To Accept TR Questions
• Join Up: The Pants Party, GDI Club


• 2yr Anniversary Tribute: The Voice Party

PANTS: Making A Real Difference

Ok. Part of the reason I posted the video is because as early as Friday morning I've been trying to post something on all the letters/anonymous comments in addition to all the pants-haters. Some videos ranged in excess of 15minutes and used all sorts of examples. This video is the shortest and prolly the kindest.

As far as PANTS goes. I honestly don't think any of them are delusional, I don't think they think they are going to win by sitting on their laurels (such as Gator). However, this is not your ordinary election either. For starters, voters won't see three or four choices, they will see only "2." Second of all, students won't see the Independent community split in many factions, they will simply see Indies that stuck around and rolled up their sleeves for a fight against the odds -- and they will see the full leadership of a so-called Independent Party now congregated beside the Gator Party handout-line. Thirdly, they will see a strong Independent Party that acts like an Independent Party, campaigns accordingly, and that releases statements accordingly. Fourth, they will see the transformation of a candidate that initially made a mockery of SG and now is running a serious campaign -- and really, just how frustrated does the average student get with SG? They usually don't understand, hell sometimes I don't understand it? So what do they do, some don't vote (old Iron Fist style of collecting placards to throw away), some laugh at the system (Pants, Fall '06), and some want radikal change (Put Your Pants On Right Now).

While Gator can safely count with the FBK, Greek, and AA blocs, I believe that by election time PANTS will safely be able to count with the Indie/GDI bloc. Now yes my little math majors, that's only one bloc to four, however, we're no longer talking annihilation, we're now in the bloc-conversation, where one bloc could conceivably turn into two and then it's all different ball-game as they say.

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SG STRANGELAND

For the first time in a long time Mainstream Greeks and FBK are irrelevant in a campaign. That's right! This elections, at least at this point, is not between "the System" and "the Indies", rather this election is about a feud for control of the Independent vote. As has been stated time in and time again, the FBK, Greek, & AA blocs are for the most part behind Gator...but the Indie bloc remains in the air and Greeks nor FBK's will have much of an impact in how this key bloc is awarded.

There is very little movement in the Gator camp. If anything key mainstream leaders' eyes are glued on the Indie community b/c this decisive battle will call the spirit of the 2007 Campaign trail. If the turncoats are able to keep the Indie support they are currently boasting of, then Gator will easily secure victory and may not have to spend as much money or put as much manpower to work as it normally does. If PANTS secure the community they gain a bloc...if PANTS gains a bloc, then whatever the haters say, no matter how cold-hearted and vicious...now Gator faces a rival with some (even if minor) clout and that changes the entire ball-game.

I am of the opinion that right now, PANTS has a way's to go, I'm not delusional. Right now the turncoats are still credible. Destroy that paper-thin credibility through word-of-mouth and inform their supporters of what they've done and that cred and backing disintegrates. No paper trail, mere word of mouth will do it. And there is no need for slander or libel, simply pass on current information and that act will go a very long way. Long-term...I see PANTS gaining the Indie bloc and fighting for Greek votes in very real and impressive ways. I am also not going to rule out minor support from the AA community, but I'm not going to give away all the secrets, b/c then no one will buy the book;).

Let's also be clear in that this Indie support is not as subjective as many of you might think. Around the mid-February mark you will be able to sense who's leading in the feud; by the week of the election the backing of the Indie bloc will manifest itself in very tangible ways. There is a goal in sight, PANTS I believe, will win the feud and the bloc.

I think too many SG=insiders are clouding their judgment with looking too far into this race. Gator has already been invited to the big dance, they're good to go. However, for PANTS the internal battle with the turncoats is going on right now and they need to emerge victorious there to join Gator in late February. So please, keep your comments on topic, b/c the election and who'll win that is too far away, yes even in early February.

My Friggin Pants!

Whose Voice?

"First let me thank you for the chance to say my piece. At some point in the Fall I realized Moseley was the person on campus I thought would do the best job. Never have I run someone I thought wasn't the best for the job. This presented a new dilemma for me. I never intended on bringing everyone else with me. I meant to go alone and still ask for nothing in return; and I'm definitely not applying to FBK. Others followed and for their own reasons, with their own motivations. You'll have to ask them. But I'm supporting Moseley because I was going to vote for him anyways. He did a great job as treasurer, and let's be honest, I have a weakness for former SG Treasurers running for Prez ;)
Thanks Again." - Tommy Jardon

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NINA Updates!
The NINA Interview is finally on paper! Next I gotta type the monster-long interview into an email and off it goes for Edit 1. Next I have to compile names, sne a few warning emails for the two or three mentioned not-so-warmly but who are huge friends of the blog (sorry no censorship), and then I review Nina's notes on my draft and take in her notes and/or suggestions (I've decided to pull about 15min. out of the no-holds-barred interview but Nina may want it in, etc). Once I revise the interview with both our notes I send the almost-finished (Edit 2) product back to Nina. If she approves it, up it goes. Expect your dose of NINA by late Saturday or sometime Sunday.

