Carley Mead After spending her

Summer as a sopho-more replacement student Senator, Car-ley Mead wants to continue working in Student Senate.

If elected, the 19-year-old UF com-puter engineering sophomore will be one of 13 representa-tives for District D,

which covers the 32608 zip code along Archer Road. Mead, one of 13 total candidates from Impact Party, said she wants to improve the Regional Transit System bus app for students living in her district.

“I personally struggle with the app every day,” she said. “The bus ride, especially in Dis-trict D, is the start of everyone’s day.”

She also wants to create more chances to meet with constituents in her district, she said.

“We need more efforts to get everyone to-gether and learn who each other are,” she said.

Although not involved with SG or Impact her freshman year, Mead said she is excited to continue working with them after her time in Student Senate over Summer. She wants to help Impact place healthier options in vending machines on campus and create more charging stations.

“Impact Party is not just a party,” she said. “To me, it’s just a family of students who have one common goal.”

Livia Led-better wants to make UF more accessible for first-generation students.

The 19-year-old UF journal-ism sophomore is running for one of 13 Dis-trict D Student Senate seats in Fall’s elections

against 13 Impact candidates. Of the fi ve independent candidates running, she is the only one seeking an off-campus seat.

As a fi rst-generation student, Ledbetter said she attends UF because of the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program. She wants to focus her efforts in Student Gov-ernment to help other low-income, fi rst-generation students.

“I feel like a lot of times, our needs are ignored or swept under the rug or given second place to legacy students,” she said.

If elected, Ledbetter said she wants to increase funding for the Field and Fork Food Pantry, work to make the nomination and election process for SG positions more transparent and fi ght for the implementa-tion of remote online voting.

“I feel a desire to really get involved and help people,” she said.

Senate Race 2016

Kelly Hooper,

wants to make a

difference for stu-

dents in her resi-

dence hall.

“That’s some-

thing I really

enjoy, because

whenever I have

the possibility to

help someone out

I really want to do

that,” the 18-year-

old UF marketing freshman said. Hooper

is running as Impact’s representative for

Infi nity Hall. If elected, Hooper said she wants to

help implement a cafe at Infi nity Hall, put healthy food in vending machines and in-

stall lights on yield signs near the hall to

prevent scooter accidents.

Hooper said she learned about SG

through conversations with her friends in

Infi nity, and after research, she knew she wanted to run with Impact.

“I instantly knew I aligned with Im-

pact’s message,” she said. “I wanted to

align myself with someone who always

gets things done. There was no other party

I could even visualize myself being a part

of.”

District D Infi nity HallBy Katelyn Newberg

Alligator Staff Writer

Zachariah Chou

Note: Chou was

a contributing

photographer for

the Alligator this

Summer, and he

worked as a paid

photographer at

the beginning of

Fall. Zachariah Chou

has been involved in some form of student government since he was in seventh grade.

The 18-year-old UF political science and journalism freshman wants to continue that trend by running to represent Infi nity Hall as an independent candidate. If elected, he said he also wants to fi ght for remote online voting through Student Senate.

“I think Student Government is the body that I choose to believe is the most effective way to do good for a school,” said Chou, who is also the Infi nity Council vice president.

Chou wants to improve the community at Infi nity, which he said can feel more like a hotel than a residence hall. He also wants to improve cooking and recreational equipment in the hall.

He’s excited to potentially bring a different voice to Student Senate, he said.

“I think that to have 45 out of 50 elected offi cials not really be elected isn’t necessar-ily healthy,” he said. “Student Government should be accessible to anyone, not just those with signifi cant fi nancial backing.”

ChouMeadLedbetter Hooper

Q&A What is your favorite study spot on cam-

pus? “I think Marston basement is my fa-

vorite place to study, just because it’s freezing cold.”

What is your dream job? “I really would love to work for a

prominent news organization one day. Just something that its end goal is help-ing people.”

Q&A What’s your favorite movie? “‘She’s the Man.’ I can quote the entire

thing.” What’s an interesting fact about yourself? “I have three birth certifi cates because my

mom changed the spelling of my name three different times.”

Q&A What is your dream job?“President. Like real president, though.

And afterwards, photojournalist.” What is an interesting fact about yourself?“I don’t own any jean or denim products.”

Q&A What is your favorite study spot on cam-

pus?“I recently found those chairs in Li-

brary West with the little swivel tables. I really enjoy ordering some cookies and going there and studying.”

What is your favorite song? “‘God Made Girls’ by RaeLynn. I have

everything in my iPod from Arctic Mon-keys to country.”

IMPACTIMPACTINDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT