Josh Paiva Candidate for Senator Questions: 1. What experience and qualifications do you have? 2. What is your platform? What do you hope to accomplish if you win? 3. What I really want students to know about me is…. ?

Candidate Responses:
1. I am currently the RSA's representative to the SGA and Secretary of the EHS COM. I'm a relatively new transfer from Salisbury University, and I look forward to bringing a fresh new perspective to the Senate. At Salisbury, I co-chaired the Logistics Committee for our annual Relay for Life, which raises about $100,000 each year for the American Cancer Society, regularly placing as one of the Top 5 Relays worldwide. Last year, I represented my residence hall on the RA Council, and this year I am proud to represent Harbor on the RSA.

2. Even with this so-called "Tuition Freeze", UMBC is one of the most expensive public institutions in the nation. Once elected, I promise to work with my fellow senators and the executive branch to launch a full investigation of all tuition, fees, room, board, and other expenses such as the new and now-infamous transcript fee, which penalizes the most successful students $300 or more for proof of their accomplishments here at UMBC. We also pay ten cents a page to print out our classwork and $1.50 to do a single load of laundry. While this seems rather trivial, it adds up quickly. We should be able to devote our time to furthering our education and not have to worry about how we're going to be able to afford our next meal.

3. I am a volunteer EMT, and I'm majoring in Emergency Health Services. After graduation, I plan to serve as an officer in the US Coast Guard specializing in Search & Rescue operations. I started college shortly after my sixteenth birthday, and since then I've been working 40 hours a week or more for State & Federal government so that I can afford to continue my college education.

Brief Platform Statement:

• Eliminate the transcript fee by the end of 2010
• Increase weekend social opportunities, especially for students under 21
• Work with local businesses to provide discounts for expensive services students need, such as dry cleaning before an interview.