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Let's Make A Deal!

Robert Agrusa for Senate President and Kevin Reilly for Pro-Tempore - Anonymous Radikal Reader

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ACCESS The PANTS Page

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Wearing the PANTS, Taking A Stand!

How a semester can change things. How wonderful is it to see the hungry and determined side of Bruce Haupt! When I endorsed him last semester, many of you didn't know why and would send the weirdest emails or call me and laugh. Now you see what I saw last semester. In the face of one of the most well-organized, well-funded, and well-connected machine-formations since the Ignite Party, Bruce and his people have been able to slate a very large pool of talented up & comers to senate, as well as a full (and impressive) Executive slate. Reading the quote by PANTS Veep Candidate Eve Rizzo in today's Alligator all but affirm the bold message of the first GDI Party at UF, arguably, since the Student Alliance in 2003.

"We're striving to be approachable and to be on the level of the student body."* -- Eve Rizzo (PANTS Party V.P. Candidate)

I believe that as the campaign trail expands and we get closer and closer to the week of elections, students will find many striking similarities between themselves and the strongly-GDI PANTS Party. When Eve Rizzo speaks about being approachable, it sounds so much more sincere than had a Gator Party candidate said that, but why?

Well for starters PANTS comes from the students, it was a spontaneous, almost last-ditch effort at organizing the last remnants of the GDI Community at UF against a monster freight train carrying mainstream Greeks, Keys, the pillagers and marauders of the African American community mobilizing their people to the polls merely to continue enjoying the scraps off a table they are not permitted to sit at, but rather sit below and eat System' leftovers like a pack of rabid dogs, as well as a gang of increasingly desperate power-hungry Independent turncoats.

Additionally, students will quickly realize how PANTS make with what they've got, they will relate to PANTS as being a party of students, not a party of external influences spending ten or twenty thousand dollars. They will relate with PANTS' blue-collar if you will style. They will also see a party that's struggling and learning along the way, they will come into contact with everyday talented students that want to represent them but whom are not professional politicans.

At this very early stage, I couldn't tell you if PANTS will win or lose, but I can tell you that they are doing everything according to a very old-school Indie program and if they can somehow integrate pre-Access Indie strategies alongside more modern styles of political campaigning, then they will keep the Gator strategists on their toes each and every day and they will earn rich rewards from a variety of races. To those that claim Gator will win by 2,800, to them I say "you're on crack."


ACCESS The PANTS Page

PANTS Party Announces Treasurer Candidate!

The PANTS Party has confirmed the candidacy of sophomore Elizabeth Stinson, a former member of the Action Party and an active leader of College Republicans, as its candidate for Student Body Treasurer. When asked why the party picked Ms. Stinson, PANTS Presidential candidate, Bruce Haupt confidently replied that she had delivered a "very strong interview."

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The PANTS Party believes in empowering women, not merely relegating them to running-mate status.

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The Party of Independents easily earned the 300 signatures needed to run candidates and turned in all paperwork by 11:20pm. The Pants Party slated thirty-two senate candidates (to Gator's forty-four), ensuring that PANTS will face off against the machine in key races (LS, Business, & Engineering) as well as in many other theaters along the campaign trail.

ACCESS The PANTS Page

PANTS Party Announces Veep Candidate!

The PANTS Party has confirmed that it will field Eve Rizzo, a former Chair of the SG Women's Affairs Cabinet and former replacement senator, as its candidate for Student Body Vice President. Ms. Rizzo is a sister of Delta Gamma Sorority and serves as the president of Phi Eta Sigma. During her time in cabinet, she impressed fellow cabinet director Bruce Haupt. "She was a hard worker and implemented important programs through her cabinet."

Eve joins the ranks of a very impressive list of potential candidates that have interviewed with PANTS, including Top 20 State Leaders as well as persons with Student Governance credentials from a variety of schools and universities, adding experience as well as a vital non-traditional element to an already very much independent party.

So far the PANTS Party has interviewed well over three dozen prospective candidates and will continue to interview students all day tomorrow at:

The Reitz Union,
Room # 276
Additionally, key Independents are slowly-but-surely coming to the side of The PANTS Party. These leaders will be lending their expertise and assisting the valiant Independent party in a variety of capacities.

Despite some early cases of unethical campaign practices carried out against PANTS, the Independent community stands behind BRUCE & PANTS for the long haul!

NINA Interview Complete

I finally got to interview former Vice Presidential candidate Nina DeJong today. We met up at Maude's; the interview-recording lasted one hour and fifty minutes, covering a multitude of topics from Nina's work on campus, her political stances, interesting behind-the-scenes stories, and a great deal this Fall's past race. This was the first TR interview done in person and will be followed up by Chris Carmody.

