Former Student Activities Commission Chair and current Director of Student Life ReportImplementation for GUSAJack Appelbaum (COL ’14) and his running mate, former president of the College Republicans Maggie Cleary (COL ’14), prioritize funding reforms in their campaign platform.

Cleary, who ran unsuccessfully for the GUSA executive as a vice presidential candidate in 2012, said Appelbaum’sfocus prompted her to participate in the election again.

“There are still things that I campaigned for last year that still matter to me this year, which is giving students more of a voice and advocating for student groups. I think reforming the funding system certainly does allow students to have more of a say and create a more democratic system,” Cleary said.

Appelbaum identified funding reform as the first step to further reforms that will expand

freedom for student groups to put on more innovative programming.

The pair said they compiled their platform ideas from various student-generated reports, such as Visions for a Sustainable Georgetown and the Student Life Report, from recent campus-wide studies such as the external review of the Office of Student Conduct and from the work and experience of past student leaders.

“The philosophy of the report focuses on student autonomy, increasing accountability and

constant review and recommendation for improvement. That will really help us to go through and have an expansive view of the issues impacting student life,” Appelbaum said.

Distinct to Appelbaum and Cleary’s agenda is a comprehensive list of specific problems and concrete solutions that encompass diverse student life issues, ranging from student safety to social justice.

“In order to increase and maintain the legitimacy of the student association both in the eyes of the students and the administrators, GUSA has to have both short-, medium- and long-term solutions and goals — some short-term victories and some long-term goals to establish students as real stakeholders in campus discussions,” Appelbaum said.