The Gator Party announced its 17-point platform Monday, a week before Student Government’s Spring elections.
The party listed points such as opening more creative spaces on campus, adding a 24/7 food space and adding a graduate student bus route in an Instagram post.
Students can vote for 50 Senators and the Student Body President, Vice President and Treasurer on eight campus locations Feb. 22 and 23. The Change, Communist and Gator Parties have candidates running for Senate seats.
Other points include improving sexual health awareness, offering free STD testing during Sexual Health Awareness Week and increasing funding for the Counseling and Wellness Center.
For students who live and play on campus, Gator Party wants to provide ice machines and menstrual products in residence halls, bring updated cycling machines and a golf simulator to RecSports and offer free shakers for fans to wave at football games.
The Party’s platform is led by campaign managers Abbie Putnam and senior class President Jacob Van De Car.
“This platform acts as a contract between us and the student body and shows how we are going to help them maximize their college experience.” Van De Car wrote in an email.
Points like the ice machines and free shakers stemmed from students’ ideas. Last week, the party hosted tables and idea-sharing events at Turlington and the Reitz, Van De Car said. Student seating sections at other university sporting events offer free merchandise, for example, which can serve as mementos for years to come.
The Gator Party has fulfilled promises from last Spring’s platform such as increasing lighting at Norman Hall and successfully advocating for an in-person graduation, Student Body President Cooper Brown wrote in a text message.
The Gator Party defended the platform against the Change Party during the annual SG debate Tuesday.
Contact Maia Botek mbotek@alligator.org. Contact her on Twitter @BotekMaia.
Maia Botek is a third-year journalism major and Spanish minor covering student government this semester. Maia is from South Florida and enjoys the beach, spending time with her friends and learning about the environment in her free time.