I am extremely grateful to Nina for participating and for her candid responses. This interview will be one of the longest (perhaps longer than the Grapski & Argento ones) but I guarantee you, you just won't be able to stop reading! Now comes the daunting task of preparing the first and second edits, but once we've reached a mutually acceptable finished product it will be published on the blogsite. I am hoping this interview will be ready by Saturday.

From TheRadikal Inbox:

I'm not sure if the sender wants his name published, so it will remain anonymous until I hear back. Great question btw, I hope to read many interesting replies to it.

Christian,

I am sure you already know that the Gator Party ticket is Moseley, Goodwin, and Walicki. There is one question that needs asking:

How much are these people, and the others who will be in their administration, asked to pay to "fund the campaign." It is a one-party election for most of the spots in all probability, so are senate candidates still asked to pay 75 dollars? Are there still kickbacks from people like Premier productions? Remember, one of the reasons that Lydia had issues was because she had to "raise the money" to be on the VP ticket and couldn't pay up.

***Thanks Again for a great question.

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Rumor Control: Upon checking my email a few minutes ago, I was presented with a rumor from an anonymous friend of the blog that neither Mr. Green or Ms. Cineas will be slated by Gator. Anyone care to comment?

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Great Link Posted By Sen. Gavin Baker: The Machine

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From Accesss To Political Abstentionism

You know...people still talk about the Yellow & Blue, some to say that it's relevance is long over meanwhile others subconsciously try to reenact every decision, even the mistakes in frantic hopes of establishing the same victories. When I interviewed James Argento, Tommy wanted to know how (besides having the AA vote) did Access' campaign-staff win the election (a totally legit question). However, his quote in the Alligator continues down a scary road, he cites his reasons for supporting Gator as "after the Fall, a lot of the motivation wasn't there," signaling a switch in stances due largely in part to standing at the polls. Moseley's "experience" wasn't cited as the mean reason to support him, at least the article makes it seem as if the Action indies simply lost their thunder.

The need to win power alongside the lines of the still somewhat recent Access Party, has clouded the ideals of modern day independent leaders and to a certain extent they have wrongly judged their leadership abilities and the loyalty of the independent community at UF against the standards of what happens every ten years or so at UF, an Access-like revolution. Access was both due to the times as well as to the people behind it, but in most cases Indies will not take an entire branch and a chunk of a second and I think that that humility (a tradition of Indie parties) was lost with parties like Impact, Unite, & Action...parties that didn't go into it as the underdogs (kinda like how Pants is formulating their return) rather tried to go head-on with an excess-is-best mentality.

So far I like what PANTS has been doing, they took a stand against the concept of single party rule (getting a laurel for it -- then again it is the Alligator...), Jardon's blunder will probably read unfavorably with Indies (not the Indie leaders, but the actual Indie voters themselves). My only hope is that Bruce uses his fraternity this time, that he capitalize on the successes of previous Indie parties in picking up at least one or two rogue houses looking to invest in an alternative SG party, and that PANTS make a serious effort to court AA votes, even if the AA leadership has already decided. Garner as much Greek support as possible, court cultural members of cultural groups (don't go directly for cultural group leaderships that you know have FBK and SG ambitions in mind and are 100% Gator, don't assume because the leader of a group is sold that the group is also 100% behind it's leader). For instance, in Access Dennis made fliers in Asian languages and had them distributed...that's a way to garner Asian support even if it had nothing to do with ASU. There are many more ways to succeed in this area. Last, but not least, while PANTS should be meek, it should also work towards distancing itself from Gator and criticizing single-party rule. Run a clean campaign and watch everyone think the two parties are the same and PANTS will get annihilated.

Suggestions for Gator: pour yourself a tall glass of blue kool aid and drink up:) (j/k, good luck guys [even if I hate mainstream parties]).

Radikal Video

My first (of many to come) video. *Yawn* Goodnight.

2 Post Wednesday!

Back Home!
Well it's finally a done deal, my pc is back home! Well sorta, the hard-drive is back with all the info, though I got a new case, new motherboard, new processor, and new power supply. For over a month now I've had to go to public library and wait sometimes an hour for a pc, mainly to check my email and to update TR. This blog has really become very important to me and to many of its readers. So now that my pc is back home I will be easier to contact and such. The library is great and plan to continue going there, for those of you who/whom (lol) haven't gone over there, check it out, lots of good books, nice girls, and if you have any kind of muscles you can flex them and listen to people say he "that guy's huge" or "that [expletive] is on steroids" [which I'm not, but I digress].



In regards to PANTS I do want to thank Bruce for having called me (sorry I couldn't pick up, I was on another call). Although I haven't addressed the issue as of late, apparently another blogger confronted the PANTS leader of his dealings with Florida Blue Key. On the message, Bruce insists he'll give me the scoop.

