Parker-Phipps 2010-2011

STUDENT Platform

Wright State University

Student Government

The Ticket Dedicated to Your Success

The Parker-Phipps Student Platform is designed to assist Wright State students in achieving the
greatest success in the 2010-2011 academic year.
We are dedicated to establishing the foundation of a long-term plan that yields continued
achievement at Wright State University.

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Our Platform pinpoints specific areas geared toward each students’ individual standing. Below
you will find a breakdown of the key issues at Wright State University that we plan to address
and the methods in which they will be addressed.

“All of life is a journey which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us.
We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we
arrive.”

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Your Education
**Encompassing the improvement of academics for all students at Wright State University.**

1. Improve overall education

a. Encourage the Student Government college senators to work more closely with their respective
Dean, Dean Student Advisory Board, and Dean Circle to enhance the atmosphere, provide
adequate course information, and improve general services within each College.
b. Continue Student Government’s work with the Task Force on Student Success to evaluate the
current retention and graduation rates to improve the overall academic life for students.
c. Work with the Office of the Provost and each College to increase the amount of permanent
advising staff.
d. Continue the efforts already set forth by Student Government to work with the Faculty Senate,
The Guardian, and WWSU-FM to promote the Syllabus Archive.
e. Pursue an increase in the amount of supplemental education and tutoring options for each
educational department to assist students in the most important aspect: their education.
f. Continue to sponsor and ensure that the second annual Study Abroad Fair takes place in order to
better inform students of this “must have” experience while at Wright State.
 i. Work with the College of Liberal Arts Senator to further promote the Study Abroad
scholarship in order to give students a Study Abroad experience at a lower price.
g. Work with the College of Liberal Arts Senator to fix the requirement that students in the
Communications Department are required to serve a 100-hour internship in which they receive
no assistance from the department.
h. Continue the efforts put forth by the current Commuter Senator to expand the library hours to
allow an increase in the amount of time students are able to study.

2. Semester Transition
a. Move for the quick implementation of the college career mapping service uDirect to help
students affected by the transition better plan the remainder of their college career.
b. Maintain a presence on all semester transition committees to guarantee that the students are at
the forefront of all decisions and are adequately informed of all transition progress.
c. Hold the University accountable for the promise set that no student will be negatively affected by
the transition from quarters to semesters.

3. Technology
a. Continue to promote the advantages for posting syllabi online to decrease the amount of printing
Wright State does as well as improve access to the syllabi for the students.
b. Work with CaTS and the Semester Steering Committee to determine if WebCT or Course Studio
is the best academic technology to use as we move into the future and discontinue the outdated
technology.
c. Inform colleges of the importance of maintaining an updated web presence to assist incoming
and continuing students in their college career.

4. Textbook Prices
a. Work with the University Bookstore and each academic department to ensure that all professors
are compliant with the Higher Education Opportunity Act which requires them to select their
textbooks earlier in order to lower textbook prices for students.
b. Partner with the University Bookstore to promote the use of online textbooks and rental
textbooks to all students.
c. Raise awareness that the University Bookstore matches the prices offered by the College Store.
d. Aggressively promote the Student Government BookBazaar to increase the amount of books
traded or sold directly between students without the need for a third party.
e. Work with the Ohio Student Government Association to adopt the tax free textbook program
similar to what is used in other states across the country.

5. Professor Evaluations
a. Work with the Faculty Senate and Provost Steven Angle to create a better professor evaluation
system.
i. The creation of a mid-term professor and course evaluation.
ii. The implementation of a course evaluation for all those who withdraw from a course.

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 Student Life
**Encompassing the benefits of all students at Wright State University.**

1. Student Health and Wellbeing

a. Work with Counseling and Wellness Services, Student Support Services, the WSU Fitness
Center, the Women’s Center, and Student Health Services to promote healthier eating and the
need for exercise.
b. Work closely with the WSU Fitness Center and Campus Recreation to develop an incentive
program designed to encourage exercise and healthy eating habits.
c. Continue the efforts by the Student Government Health Care Sub-Committee to provide low-cost
Student Health Insurance and provide up-to-date and accurate information on how to use this
program.
d. Collaborate with the Ohio Student Government Association to lobby for Student Health
Insurance to be purchased together by all thirteen public institutions to ensure a drop in price and
an increase in benefits.

