Last night was incredible! After weeks of campaigning all of our hard-work paid off in a big way. I was shocked and incredibly humbled by the amount of support I received from the student body.
There are so many people who made this victory possible. From the volunteers to the voters, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
I cannot wait to get started and I know Joselyn, Jayce and the new Senators all feel the same way. This next year is going to be a great one for Gators everywhere, I can feel it!
One of the things I am most excited about from our platform is the creation of a Blue Light app. Through my work as a District A Senator, I have realized that this campus needs much more than just Blue Lights alone.
The Blue Light app would allow students to feel safer at night by providing them with a direct link to authorities in the palm of their hands.
What is different about the app is that it would have two modes, one for if you were feeling uncomfortable walking at night and the other would consist of a timer feature if you were taking a run at night or a walk to a friend's house.
The best part is that it would be completely free for all students!
Good Morning Gators! Today is the last day of elections and we were up bright and early to make sure that all of you have a chance to meet our candidates before casting your votes.
We are a diverse group of students looking to change your experience at the University of Florida. If you have any questions about our platform or experience, its not too late, come talk to any of our candidates before you vote.
Remember, polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.! Can't wait to see you out there!
For hundreds of years, people all over the world fought for the right to vote. Blood was shed and lives were destroyed just to ensure we all had access to this seemingly universal right.
Now, I know you may not look at student government elections as seriously as national elections, but why not? For the four years (or sometimes even more) that we attend the University of Florida, this campus is our world. The decisions that are made, both good and bad, affect every member of this community, and by voting you can make sure that these decisions reflect your desires.
I urge you to take a look at Swamp Party's Platform if you haven't done so already. I really believe that together we can make positive, meaningful changes to the University of Florida.
As easy as it may be to say your one vote won't make a difference, it will. If we all had this mentality there would be no votes to count! One ballot can change the entire course of this amazing university. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
So get out and vote! And remember, vote Swamp!
Together for tomorrow.
Feb. 19 & 20
Not sure where you can vote? Click here find out where the polling locations are!
I cannot believe that elections are only 2 days away! This week has been so exciting and full of great events. We began officially campaigning this past Wednesday, and I must say, you all have tremendous ideas for our campus and ways to leave your legacy on this campus. It has been so refreshing to see students in support of our Aim Higher initiative and Soft Closing of Bars referendum. We already have over 2,000 signatures in just one week!
Not only have I been able to talk directly to you all about my plans if I were to become elected but I have also was able to express those ideas and thoughts at the Student Government Debate. Over 200 students made time out of their busy schedules to learn more about both parties and platforms. It was so humbling to sit on-stage with my amazing executive ticket and see you all out there in the audience showing support and enthusiasm for our platform.
I went to the Engineer Fair this week and got to see all of the engineering societies display their organizations and disciplines within the engineer school. After the fair, some Engineering students wore a Mario costume and Lego Man outfit to flyer for the Engineer Week events.
After the Engineer Fair I was interviewed by two reporting students in regards to the increase of diversity in Student Government in recent years and an interview that went into my personal life and what I like to do in my free time. I am sure many of you wonder what I do in my free time and how I manage such a hectic schedule. The one thing that always keeps me going is my inspiration and role model, my grandfather. He came to America with only $7 in his pockets and began working for a manufacturing plant in the defense industry. He always knew he wanted a better life than he had in Italy and wanted to be the owner of a successful company one day as well. That drive and dedication is what made him the man he was and the grandfather he was to me. Unfortunately he passed away when I was 7 years old from cancer that had grown so rapidly that within six months of his diagnosis he had passed away. His legacy and passion is what keeps me going each and everyday even when the going gets tough.
Each year and every semester, elections are a time for all members of the University of Florida to come together. Elections signify new beginnings--a chance to do things better than we have ever done them before. And I am so hopeful that I, along with the rest of the Swamp Party, can work together--work with all of you--to create a better future for us all.
So if you haven't had a chance to talk to me (or even if you have and just want to come say hi again!) I will be around campus all week.
Go Gators!
The Wilmot Gardens, located right near Shands Medical Plaza, is not what it used to be. Once a place for gardening, events and relaxation, the Wilmot Gardens is now in need of restoration. Luckily, the Wilmot Gardens Restoration Project is doing just that!
The Wilmot Gardens, once restored, will serve as a healing and mediation garden for patients, students, faculty, staff and other members of the Gainesville community!
Last weekend, I joined in the efforts to restore these gardens by pulling weeds, trimming hedges and chopping wood.
The Wilmot Gardens is already a beautiful place; I cannot wait to see what it looks like once the restoration is complete!
Graduate assistants are such a vital part of the University of Florida. Many classes on this campus could not function as well as they do without these individuals.