Still, I would prefer Bruce to forget about such details of the past and focus on the Party. I personally don't like the name, but he believes in it and he's got the potential to actually get the ball rolling. If and let me stress if Bruce hopes to get some numbers he's going to need a Gavin Baker, a Ryan Nelson, a Justin Bell, or a Nikki Grant on that exec ticket with him. I don't necessarily think having Tommy Jardon will make or break his campaign, just like having Andre Samuels didn't mean much for Mike Belle in his run for the county commission in 2005.

A nice ticket for PANTS would be a Haupt/Bell/Nelson ticket or a Haupt/Baker/Grant type deal; another interesting ticket would be DeJong/Haupt/Bell -- 'letting the ladies wear the pants as well.' Really, just because Bruce founded the Party doesn't mean he necessarily must have the top spot, besides, how noble of a campaign would that be? DeJong/Haupt/Bell --- I'd think such a ticket would really throw a curve ball at the Swamp Party. Oh well, just thinkin. I guess a gigantic chunk of PANTS chances lie in who they decide to put on that Exec ticket. I would take a pass on getting caught up debating old news and start calling people and having power lunches. It's all about the big names, the exposure, and the radikal havin his computer back home baby!

Pants Party Returns

There seems to be a lot of activity over at Pants, Inc: an electronic press release on Sunday, a follow-up email on Tuesday, and a letter in the Alligator in today's paper. Like Keg, Pants main star seems to be its founder and somewhere along the humor-laden-road, the court jester got idealistic, started wanting the joke to be a serious bid for office. When I saw Bruce at a law fair last year, I knew he wanted more, trouble is can Pants deliver?

I don't think so. While I agree with Bruce that name recognition is helpful, that same name-recognition will hurt his party, because students will associate his group with theatrics and comedy, not serious politics. When The Keg Party took their campaign to the next level and straightened themselves out politically, even a few weeks into an election, it was already too late. PANTS spent an entire election being a joke, to come now in an election that quite frankly is much more important and expect that based off the laughs it received last year to somehow pose a threat, much less have a prayer of winning, is in my opinion: a gamble not worth taking.

However, all is not lost. Bruce could run and become a potentially interesting Indie candidate. If I were him I'd use the same GDI battle-cry used to bring down the Greeks/FBK rule and aim at the increasingly anti-SG Alligator. The Alligator endorsement is worth barely 250 votes and in all fairness this newspaper has been increasingly hostile to SG. Yesterday they blasted SG for being a bureaucratic problem, today they admit SG is hard at work with the City; AAREST acts, Alligator reacts; when was the last time an SG'er or candidate for office, rallied the students against the Alligator? If the Alligator hates your guts, many Greeks will give you a better ear (at my house and many my friends belonged to, the hatred for the Alligator was almost impossible to convey in words).

The Letter

The letter Bruce wrote to the Alligator is wimpy. The fact he may run or that his party may run and he's at least it's temporary spokesperson should have warranted a stronger letter. There should be no kiss & make-up since SG has done nothing to deserve the hostile articles published in this paper. I smirked when I read the one-liners on Bernie & the Board. I also gathered that Bruce was speaking to the general student body in his letter (not to the editor as the section suggests), however, when speaking of SG, Bruce perpetuated a running joke that the President is SG and vice versa, without mention of the Senate. Even in nat'l politics we are running into this very problem, where the concept of bi-cameral federal gov't is going out the window. The Student Body President is but one office of one of the three branches of government, other offices and branches Bruce left out of his letter.

The President is not the student's only voice. Perhaps at the Board he/she is, but the students have many elected and appointed officers working for them. While I know it wasn't Bruce's intention to leave out entire branches, he should realize that if in fact his aim was to speak to the masses via a letter to the editor, he should have made sure to cover all bases. Again, this letter seems to continue the Fall Pants' line, it's funny and if anything else, perhaps a little weak. Would Chris Chase, Nina, or Arturo have written a letter like this? Shape up Bruce, you can be a threat, but you gotta shape up. Vote on new poll (FAST!).

Who Is Anuradha Pandey?

Yes who is Anuradha Pandey and what the hell is she smoking? George Smathers was a bigot, a racist, and at least in my opinion, they did the right thing in not honoring his life. This 'reporter' seems fixated on George Smathers 'donor hat' but she fails to comment on a legacy that allowed for black children to be kept from white schools and for a legacy that allowed Blacks to be addressed as niggers, that allowed blacks to be spat on at white lunch counters, that allowed blacks to be arrested for where they rode on public buses, that forbade blacks drinking from white water fountains, that shorted blacks from their right to the polls, that divided this nation on the basis of skin color.

