USG presidential candidate Kris “Krispy” Pierce and his vice-presidential running mate Matt Goldstein are emphasizing diversity and student interaction in their campaign.
Pierce, a junior in communication, is from Elkhart, IN, and graduated from North Central High School in Indianapolis.
He has been active on the Residence Hall Advisory Council for three years, serving as vice president and president. Pierce serves on the Regional Board of Directors of the Central Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls and is a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary. He played a major role in the development of the new Royer Marketplace on north campus and serves as a student manager there.
Goldstein, a junior in international business, political science and communication, grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Harriton High School in Rosemont, PA.
Goldstein was a member of the Young Democrats and the Holocaust Remembrance Club last year.
Neither Pierce nor Goldstein have any previous experience in USG, but Pierce said he has attended about 80 percent of the USG Senate meetings this year.
Pierce and Goldstein strongly oppose lifting the tuition cap and think that Ohio State should find other methods to generate money.
Pierce said USG should not have discretionary funds, and the money should be left to the students. He said as president he would go directly to the board for money to spend on special projects.
Goldstein thinks the discretionary funds are a good idea but should be less money and be used with care.
Pierce and Goldstein want USG to interact more with students by asking every student organization what USG can do for it.
“My number one goal is to bring USG to the students,” Pierce said. “We are going back to the basics by making ourselves more accessible. We aren’t going to do anything before we have student input.”
Pierce and Goldstein plan on restoring faith in USG by reaching out to all students. They plan to create a diverse cabinet whose members will interact with student organizations every week, Pierce said.
USG is about being the voice for OSU students, Goldstein said.
Another issue that concerns Pierce and Goldstein is greek system participation in USG. Goldstein said fraternities and sororities have not had a loud voice in USG over the past several years. Pierce and Goldstein intend to encourage greek organizations to become more visible in student government. Goldstein’s hope is to have every greek organization represented.
