My name is Patrick Kobler and I am running for student body vice president to give everything I can back to the community and student body that has given me so much.

Over the past year and a half, I have had the privilege of serving in many diverse organizations on campus. Currently, I serve as the student concerns chair of the Student Senate. This position has afforded me the unique opportunity of hearing the many needs and desires of the student body. Whether an organization of 100 students or one individual approached me, I was able to hear the voices of the student body and make positive changes on campus. Today, I am ready to take that positive change to a new level by serving as your student body vice president.

Additionally, I currently serve as the vice president of operations for IFC, a position that has allowed me to gain a unique perspective of the Greek community, a community that, along with the rest of the student body, deserves strong leadership.

As student body vice president, I vow to: 1) Improve campus safety through realistic approaches including: implementing the Good Samaritan Act and Medical Amnesty Policy, fighting to keep bus parties because they are not only fun but, more importantly, they are safe, do away with passive participation because responsibility and self-control should be rewarded, not punished, and fighting for the establishment of an on-campus bar to unite our community and promote more activities on campus; 2) Hold university faculty, staff and administration accountable for their responsibility to the student body by: improving the advising program once and for all – we pay far too much money not to have a better advising program – fighting to lower the rate of tuition increases, push for a program to allow students to take an online driver defense course as opposed to paying hefty and unreasonable fines; 3) Establish a real communication between Student Senate and the student body we represent. To do this we will: Ensure the existence of special interest senators and their right to vote, create a liaison program between Student Senate and chartered organizations, push for more funding to academic and chartered organizations – Student Senate has a surplus and we should use it to better the students we represent.

Thank you for your time. I am ready to serve you, so please remember to vote at smu.edu/elections.