As this fucking idiot trashes senate for its record of silly bills, she then attacks senators of not passing bills that make it to the floor because then that would be "disrespectful," what a fuckin idiot! Then "Anuradha, The Village Idiot" tries to sound GDI by raising fears of the Greek Machine taking over SG; then she rallies for online voting which has been insisted by key Indies (myself added to those...) is not a sure-fire tool to increase votes (e.g. FSU); finally "Anuradha, The Village Idiot" lashes out with, " I don't advocate getting rid of SG entirely, but it really needs to be shaved down to be more efficient" -- which immediately made me wonder if this fictitious character has ever been to a Senate Budget Committee meeting, sat in on a budget, or witnessed the work of the Senate Allocations Commmittee. Her rhetoric drips of Turlington Plaza campaign day hype, she goes on to make mention of the A&S Fees and concludes her stab-at-how-SG-works with a charge that students don't care, students won't vote.

I can't wait to read the next story by "Anuradha, The Village Idiot."

Next Entry I will do my best to cover the return of the PANTS Party...how exciting.

Legal Or Not:

About a week ago a regular Radikal reader sent in an email he'd received from a third party which contained the following footer:

"Documents made or received by anyone acting for or on behalf of the UF = Foundation are confidential and exempt from F.S. 119.07(1) pursuant to = F.S. 1004.28(5) and in accordance with the UF Foundation policy on = confidentiality of Foundation documents."

The reader wanted to know if this footer (found on a University of Florida Alumni Association) email to its members did in fact merit material excluded from Florida's Public Records Laws (aka Sunshine Laws). Upon receiving this query I fired off an email to Chris Carmody, Nick Capezza, & Charlie Grapski to get as much info on the matter as possible. Charlie Grapski, well known for his activism and many attempts at getting UF to better-observe these laws, repliedpromptly.

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Grapski replied as follows:

No, there is no such exemption from the Sunshine law - as much as the Foundation (and UF seeks to use the Foundation as a means to shelter itself from the Sunshine) wants to make it that way.

They have long exploited a specific exemption for donors - to mean that their entire operation is exempt.

This is a blatant - and conscious - violation of the law.

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On Thursday (1/25/07) I emailed the Foundation contact on the email, attaching Grapski's reply, and inviting the officer to either personally reply on the blog or forward the email to an appropriate officer. The Radikal invites readers to submit questions and/or concerns of any nature and I'll do my best to get you the answers. As far as this case goes, I remain interested in hearing of a rebuttal to Charlie Grapski's opinion on the matter.

The Radikal will work hand-in-hand with Charlie's Open Records Project. Additionally, many SG leaders are also throwing this footer with their emails:

"The information transmitted (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is intended only for the person(s) or entity/entities to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer."

We'll be looking into the legalities of this footer as well. Till next time, stay Radikal!

p.s.
Just released a PANTS Party press release... about four months ago I remember, oh nevermind, and so...

George Smathers

The Votes Are In! (Sort Of)...


"Should the Senate have honored
Fmr. Sen. George Smathers with an official resolution?"

Charlie Grapski	Nay
Brian Aungst	Non-Partisan*
Chris Carmody	Replied Privately
Sen. Jordan Loh	Yay
Rosemarie Clouston	No Reply
J. Clayton Brett	No Reply
Sen. Gavin Baker	No Reply
Bruce Haupt	No Reply
Thomas Jardon	No Reply
Sen. Lindsey Johns	No Reply
Amanda Kane	No Reply
Fmr. Sen. Pedro Morales	Unclear
Nick Capezza	No Reply
Ryan Nelson	No Reply
Sam Green	No Reply
E.J. Walicki	No Reply

Read The Full Opinions: Here

If this roll call vote is any indication of what senate must have been like, I can only say that it's bizarre how SG has been able to rule over the students with one all encompassing political party. I eagerly anticipated responses from regular contributors (Baker, Walicki, Nelson) receiving none, I understood Aungst's reasoning as his position is clearly non-partisan, I was grateful to hear Grapski's insights, surprised at Sam Green's silence proving once and for all that this man is no Jamal Sowell, not even close, a friend of the blog's when the blog looked out for him, but not heard from since then. Even Swamp's own version of John McCain didn't reply, old school Indie's either didn't reply or asked their answers not be published, meanwhile others replied in voluminous fashion and failing to boldly reply in agreement or disagreement.

The Cat & Mouse Game

I'm starting to suspect that the lack of journalistic quality and the paper's long harshness to SG and Greek Life are somehow inter-related facts, hints to a developing syndrome of mediocre skills exacerbated by a lack of scape goats on which these poor, feeble-minded aspiring writers use to vent their very serious frustrations over.