2. Financial Aid
a. Promote the Office of Financial Aid’s FAFSA Workshops to teach all students how to properly
fill out their FAFSA form so that they are able to get the most out of their financial aid.
b. In collaboration with the Office of the Bursar, remove the $30 non-refundable application fee
assessed to those students who use the Student Installment Plan to ease the cost of tuition in
these hard economic times.
c. Hold a Financial Aid presentation to demonstrate to the students the advantages of using
Financial Aid rather than governmental loans as well as the appropriate way to apply for
scholarships.
d. Host a Winter Quarter “Speak Out!” event and continue the already successful Fall Quarter and
Spring Quarter events where all money raised is given towards the Student Government
scholarship.

3. Students with Disabilities

a. Re-evaluate the current accessibility of the Main Campus and residential communities to ensure
that all students with disabilities can quickly access all areas of campus.
b. Develop new programs that are designed to promote a healthy discussion between students with
disabilities and students without disabilities about ways to make college life better and make it
easier for members of both communities to relate to each other.
c. Work closely with the Office of Disability Services to create a more equal academic and social
environment for students with disabilities.
d. Increase promotion for Wingerd Service Dog Park, a dog park to allow service dogs to play and
roam freely.
e. For specific residential issues please see the Residential Students Section below.

4. “Raider Country” (School Spirit)

 a. Work with the Commuter Student Association and the Residential Community Association to
open an on-campus social gathering location that would serve food and beverages as well as host
karaoke/dance nights. This would be similar to the old “Rathskeller.”
b. Continue the annual “Bus to Butler” tradition that sends a group of students to cheer on our
Raiders against our rival, Butler, and see that this tradition continues well into the future.
c. In collaboration with other student organizations, begin new traditions that will help bring
students together to create a sense of “Raider Pride.”
d. Continue the efforts set forth by the current Director of Student Affairs to bring student discounts
to local businesses to create a sense of community or “Raider Country.”
e. Work to promote and advertise sporting events more effectively to all students.
f. Work to provide students with an online option to retrieve tickets for Wright State sporting
games throughout the year. This will decrease confusion and increase attendance at all sporting
events.
g. Work with the Director of Student Affairs, Director of Public Relations, and area businesses to
create a sense of “Raider Country” where students feel welcome and proud to be a Raider by
incorporating Wright State paraphernalia in their decor.
h. Work with Sports Club Council and the Athletic Department to provide Wright State
memorabilia and posters to businesses in the community to build up the “Raider Country” image.
i. Work with the Office of the President, the University Building and Grounds Committee, and the
Vice President of Student Affairs to paint the reverse side of the University water tower to read
“Welcome to Raider Country.”
j. Use campus-wide printers to assist students in claiming their free athletic event tickets by using
the current swipe system that will prompt students to print out their tickets.
k. Aggressively publicize the Wright State University Desktop Application powered by Student
Government to increase the awareness of campus events and programs, such as The Guardian’s
news feeds, WWSU-FM online music stream, Nutter Center events, and more.

5. Nutter Center
a. Work with Provost Steven Angle and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs to
create a more student friendly environment at the Nutter Center.
b. Push for the Nutter Center Ice Rink to be used for recreational purposes to allow students more
activities in the evening and on weekends.
c. Partner with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Nutter Center to
implement student discounts to the many great performers and events that are hosted at the
Nutter Center.
d. Work with the Director of the Nutter Center and the Vice President of Student Affairs to create a
more student focused Nutter Center that will have an integral role in decreasing the current
student apathy.

6. Dining Services
a. Continue the efforts of Residential Senator Daniel Rhodes to increase the amount of food options
available to residents late at night and on the weekends through the lengthening of the hours of
operation of the Hangar.
 b. Work with Dining Services and the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs to implement a
minimal operations "To-Go" service at Salvador Deli within the Union Market to increase the
amount of food options available on weekends.
c. Work with the Dining Services Committee to bring lower cost food options to all of Wright
State’s eateries.
d. Evaluate the credit card system put in place during this academic year to make it easier, quicker,
and more accessible to students.
e. Work with Event Services, Student Activities, and Dining Services to bring an end to the
obstacles in place which prevent student organizations from using external catering services that
offer more food options at cheaper prices.

7. Greek Life
a. Promote the Greek Community by showing students the benefits of joining a fraternity or
sorority and removing the misnomers students have about Greek Life.
b. Advance the four pillars of Greek Life (Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service) by
promoting events, programs, and initiatives to students outside of the Greek Community.
c. Work with the Greek Affairs Council to develop a Greek Life survey that will provide feedback
to Student Government and the Office of Student Activities as to what the Greek students believe
will improve their image on-campus.
d. Work with the Office of Residence Services to develop a Task Force composed of Greek leaders,
residential leaders, and administration that will actively investigate Greek Housing and
determine how it can be applied to Wright State University Housing.

