Editor’s note: This is the second part of an ongoing series about SGA elections next week.

With a focus on outreach and advocacy, Remix Party candidates want to revamp the Student Government Association system.

If it wins the election, the party hopes to drive through some of their platform points, such as changing late fee notifications and creating a campus ride program.

“We bring a new perspective to SGA,” said Laura Ann Thompson, presidential candidate of the Remix Party. “We have a certain dynamic that meets SGA’s needs.”

Some goals of the outgoing SGA administration will be a focus of the Remix Party, as they plan to promote switching the University’s e-mail system to GMail and increasing freshman introductory courses.

Other projects the Remix Party hopes to accomplish are implementing a minimum deadline of two weeks with the Board of Regents on notification to avoid unexpected fees, increasing dining hall hours during the weekend and updating OASIS.

When it boils down to it, “we want to change the perception of SGA. It is all about capturing the essence of a proactive organization,” said Alfred Richardson, the Remix Party’s candidate for treasurer.

Another goal for the upcoming year includes a “Safe Rides Program,” which would ferry students around campus.

“It should be the University’s top priority,” Thompson said.

In the area of academics, the Remix Party wants to be sure they maintain student programs.

“Our main priority is to protect programs students love and want,” Thompson said. “There are not programs that are too big or too small.”

The party also wants to have the University consult more in-house departments when it comes to campus projects, such as student artwork and architecture.

“The walls in [the MLC] are not decorated with artwork,” Thompson said. “We want to see more student artwork in buildings. We have a landscape architecture major, we want to see them doing the work for our buildings. We want students to get practical experience.”

The Remix Party also wants to implement a community service certificate for students who volunteer their time to give back to the local area.

The certificate will require two 2-hour courses, a 1-hour seminar and 300 service hours.

“By working with the School of Social Work, this certificate provides incentive to students who want to give back to the community,” Thompson said. “Ten people doing [300 service hours] is a lot of help.”

In an effort to be more attentive to student needs, the Remix Party wants to extend SGA office hours during the week.

“With availability, we will hear students concerns and advocate for the body,” said Brittany Cassell, vice presidential candidate for the party.

“We want more open lines of communication like an open forum setting,” Thompson said. “We want a leader representing each of the 500 organizations – someone who has contact with SGA.”