Coming out of high school, Volunteer Pride vice presidential candidate Doug White wasn’t sure about staying in Knoxville and attending UT, but after a couple of semesters at UT-Chattanooga he realized how much he missed this city by the river.
“I went to the UTC and got a perspective of how things worked down there,” White said. “But I wanted to come back to this university. I missed UT, (and) I missed Knoxville.”
White, who is currently the director of government affairs for SGA, said his experience would prove helpful if elected.
“(The office) has given me incredible perspective on SGA and state government and how they interconnect,” White said. “This is a big transition year for the university with a new state government coming in.”
“Red tape and getting classes (are major issues),” he said. “Our party has the answers for those problems.”
White said he hopes Circle Park Online can be improved to allow the university to know what courses are needed for the following semester to cut down on students waiting for classes. His party is proposing a new template on the Web site to allow students to input classes that will be needed to give the university a “heads up” on what classes are most in demand.
Red tape is the not only issue Volunteer Pride hopes to correct, White said. He added that creating a greater sense of community on campus and utilizing student skills were also important to the party.
White said these issues need to be addressed by the administration.
“We have five major issues, and I think every issue affects students,” White said. “People are sick of going to classes and waiting 30 minutes to get a class … I’ve been on both sides of the issue.
“There needs to be accountability between the student body and the administration to get more classes for students.”
The junior in political science said he hopes students will listen to his and Volunteer Pride’s presidential candidate Matt McDonald’s message.
“We’re the voice for two different groups on this campus,” he said. “That’s just the great thing about our relationship – we come from different backgrounds and represent a lot of diversity.”
Whether down at his favorite restaurant, the Copper Cellar, or participating in on-campus Christian organizations, White said his diverse background has prepared him to be vice president.
“I have worked with people in several different organizations,” he said. “I know I would be good for the position because I care what people think and I listen. You need that if you are going to be the adviser for Freshman Council or chair of the (Student) Senate.
“You have to be able to work with students, and I can do that.”