8. GLBTQA Community
a. Work in collaboration with Rainbow Alliance and the Office of Student Activities to promote the
GLBTQA community at Wright State University.
b. Maintain a positive image of the GLBTQA community by hosting and sponsoring events and
programs that will aim to increase awareness, and educate the student population that we are all
in this together.

9. Safety & Security

a. Review the locations of all current emergency “blue lights” on campus, and then push for an
increase in locations lacking an emergency “blue light” as well as throughout the university’s
tunnel system.
b. Perform a danger walk-around campus with the Wright State Police Department and then inform
our student population of places of potential danger.
c. Work with the Wright State Police Department to implement card swipe readers on all buildings
of Wright State to allow only our student population to enter buildings after academic hours.
d. Develop a Campus Watch Program that uses volunteers to help protect our campus throughout
the academic year. Students involved in this program will receive special rewards and incentives
for their participation.
10. Conservation/Recycling
a. Explore cost effective ways to increase the amount of recycling options on campus and in the
residential communities. This will make Wright State a greener campus while building a sense of
community.
b. Work to exchange all current light bulbs with energy efficient florescent light bulbs on campus
and in the residential communities. This will save the university money over time and put the
university in a position to pass the savings on to the students.
c. Promote Energy Conservation and Recycling throughout campus with advertisement, programs,
and incentives designed to continue Wright State’s theme of innovation.

11. Student Employment

a. Work with the Ohio Student Government Association to review what other area schools do to
ensure that in these hard economic times all students are given an opportunity to enroll in
internships and have ample amounts of career opportunities available post graduation.
b. Partner with Career Services and the Student Government Senate to actively promote all job fairs
and internship fairs hosted by the university and the surrounding community.
c. Collaborate with the academic departments to create a centralized database of co-ops and
internships.

12. Dayton Daily News

a. Continue to work with the Residential Community Association to bring the Dayton Daily News
to residents who live on campus.
b. Expand the Dayton Daily News’s service to place newspaper racks throughout the academic
portion of campus so that all students may enjoy the daily morning newspaper.
c. Work with the Dayton Daily News to provide students with an electronic edition of the Dayton
Daily News which will be sent directly to students’ Wright State email addresses.

13. Athletics
a. Encourage the Athletic Department to provide more funding for the Raider Pack program, which
is used to promote student attendance at all Wright State sporting events.
b. Create a similar Raider Pack type of program for club sports to increase the attendance at each of
the university’s club sporting events.
c. Continue the collaboration between the Athletic Department and the Faculty Senate to encourage
the promotion of all athletic events.
d. Partner with the Sports Club Council to ensure that all club sport teams play on-campus if the
university currently has facilities available. If the university does not have facilities, work to
ensure that these facilities are included into the ten year university plan.
e. Present the idea to host tailgate parties prior to the soccer games and basketball games to boost
attendance and “Raider Pride.”

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 Commuter Students
**Encompassing the benefits of all Commuter Students at Wright State University.**

1. Parking and Transportation

a. Encourage carpooling through the use of a secure online coordination system where users can
post their location and class schedule to meet other students with similar schedules.
b. Work closely with the Office of Parking and Transportation and the Parking Committee to
ensure that all concerns with the new extension to Lot 4 are solved, including lighting, foot
traffic, vehicular traffic, and shuttle service.
c. Collaborate with the University Building and Grounds Committee as well as the Commuter
Senator to begin the blueprints and foundation for the new parking structure to be built in the
future.
d. Continue the efforts set forth by the current Director of International Affairs to implement an off-
campus shuttle system to go to area businesses and residential communities.
e. Work with RTA to install a shuttle booth to protect students who use RTA to travel to and from
campus from inclement weather conditions.
f. Implement the University Transit Pass Program to give all students a discount on bus passes
purchased through RTA.

2. Commuter Life
a. Partner with the Commuter Student Association to host large scale events for students to help
build a sense of community.
b. Continue the success of exam week programs to increase the awareness of the Commuter
Student Association.
c. Create a new program called “Community of Commuters” that will be utilized to develop a
strong sense of “Raider Pride” in the commuter family.

3. Off-Campus Housing
a. Develop an online system for commuters to look up available housing options throughout the
surrounding communities to bring together those who may not have roommates.
b. Work with the off-campus Housing Advisory Committee and the Director of Web
Communications to compile a list of all area off-campus apartment complexes with reviews to
ease the apartment search.
c. Partner with off-campus housing complexes to create Greek Housing while the pursuit of on-
campus Greek Housing continues.

