Name: David Sivak
Email: sivakdavid@gmail.com
Phone: (240) 565-4294
Current Class Status: Freshman
Position/committee you wish to run for: President, Vice-President, FYSH Chair

What experience or qualifications do you have?

·         Vice-President (unofficial) for JSU

·         Social Chair for AEPi – coordinate events & network with Greek orgs on campus

·         Under AEPi: helped plan/run/MC Purim 2009 which turned out great; currently planning Yom Ha’atzmaut 5769, set for May 2 in Gameroom

o        Experience working with: Office of Student Life for event approval, Office of Residential Life, the Commons, UMBC Spotlight for marketing

·         Know dozens of Jewish students at UMBC from AEPi, SAEPi, Hillel, & outside

To sum that up, I know how to plan & market events & can bring in people to take active roles in making them happen.

If elected what will you want to accomplish? Goals for next year?

I want to overhaul the organization.  I’ve already talked with current JSU leadership & with input I’ve drafted a new constitution.  If elected, I’ll present it to the general body for comments & revisions. 

To summarize my objectives & vision, I want the JSU to:

·         Allow all students to partake in Jewish culture

·         Extend invitation for Jewish orgs to come under the banner of JSU – we’d offer help with funding, marketing, & secondary management

·         Have an active role in tzedek (charity), social justice, & Jewish advocacy (for tzedek, I’d like to create a “charity battle” – we’d compete with other student orgs to fundraise; highest fundraiser receives matching funds from competing orgs)

·         Focus on RECRUITMENT & MEMBERSHIP

·         Increase visibility, market an attractive image, & ensure its legitimacy as a student org

·         Have an inclusive atmosphere & engaging events that promote Jewish culture & encourage student involvement

Basically, I want to get JSU back on its feet & change its image.  This involves strong marketing, heavy recruitment, & interesting events.  I want an active leadership, an involved general body, & commitment to a new vision. 

Any additional information you would like posted:

I’m not running to put this on my resume.  I’ve invested hours in thinking about a new direction for this organization.  I’ve heard about how active the JSU was in years past and am disappointed with where it’s gone since then.  So I have two main goals.  Short term, I want to shock the JSU back to life.  Long term, I want to find ways to ensure that it survives. 

I’d love to be President because the position requires leadership & vision.  I think I have both.  It shows with the constitution I’ve drafted (I’d be glad to talk about my proposed changes) & the initiative I’ve taken within AEPi.  If you vote for me, we can work toward a full revitalization of Jewish life at UMBC.