Gator Party’s trajectory over the past three years reflects an action-oriented agenda guided by student needs and experiences.
Time and time again, our well-researched initiatives, dedication to open dialogue with constituents and understanding of the university’s policymaking process has guaranteed the lasting impact of changes at the legislative and executive branch levels.
With that, we would be remiss to say that taking charge on the most pressing student issues is easy in the current climate.
In the face of threats to the representation of student voices and equity in access that pose challenges for success at our Top 5 institution, the experience of our ticket and slate is uniquely positioned to fight for students.
Our initiatives in the Senate have spearheaded some of the most tangible changes since the founding of our party.
Despite hasty approaches by the other party to fast-track legislation on crucial issues, our party has remained steadfast in its commitment to thorough analysis and review of critical questions related to night-time safety, sexual assault prevention and the rise of discrimination and antisemitic hate on campus in the initial phases of our projects.
Through the ad-hoc committee, charged by Olivia Green, we tackled the student organization funding process and are working to implement a new three-day form process. This way, student organizations will have streamlined access to critical funds.
As the party of positivity, we’ve taken to Turlington, the Reitz and beyond this month and all year to engage with students to develop an actionable platform for all Gators.
Our efforts have been guided by our strong belief that Activity and Service fees should be used towards just that — activities and services — and free from encroachment by things outside its scope.
To this end, we’ve held the provost’s office accountable in our fight to bring back 24/7 libraries, to ensure your dollars are spent in the best interest of students.
With UF hosting over 6,000 international students, Gator Party recognizes the important role these students play in enriching our campus’ culture and broadening student perspectives and worldviews on this campus.
This is why we have committed to advocating for the expansion of Student Legal Services to include legal resources for international students.
Campus buildings and structures such as the National Pan-Hellenic Garden, La Casita, the Institute of Black Culture and UF Hillel serve as enduring markers of our campus’ commitment to inclusive excellence for students from underrepresented and minority backgrounds.
With recent instances of vandalism and destruction at the Institute of Black Culture and the National Pan-Hellenic Garden, Gator Party is committed to taking actions to secure our sanctuaries through increased surveillance and monitoring.
Let’s face it, buying textbooks gets expensive, which is why Gator Party commits to providing Boundless Books.
Through our ongoing discussions with UF administration, Gator Party hopes to secure UF’s participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s Open Textbook Pilot program, which would generate savings for students, like you, across hundreds of introductory and high-enrollment classes.
We are so excited to have the opportunity to lead UF, and it is not a commitment that we take lightly.
The same energetic, tireless and positive approach that guides this campaign will guide our policy agenda in the legislative and executive branches, if elected.
Time and time again, we have supported all students, and we will continue to do that. We are here for every Gator, and the members of our party represent the diversity in experiences that make our university so unique.
Experienced leadership and the ability to challenge the status quo is needed now more than ever, and the Gator Party is proud to be the party in this semester’s elections to offer that.
We can and will serve the student body well, as we have done before.
Written by Sazzad Mabud and Mara Vaknin on behalf of Gator Party.