Had the Senate honored Smathers, the Alligator would have gone the anti-FBK/elitist/anti-wealth/anti-legacy soapbox we know all to well they love to ride. But since the Senate did the politically-correct thing, since they took the African American community's feelings on the matter seriously, because they acted conscientiously now the Alligator attacks the body for what? For not honoring the passing of a man that literally bogged the civil rights movement down but whom happened to go here and left the schools a shitload of money? This coming from the young, idealistic, non-conformist, alternative-culture kids of the Independent student paper?

It's really pretty clear that no matter who's running SG or what the Greeks do, that the paper will always have sour apples. I mean giving Smathers a laurel is like nominating Jesse Helms or Strom Thurmond to the Nobel Peace Prize (and these men served in the Senate well into the 90's). Did you know Smathers oppposed Thurgood Marshal? I mean how in the hell can the Alligator honor this man? Money doesn't buy respect and alumnus status doesn't indebt SG to anyone, much less to pay official homage.

I just wonder if the Alligator will ever follow SG at some point and truly be of service to the Student Body. AAREST/SG raise awareness, the Alligator writes it's hype; the Senate shoots down an irresponsible bill, the Alligator fires of its version of one defying SG. With a paper that goes through an editor-per-year you have to wonder if Ms. Rifkin realizes that this paper has offended UF's largest and arguably strongest minority bloc before and that this laurel might further offend this community. I wonder if that level of concern even exists in that friggin building anyway.

Great Money, Bad Legacy

Fmr. U.S. Sen. George Smathers, like any man that reaches such a level of power, was without a doubt a very interesting person and in his later years, very generous to our university. He served in the U.S. Congress during a very difficult era in our nation's history, when segregation was the rule of the land and the policy by which the entire nation (not merely the South) was run. However, when the civil rights movement began to grow and gain momentum, several leaders as well as every day white and black citizens had a decision before them, 'were we truly living separate but equal' - and - 'was the state of segregation constitutional, was it moral?'

National leaders like Senators Smathers & Byrd along with state leaders such as Eugene "Bull" Connor and George Wallace, in addition to countless other Dixiecrats stood in the way of movement of King, Meredith, Parks, X. Later in their lives, many of them changed their ways but others remained bitter till the end. Arguments have been made that many segregationalists pushed this line to hold onto their jobs, but maintaining an immoral status quo remains immoral despite its popularity.

While I'm not sure what the failed senate resoution read like, I'm glad that the UF Senate voted it down. Aside from the $20 million that Mr. Smathers donated to UF, no one would be discussing a resolution for him in chambers. I am very uneasy with live donors having buildings named after themselves, because it sends the wrong message. Buildings should be named after great academic or community figures, you go to a building at a university and you read these names and your gut instinct is that these wonderfully built complexes were named after great war heroes or genius mathematicians or great philosophers but whoever they are, you normally mourn them because you think they've probably been dead for hundreds of years. But in many cases the namesake might be a person that held up progress, hampered the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who dropped a fat check over at Tigret Hall and is washing down a BLT with an ice cold Blue Moon over at Swamp with his feet rested on a chair...you'd never think that.

The Senate did its job. Certain pieces of legislation, such as resolutions honoring the deceased are often touching (but to seasoned members of the Branch, they are often considered a waste of the Student's resources unofficially, but part of the symbolic aspect of student governance). Still, even symbolic gestures have certain guidelines and I applaud the Senate for taking even its symbolic responsibilites seriously.

Fmr. Editor's Sweet Facebook Message

From: Stephanie Garry
To: Christian Duque
Subject: no subject

Message: You know, Christian, you really back yourself into a corner when you overuse superlatives - worst Alligator writer ever, worst editor ever. I'm not sure how concerned you are with the longevity of your blog, but you might want to consider toning back the language a little if you don't want to come out looking like a fool.
Best, Stephanie

Coming off as a fool has never much concerned me. I didn't ask for the hits, they come here for a variety of reasons. I tend to have strong opinions and I tend to be very protective of SG, mainly because I believe SG performs a great deal of good by the side of the students. I have always looked with contempt towards anti-SG articles but usually hold my tongue. I contacted Drew Harwell whom replied with thanks and offered I write a letter to the editor -- but I know better. It's been lightyears since any Alligator editor (much less ole' Jim Osteen over at the GS) would print anything I ever wrote -- hence the blog title: THE RADIKAL.

Ms. Garry...when I brought you the Sam Green story you sat on your hands. Between you and Ms. Lewis not only did you sit on your hands, but you gave me the run around. Mike Gimignani also left much to be desired. I found the bold-faced line in your message to be somewhat threatening...but even if the blog goes down, I will still be TR, you can't kill ideas by simply taking down a website, doesn't work that way. I appreciate all emails and I'm glad you're reading along (as well you should) because you weren't a very good editor (imo) and the current editor over at the Alligator must not be playing with a full deck either, if she put an article that's the very antithesis of awareness on a front page Public Safety column.

The Radikal Speaks!