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 Residential Students
**Encompassing the benefits of all Residential Students at Wright State University.**

1. Parking and Transportation

a. Work with Parking and Transportation and the Office of Residence Services to raise awareness
of as well as provide up-to-date and accurate information for residents using the on-campus
shuttle service.
b. In collaboration with Parking and Transportation and the Office of Residence Services, work to
reduce the confusion of purchasing parking passes by including the cost into the residential
housing fees.
c. Promote the Residential Guest Parking in Lot V (the Village) that was established by Student
Government President Joel Parker. This will provide additional parking spaces to visitors and
free up more parking spaces for residents in parking lots close to their buildings.
d. Work with the Building and Grounds Committee to set the groundwork for a new sidewalk that
will create a more accessible path from Lot 20 to academic main campus and the residential
community.

2. Safety and Security

a. Add additional emergency “blue lights” in the Lot 20 parking lot and in various locations leading
to and from Lot 20 to academic main campus and the residential community.
b. Work with the Wright State Police Department to implement security cameras in Lot 20 to deter
crime and assist in the solving of the numerous vandalism cases and break-ins to vehicles that
occur each academic year.
c. Collaborate with AM Maintenance to ensure that snow and ice is removed quickly and
efficiently from ADA ramps, walkways, stairs, and streets to ensure the safety for all residents.
d. Continue the effort set forth by the Residential Community Association in the development of a
Community Watch Program that acts as a “neighborhood watch program” to help prevent crime
in the residential communities.
e. Investigate innovative and cost effective ways to increase security (swipe cards, cameras, door
locks, etc.) in the residential communities by collaborating with the Director of Residence
Services (Dan Bertsos) and AM Maintenance.
f. Reconvene the Zink Road Fence Task Force Committee to make recommendations based on
specific events/issues during the past year and push administration to implement the cameras at
the signature entrance.
g. Partner with the Wright State Police Department to increase the awareness of the “Silent
Witness” program which allows individuals to report criminal activity anonymously.

3. Residential Life
a. Collaborate with the Office of Residence Services, Residential Community Association,
Community Directors, and Resident Assistants to determine why students are living off-campus
and discuss initiatives to retain the residential population.
 b. Continue the efforts set forth by the Office of Residence Services, the Residential Community
Association, and the Campus Master Plan Advisory Committee to create the most student
friendly Residential Community Center and ensure that residential feedback is used throughout
the planning process
c. Team up with the Office of Residence Services to improve the Online Housing Room Selection
process by working to create an easier process.
d. Partner with the Office of Residence Services and the Residential Community Association to
help educate the residents about the room selection process so that there is less confusion as well
as an increase in awareness and excitement.
e. In collaboration with the Office of Residence Services, develop an online roommate survey for
residential students to use when selecting roommates for the next academic year.
f. Develop mid-year and end of the year evaluations for Residential Students to complete and offer
feedback so that the residential population is better served.
g. Continue to pursue improvements in the Woods, Forest Lane, and Hamilton Hall residential
communities so that the quality of life is equal in all residence halls.
h. Continue the efforts set forth by the current Associate Justice to give residents additional cheap
entertainment options by working with the Residential Senator to add a Red Box that will bring
$1.00 movie rentals for the residents’ enjoyment.
i. Encourage the Office of Residence Services and AM Maintenance to provide 24-hour
maintenance to all residential communities.
j. Work with the Office of Residence Services and the Organizational Housing Committee that was
put in place this academic year to bring an increase into the group housing options offered, such
as Greek housing, student organization housing, and major specific housing.

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Student Organizations
Lead, Engage, Achieve, and Develop
**Encompassing the benefits of all Student Organizations at Wright State University.**

1. Collaboration among Student Organizations

a. Encourage the collaboration among all student organizations to allow for an increase in
programming that might not otherwise be available due to budgets being cut because of the
current hard economic times.
b. Create a House of Representatives website that will include all organization Presidents so that
they can post ideas, events, and suggestions for other organizations to view.
c. Work with the Speaker and the Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives to develop an
electronic Organizational Newsletter that will include events that WSU Organizations are
planning to improve awareness of the numerous events that take place on campus.
d. Work with the Student Organization Semester Transition Committee to continue to evaluate the
effect of transitioning to semesters on Student Organizations and events.
 e. Continue the efforts put forth by Residential Community Association President Ryan Phipps in
the development of the Big Six Summit which brings the Big Six Organizations together and
creates a collaborative atmosphere for all.

