Anusha Mannam, a 21-year-old international studies and political
science double major, has served on the University Senate and SGLC during her
three years at Loyola and currently serves as a student representative on the
Board of Trustees. Anusha, the current SGLC vice president, is running
alongside junior Adriana Caballero.
“We want to be held accountable and be transparent with what
we have been campaigning for and where we’re at,” Mannam said.
Mannam said she and Caballero would ensure accountability
with a “progress bar” which can be viewed by the student body. They also plan
to hold office hours and collaborative dinners among students, faculty,
administration and SGLC representatives.
Mannam said she hopes the #NotMyLoyola movement, which has
gained traction recently after the arrest of Loyola student Alan Campbell and
other accusations of racial profiling by Campus Safety, will bring a
much-needed conversation to campus. She referenced the town hall meeting held
by the movement March 1.
“What we’ve seen from events such as the town hall is that
there’s … a clear lack of representation on campus and students aren’t feeling
like they’re being represented or heard or included in some conversations and
that’s an issue,” Mannam said. “It’s so important to hear each other out.”
University President Jo Ann Rooney announced the requirement
of Campus Safety officers to wear body cameras, which will be in full effect by
fall. Mannam said this is an important step forward but only the first of many.
“The conversation shouldn’t just end with body cams but
seeing ‘Okay, what is the training [Campus Safety goes] through right now and
how can we improve that?’” Mannam said. Caballero said Campus Safety and
students should build a better relationship moving forward.
“I think the relationship between the campus police and the
students should be a matter of trusting each other, and [within] the administration,”
Caballero, an international studies major, said. “It’s a matter of being
educated enough to know that we have to respect the rules.”
Mannam said increased awareness about campus issues, such as
tuition and housing, is essential for better student life. She said students
should understand their responsibility to educate themselves on campus events.
“I think that knowledge is power and although knowledge is
power, it can’t be kept between the leadership of SGLC, it needs to be
communicated to the students,” Mannam said. “If there’s issues that are found
within that, that’s how we know we have to do better than just [hearing]
through rumors.”
Mannam said recent housing issues should be approached with
a combination of admitting less students and considering construction of new
student housing. She said SGLC would serve as the connection between students
and administration for housing issues.
“If elected, our role would be to communicate … the student
concerns and see where this can improve and com- municate why this is an
issue,” Mannam said.
Mannam thinks that a totally environmentally sustainable
campus, as presented on the SGLC ballot this cycle, is possible, but it’ll take
time to see realized.
Comments