Rapes can be reduced if we are alert"
This is the kind of article that Mr. Harwell should have written. A well thought-out, sensitive, and factual article that continues to put emphasis on awareness but also cites previous year crime figures in a way to alleviate those on the verge of becoming franticly filled with fear. I guess one reason I was so outraged at Mr. Harwell's choice of words was the fact that the pea-brain editor over there ran the story in the front page and as if that were not enough, she added insult to injury by placing the article in the friggin' Public Safety column, I mean how stupid is that.

The Alligator is the student paper and should have some kind of social responsibility to the community. They are infamous for writing against the Greeks and have become notorious for raising skepticism in student leadership and at times fullblown distrust in the efficiency of Student Government. For the Alligator to run a socially-irresponsible article in the face of noble and successful operations by AAREST/SG made me literally furious. Good Work SG'ers! Great Job Patrick Barrett

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Rapes not getting enough attention

Students are angry and are writing letters. While in SG we wrote and passed several bills involving int'l affairs (including but not limited to the War on Terror). How proper would it be for a senator to pen a resolution condemning the Alligator's direct contradiction of the work of AAREST/SG in trying to thwart the campaign at raising awareness across this campus against sexual-crimes. I applaud Jessica Bronson, a UF Graduate student no less, for taking the time to write to the Aligator and voicing her concerns regarding Mr. Harwell's bizarre article.

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No online voting for SG

Ok...so having had SOE Brian Aungst here last month, this is sort of old news. Still, as an Independent I'd like to address my reactions to this article. I'm hoping to hear from fellow indies Capezza, Argento, Carmody, et. al. The issue of online voting, meaning internet voting is muddled. Yes, I served on an executive commmittee exploring the option, yes I have always rallied for higher voter turnout, but if intranet voting is any preview of internet voting, it shouldn't happen.

The integrity of the ballot remains key. I used to dread hearing that phrase in chambers, I used to imagine driving needles through voodoo dolls hoping that the Innovate/Orange Ignite'ers that would utter it would somehow fall down the steps or something...ah...the memories. Still however, I secretly agreed with them. Many more Indies than might be suspected, oppose Internet voting. People that held high positions in Impact, Progress, Voice, and even the more recent Action Party had substantial reservations.

I have concerns with the court's ruling and I am not sure what means of recourse (e.g. an appeal) are open to students rejected by UF's highest court. Still, the decision is pretty clear and those opposed to it I'm sure are already working on ways to have it overturned.

I insist...the only way to beat the establishment is through a powerful ticket. How can Indies hope to defeat the big boys if they don't even secure their own bloc? Let's see who the GDI's pick for '07, then we can talk some more. As of the Sowell/Puckett/Ngin ticket, NOTHING has come close to that level of quality. Nothing.

What A Game!

Short post. Heard most of the first quarter on the radio, watched the second quarter at Campus Club, then the second half at a great house party where the game was projected on an entire side of the house. Drank beer, haven't had beer in five months, great tasting and never again for another five. Girls at the party went streaking, still salivating...Massive kudos to our fighting gators, but especially big kudos to our kicker, 40+yd field goal that really got the morale goin. When Ohio scored the first td I was at the edge of my seat anxious to see our response, I got a little nervous at that flag with two seconds to half time, fearing an OS hail mary but didn't happen, thank _ O D!

Who was on Univ. Ave? With three minutes left in the game we all took to the streets, hundreds, thousands, it was unreal! While GPD shouldn't have pepper sprayed us for setting that buckeye on fire, it was awesome. The only thing more cool than that, would be a throng like that headed to the Reitz to grab SG bureaucrats and give 'em a dose of mob justice. LOL

Oh before I forget. Two nights ago I was doing bicep curls and heard the ad on Rock 104, that generic ad that goes, "make UF better, get invovled with SG, go to the Reitz get an application and we'll put you in the Accent"... what a crock, but nice to hear the hunger in the ad-actor's voice. Total rubbish, but very entertaining. LOL

Indies In Dire Staights

Some possible names for Spring:
Will Atkins
Vanessa Goodwin
Jesse Wright
Jusin Bell
Saddenly I don't think we'll be seeing Ryan Nelson or Gavin Baker run, though I still believe these are the kinds of lead-candidates that would mobilize GDI's and in turn re-awaken the Indies (remember I view GDI's as distinct from mainstream Indies). Other sources continue to hold that Josh Weiss is the only hope for the Indies, only problem of couse is...he's not an Indie and with the Access flame long gone, most GDI's will not look the other way to another Hernandez or Siler, it's no longer understandable for Indie leaders to line their pockets with FBK rejects in the last-ditch-hopes and getting back in there and then changing things, that just won't cut it anymore and it's evident by Action's loss to Nina. (This is not to offend CC, but the Indie's need a real Indie tried and true and anything short thereof will be pd. for at the polls).

