Steve C. Hollar

Steve Hollar’s platform is science and technology driven. He said his vision was for all IU campuses to achieve a higher university ranking internationally.

He said UI should increase technological resources and research opportunities in science. Hollar said he sees the potential for IU to become a technology hub for the United States.

He would like to draw more attention to the IU Health program.

Hollar said he advocates for partnerships with the private sector. These partnerships not only focus on providing resources to the school, but also help to create more employment opportunities for IU students.

“Don’t lose sight of the fact that the reason we all do this is for the kids,” Hollar said. “We should all have a safe environment and an equal chance to learn.”

Eric R. Pankowski

Eric Pankowski said he has always been a fan of the campus sporting atmosphere. He is the host of the Hoosier Hysterics podcast, which has around 10,000 subscribers, according to their Twitter account.

Pankowski has said he will focus on how the university presents itself. The university could use its athleticism to gain national attention, he said.

He said he was also determined to use his social media platforms and resources to connect with IU alumni. One of its main goals is to have more transparency in board meetings, not just for those who can attend.

If elected, he plans to open an extended administrator Twitter account to communicate the information and decisions that are discussed at board meetings. He also plans to talk about board decisions and campus news on his podcast once a week.

“I will be doing votes which I believe were in the best interests of IU students, faculty and alumni,” Pankowski said.

Jeremy morris

Being a black millennial alumnus, Morris said he was excited to add his voice and experience to the board. It aims to create plans to alleviate financial hardship for students and bring more diversity to the school.

Morris said he hopes to see more people representing Gen X, Gen Z and Millennials on the board. His campaign includes promoting a tuition freeze, financial aid for first-generation students, and the creation of a student debt cancellation plan.

He said he also wants to improve the diversity of faculty members. Most students, especially minorities, tend to feel more comfortable communicating with professors who share a cultural background or similar identity, he said, which is a crucial factor for the student. ‘increased enrollment of minorities.

“When your population is like that and you don’t have teachers, professors and staff that look like you, it’s not like you can’t get an education, but it helps. It helps reduce those fears, ”Morris said.

Jefferson Shreve

Jefferson Shreve has experience in funding budgets and has said he is thrilled to serve the IU community.

Shreve said IU needed resources for technology, science projects, and sports aspects. He said being a board member is about balancing current resources and UI’s legacy. Shreve said he’s looking at the issues from a more general perspective.

“You need administrators who understand the big picture and who have the big picture of what we’re trying to do,” he said.

Shreve said he has been attending directors meetings for years. He said he noticed that finances are crucial to the board’s decision as it controls UI’s annual budgets. Shreve said he had experience managing the Indianapolis City and County Council budget.

Donna Spears

Donna Spears is a successful candidate seeking another term on the Board of Directors. She brings her experience and knowledge to help the UI community, she said.

Spears said the experience was a learning process and broadened her perspective by chatting with current students.

“I have developed real relationships over the years with donors, alumni and supporters of the UI,” said Spears.

Spears was the co-chair of the Presidential Research Advisory Board and expressed support for new IU Bloomington President Pamela Whitten.

“Now that we have an elected president starting July 1, I know her, I hired her. She will therefore need experienced leaders to guide her through this critical transition. Spears said.

Michael wargo

Michael Wargo said he realized the influence of technology on the current generation when the pandemic hit. He said he saw the potential of online resources.

Wargo said he is running for the board to advocate for hybrid education, in person and online. He said that while in-person discussions improve student engagement, maintaining a hybrid option can help with efficiency.

Wargo said a lot can be delivered more efficiently with technology. He understands that in-person education can improve student engagement, but allowing basic discussions to stay online can bring more meaningful conversations to in-person meetings.

“We need to provide skills and pedagogical training for professors and faculty members to acquire the skills to convey information in a logical manner to modern students and to students for years to come,” Wargo said.

Marguerite Mengé

Margaret Menge said she was concerned about free speech on campus. She said she hopes to create an environment where students, faculty and community members feel safe speaking.

“Freedom of speech is not the only issue that interests me,” Menge said. “But it’s incredibly important because if we don’t have the freedom to talk about things, in a classroom or outside a classroom, if teachers don’t feel free to pursue a path of particular research because they’re afraid of being vilified, so we don’t really have a university.

Students do not have the option of appealing to outside groups once the university decides they have violated the student code of conduct, Menge said. She said she was seeking to advocate for a “duo process,” which allows students to bring in a third party, such as non-IU lawyers, to ensure decisions are made independently.

“We really have to make sure that we treat all students with dignity and respect,” Menge said. “By allowing them to have a voice, by allowing them to defend themselves against false accusations sometimes.”

Menge helped organize a rally to protest IU’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The protest called on the IU Bloomington campus to withdraw the warrant and drop mask requirements and the mitigation test for COVID-19.

Amy Metheny

When Amy Metheny was still a student at IU, she said she thought the campus was unique because of its rich diversity. Metheny said she hopes to improve diversity and equity across all UI campuses.

“I love being back on college campuses, talking to kids about their lives, you get excited about learning,” she said. “And I think that’s a good thing, but I want to make it accessible to everyone.”

As a pediatrician, Metheny said she focuses on the importance of student engagement and wants to make sure students take care of their mental health. She said improving student well-being is the most important thing an administrator can do to help students.

Metheny said students are going through one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. Educating students about student well-being is not only about checking their grades, but also about trying to understand students’ mental states.

Craig D. Wells

Craig D. Wells did not respond to requests for comment.