UT has several problems that can be fixed by focusing on five main points, according to Volunteer Pride presidential candidate Matt McDonald.
“The number one weakness that I can spot at this university is that there are thousands of little flaws, little problems that need to be addressed,” McDonald said. “They can be addressed simply by ideas of the students … When we created this party, we picked five of these problems.”
The senior from Chattanooga said while he has noticed flaws in the university system, attending another university was never a question. McDonald said he never saw himself going anywhere else and since enrolling has been a student senator and active member of the Greek community in Kappa Sigma fraternity.
“I feel the most important activities I’ve been involved in is the daily lives of the students and my friends,” he said.
McDonald said the weaknesses of the university have motivated him to run for president, but the university’s strengths are what he hopes to help improve on.
“The strengths of the university are first and foremost that you have the capability to be educated in such a wide variety of fields,” he said. “I really, firmly believe that we are producing some of the finest graduates for the private sector to hand pick. And really as far as beneficial characteristics that the students are going to look back on and cherish is that there is a sense of community tied around the volunteer spirit.
“You hear ‘Rocky Top’ and you can’t help but sing along, and I think that is something that is not matched by any other school.”
McDonald said one of his first items as president would be to address “connectivity on campus.” He said he hopes to create a closer UT community.
“You kind of have to add some background, some foreground to stand out with this issue,” McDonald said. “We are looking to establish a much more connected university through the implementation of a sophisticated network of Web banks.”
According to McDonald, these “Web banks” would be used to create better communication between student senators and students.
“I’m a Fort Sanders senator right now,” he said. “If I were able to e-mail all of my constituency, not just talk to the 200 that I know by name, I would tell them about my plans and my goals.”