2. WWSU and The Guardian (Communication & Promotion)

a. Work in partnership with WWSU-FM Radio Station and The Guardian newspaper to determine
the best way both organizations can come together for the benefit of the student body.
b. Develop a Student Media committee that includes the General Manager of WWSU, the Editor-
in-Chief of The Guardian, the President of Student Government, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives that will determine ways to work together when dealing with advertisement and
promotion or student organizational programming and events.
c. Work with WWSU-FM and The Guardian to ease the transition into their new partnership
format which combines advertising efforts to improve both media organizations.

3. Student Organization Compensation/Oversight

a. Work with the Office of Student Activities to develop a compensation review committee that
will review all organizations’ compensation and determine the most equal way to distribute pay
to leaders.
b. Re-evaluate organizational budgets through the Student Organization Budget Committee
(SOBC) to ensure that all funds are being used for student programs, activities, and initiatives.
c. Use the money that will become available from the Nutter Center Bonds to increase the SOBC
Budget to ensure that all organizations are given adequate funding.
d. Ensure that SOBC no longer declines funding to smaller organizations so that the smaller
organizations can also host great events and programs for all students.
e. Make students and student organizations are aware of the Special Funding Committee and how
they can utilize the funds for one-time programs, conferences, or other activities which were
unexpected when requesting funds from the SOBC in Spring Quarter.

4. Student Organization policies/risk assessment

a. Make all student organizations aware of resources that they may utilize for free through the
Office of Student Activities and individual departments.
b. Review the current Risk Assessment (security) that is placed on organizational events to
determine if they are fair for all student organizations and work to make the needed changes.

5. House of Representatives
a. Use the House of Representatives to promote organizational interest during First Weekend
activities, Fall Fest, the Student Organization Fair, and May Daze.
b. Determine the best way for Student Organizations to get the most out of the House of
Representatives’ meetings and initiatives that are already in effect.
c. Ensure that it takes no longer than 24 hours for a student organization to receive their requested
free weekly copies.

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 Student Government Improvements
**Encompassing the internal improvements of Student Government.**

1. Cabinet Selection
a. We will never promise a cabinet position to any student whether they are on our campaign team
or not. All cabinet positions will be open to the entire student body.
b. Once elected, Parker-Phipps will quickly and efficiently distribute cabinet applications,
interview, and decide the 2010-2011 Student Government Cabinet.

2. Collaboration Between Members

a. Continue the Cabinet-Senate committees to improve the intermingling of the cabinet and the
senate when working on projects.
b. Assign more than one Student Government member to work on a project to create unity within
the organization as well as a multi-perspective approach to achieving a goal.
c. Carry on the use of Google Applications and Google Docs which were put in place by Student
Government President Joel Parker to make collaboration easier within Student Government.
d. Work closely with the Student Government Alumni Board which was developed at the SG
Alumni Reunion in 2009 to see that projects started previously which take more than one year
are completed.

3. Communication With Students

a. Increase the awareness of Student Government’s Facebook Fan Page and Twitter Feed through
advertising and word-of-mouth.
b. Start early! Student Government needs to work directly with the Summer Orientation program to
ensure that incoming student are “in-the-know” when it comes to how SG can represent them.
c. Set up weekly live online question and answer sessions for students to get the answers to their
questions that are fast, easy, and reliable.
d. Host monthly tabling events in the Union Market to help spread the word about the goals and
accomplishments of Student Government as well as answer all questions that students ask.
e. Mandate that Senators discuss all voting issues with their Dean Student Advisory Board, Dean’s
Circle, and constituents before voting to verify that they are voting on behalf of the student body
and not their personal agenda.
f. Increase the amount of surveys emailed to the student body to find out the concerns and vision
for the overall university.
g. Email a monthly newsletter of Student Government’s current initiatives and recent
accomplishments as well as highlight one member per month to increase awareness of Student
Government and its members.
h. Increase the awareness of resources that students are able to use to contact Student Government,
such as the online forum, member email addresses, and members’ bi-monthly reports.

4. Tuesday Public Meetings

a. Send out an official invitation to the student body to inform them of the weekly public Student
Government meetings.
 b. Inform the student body of the importance of voicing their opinion at all Student Government
meetings.

The purpose of Student Government (SG) is to advocate for and represent the interests of
students at Wright State University. Student Government is committed to promoting student
participation in the overall policy and decision-making processes of the University, enhancing
the quality and scope of education at the University, and promoting the general welfare of the
student body.
-Student Government Constitution-

Thank you for reading the Parker-Phipps platform. If you have additional questions,
suggestions, comments, or concerns please visit our website at www.ParkerPhipps.com.

Joel Parker
Student Government Presidential Candidate
Student Government President

Ryan Phipps
Student Government Vice-Presidential Candidate
Residential Community Association President