Gavin Baker is a true Indie; Tommy Jardon is a true Indie; Ryan Nelson (despite being Greek, which has nothing to do with being an Indie) is a true Indie; but sadly none of these big names will run, for whatever reason. Another great choice would be Nikki Grant, who knows if Nikki Grant couldn't be the African American Nikki Fried? Sadly, I don't think the Indie leaders have that kind of faith in her, I don't think they would even give it a second thought -- which is very sad because she could definitely score a huge hit and bring back some of those Progress kids that got lost along the way.

Just think about it.....Josh Weiss and Ryan Moseley...standing there trying to out-starch the other, locked in horns trying to be the most sheik, the most with it, the most regal. One word describes them and the election between them: boring. Now picture both of them (or one of them) standing next to Gavin Baker, Ryan Nelson, Tommy Jardon, or Nikki Grant...one word chaotic.

You claim your for trimming the fat, I have this file here....
The students voice lies in this referendum, a referendum that's become our battle cry!..
I am not the candidate of the establishment, I am your candidate!

You're not going to hear either a Weiss or Moseley speak that way; it would be civil, it would be proper, if only there were cigars and brandy and you might as well give 'em barker loungers and let them take a nap through the elections results. Give the students a firebrand GDI and they will react, deal with the Greeks, deal with FBK, deal with Tap Dancing Club. Deal is not a bad word, get off your Billy Graham rockers and realize you are in politics and just because Dennis Ngin found Jesus in a glass of Ice Tea and decided deals were not the way politics were supposed to be done at UF doesn't mean you have to. Go to TEP and offer them Pro Tem, go to Sigma Kappa and offer them Accent, if the president of the Swedish Club and can get you Swedish support at UF in exchange for your backing him in the upcoming Nigerian Student Union presidential election, give it to him, you need to get some votes!

I sounds like a degenerate here and I'm kidding to a great extent, but Dennis' style is bullshit and I wouldn't say so unless it permeated the Indie movement. Indies are dirty too, we always have been, I was brought into Access on a deal, a deal I haggled over, a deal I negotiated, and my terms not been meant in any capacity I'd a been behind Scott. Public office is noble work, but politics is dirty and the sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll be able to get elected and started carrying out some of that very noble work you'd like to perform for the public.

I hope we'll see Gavin, Ryan, Tommy, or Nikki run. I would be happy to see the others consider it as well. I would be as upset if we lost the BCS tomorrow as if I saw Josh Weiss run on behalf of GDI's and Indies in yet one more bullshit attempt to recapture SG by totally selling out.

UF Courts & Online Voting

I'm not really sure what to say on the matter, except of course that it's pretty much over for the proponents of online voting. Does UF have a court of appeals? If so, I've never heard of one. I've always had mixed beliefs on the idea of the use of internet voting and I feel the need to give my two cents on the matter.

Internet voting has been a pressing issue with Indies since at least my initial days with Access and to some extent during my year with Ignite. One part of me is greatful to have been part of the original Access meanwhile another part of me laments that we won that fateful Spring 2004 because it gave GDI's a taste of power and ever since we lost that power it's like the floodgates were smashed open, it's like Indie strategy rooms became the clearinghouses for all sorts of hokus-pokus ideas and gimicks. One gimick that's had a long time on the Indie marquee has been internet voting.

Truthfully, I was always very uneasy taking in the arguments from the mainstream/majority bloc regarding the 'integrity of the ballot.' I don't think anyone can deny them the fact internet voting would put much at risk. Now key members of the Indie minority made strong points, one I recall was "we should trust in the students' integrity" and "who are we to gauge who's trustwothy and who's not." Valid points, it's not SG's job to determine morals but it is the job of the Student Government to ensure the integrity of the ballot and to ensure that the democratic process is carried out fully.

I disagree with the majority-opinon that internet voting is "unsafe." It's very safe and the levels of encryption coupled with some interesting security measures that were offered (then) as amendments seemed to cover most if not all bases. I don't believe it would have been easy to tamper with the votes once cast, however, I do believe that with online voting there could be some intimidation, there could be social factors at play, and I don't believe that voters would have the privacy they have in the voting booths of today.

I remain hopeful of internet voting as an option one day though not today or tomorrow. I am still very iffy about the integrity of the ballot and the concept of voting from virtually anywhere (completely unsupervised by impartial election officials). As far as internet voting replacing paper ballots, I hope to never see this, I don't think it would be to the benefit of the voters or the process, but I do think that at some point it might become a very good option (to supplement traditional voting) if properly studied and offered up then.

But I must insist that internet voting will not bring about an Indie revolution, the GDI's will not take down the FBK/IFC/PC wall like the merry Germans of 1989. Internet voting is not the pie in the sky that GDI's have made it out to be, it won't allow you to re-live S2004. Sorry.

Thoughts? & Happy New Year!!!