Aaron Epstein, a sophomore double majoring in telecommunication and film and hospitality resort management at the University of West Florida, works with the student government staff and senate members to represent our campus and make changes he hopes will unify the University.

As second-in-command of the student body, Student Government Association Vice President Epstein said he enjoys representing the students and being their voice to the faculty and staff.

“It was the desire to get more involved,” said Epstein, who is close friends with SGA President Steven Russell. “I wanted to work with the students, for the students and make a difference on campus.”

Epstein said his communication skills are a major factor in his relationship with the student body, and his involvement with other campus activities aids him in dealing with student needs.

An active brother of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, Epstein is also on the honors council, a Student Ambassador, a student recruiter and recently moved from playing rugby to managing the team because of a severe injury.

Perhaps the biggest project Epstein is currently facing in office is the implementation of a new Constituency Bill.

The bill is Epstein and Russell’s plan to unify the campus by giving all students equal representation at senate meetings. The bill will accomplish this by dividing the campus into student categories and assigning a senator to represent each group. The senator will serve as the group’s voice and represent student’s concerns at meetings.

“People look at us as a club,” Epstein said.

His vision with the new bill is to break that barrier and have student government acting as a liaison between the students and the University.

“The first thing Steven and I want to do is unify the campus, and define the University of West Florida” Epstein said.

By giving the school a definition, such as an athletic school, a social school, or a school that pushes academics, Epstein hopes to increase the number of students, increase the number of applicants and make the University more predominantly known. This idea was the platform of Russell and Epstein’s campaign and the birth of the bill. Epstein sums it up in one word: “community.”

“I am not the SGA vice president, I am the student body vice president,” Epstein said. “We are an organization people can come to for help.”

Concerns about the flow of information is a typical problem and one that while in office, Epstein said he hopes to smooth out. Students should bring their concerns about university policies and procedures to SGA to get help.

“It is our job to be professional problem solvers,” said Epstein.

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