Orange and Blue Party Sen. Benjamin Dictor, who represents the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has announced that he intends to run for Student Body president this spring.
Although Student Government elections are about three months away, Dictor said he decided to announce his candidacy Wednesday after receiving supportive phone calls and seeing about 250 people join a Facebook group urging him to run for the position.
Dictor, who is also vice president of the Political Science Honor Society, said students need an activism-oriented president and that he is fed up with the status quo.
He said he has no vested interest in perks of the position besides adherence to his personal democratic values and morals.
"I can guarantee you that I cannot be bought or sold," he said. "That's what I bring to the table."
Throughout his term in Student Senate, Dictor said he has observed disregard for democratic principles in SG, adding, as one example, the Senate's move on Tuesday to limit public debate to one hour.
"It's one thing to talk about tangible results. It's another thing to show up empty-handed when you're talking about them," he said.
Dictor said he has advocated for students on the issue of Aramark, UF's food service provider, because other companies were not considered. He said he helped include a clause in UF's contract with Aramark to reduce the number of unused student meal plan meals.
He has collected signatures for online voting in SG elections and presented research about Taser deaths to the committee charged with evaluating UF's free-speech policies in public events.
Dictor played a leadership role in a protest of about 300 people after a UF student was shocked with a Taser in September 2007.
"I have a big mouth, and I talk a lot," he said. "So I can project pretty well."
He said the Student Body should know they have a stake in SG and that positions are not just awarded based on patronage.
"I think that the fall elections showed that students on this campus are done being apathetic about Student Body politics," he said.
Dictor said a top issue he would discuss if elected is socially responsible investing.
Dictor said he plans to graduate with a degree in political science this spring, and he is in the process of applying to UF's law school.