Graduate assistants are required to pay fees that many times amount to an entire pay check.
I, along with the rest of Swamp Party, want to eliminate these fees. We believe that getting rid of these graduate assistant fees will both make the lives of current graduate assistants easier as well as entice outstanding applicants to want to be a graduate assistant at the University of Florida.
Make sure to take a look at Joselyn Rivas's blog!
Joselyn is Swamp Party's Vice-Presidential candidate, and she has so many ideas to improve our university. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a strong leader.
Reg. Pol. Ad. J. Michaels
You can find me at the Reitz Union again today! I want every person in the University of Florida community to have the opportunity to have their voices heard, so come discuss your ideas and concerns with me and the rest of Swamp Party!
First, I want to take a minute to thank the Freshman Leadership Council, Hispanic Student Association and Black Student Union for hosting the 2013 UF Student Government Debate last night. I'd also like to thank professor Mike Foley for moderating the debate. Lastly, I want to thank everyone who showed up and made this debate so important.
During this debate, I had an opportunity to highlight some of the great things that student government has done in the past as well as discuss new ideas to make the University of Florida the best it can be.
I touched on many of the ideas from my platform, such as the Blue Light mobile application and the soft closing of bars.
I know that I can speak for Swamp Party's Vice-Presidential candidate Joselyn Rivas and Treasury candidate Jayce Victor when I say we are confident that Swamp Party can get the job done.
Swamp Party is fighting for transparency and results. Join in our efforts to make our campus a better place!
I'm at the Reitz Union (a little bit of rain won't scare me!) if you want to come talk or give me suggestions!
Or you can tweet suggestions using the hashtag #whereschristina
Hope to see you all soon!
This past Saturday, I attended the fifth annual Stomp the Swamp for Autism. This event, which was held at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, benefits UF's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.
Everyone at this fitness-based event ran stadiums, walked along the inner track and--my personal favorite--hula hooped with the kids!
Things in all of our lives can get so crazy and busy that it's nice to get a chance to take a step back and help to make a difference for such a worthy cause.
With the current 2 a.m. closing of bars, students are forced out of bars right when they close and many times do not have a safe ride home secured.
I plan on working with the city of Gainesville on implementing a soft closing of bars until 3 a.m.
This initiative respects the city's decision to stop alcohol sales at 2 a.m. while allowing students to stay indoors for another hour. With this later closing time, students will no longer have to stand out on the streets while trying to find a ride, but instead will be able to use this extra hour to make proper arrangements.
Anyone who has walked around UF's campus has seen one of these Blue Light Emergency phones. They are an important and necessary safety precaution that the university has set up for the entire University of Florida community.
While the current blue lights are helpful, I want to create a Blue Light mobile application that is free for all students.
With the creation of this app, students will not have to find a blue light on campus to call for help, but instead will be able to do it from any location with just a click of a button on his or her cellphone.
Safety on any university is such a pressing issue, and I believe that with the implementation of this mobile application we can make UF a safer campus.
Hey Gators!
Thank you to everyone who has been so interested in my blog. We have had over 2,500 viewers since the inception of the Bonarrigo for President blog. I thought I would write a week in review post today so you all see what I have been doing and how much Swamp Party is doing.
Our campaign has numerous positions ranging from Spokesperson to Chief Strategist. All of our executive members have been hard at work putting on events and going to student organization meetings to make sure everyone's voices are heard in our platform. Platform generation is something unique and special to Swamp Party where we scour campus to gain feedback from students on what they want to see improved or added to our campus. If you have any additional ideas that you may not have given us go to our website and Submit an Idea!
This week I have been hard at work attending meetings ranging from Women Organizations to Collegiate Veterans. As one of the founders of Aim Higher, a student initiative aimed at fighting tuition increases, we held a pep rally this past Wednesday at Turlington Plaza where we had students fill out post cards that will be brought to the State Capitol and signed petitions to show their support for Aim Higher. It was exciting to meet with so many students who share the same sentiments as I do about tuition and how we can not take another hike in tuition this next year. I even had some time to surprise my sister on Thursday at her softball game against my High School, Spruce Creek.
Campaigning is not just serious business; there needs to be some fun stuff! We took our candidates photo thanks to John Parady Photography by the "This Is The Swamp..." side of the stadium. I may be a little biased but it looks pretty awesome.
Some things to look out for this upcoming week:
I will be campaigning this week across campus, so stop by if you have any ideas or things you would like to see me fight for.
We will be announcing our official platform!
There will be a debate between both parties hosted by FLC/BSU/HSA on Wednesday. Check out Facebook for more information!
Watch Harlem Shake for a preview of what might happen this week....
Finding out I was accepted to the University of Florida was one of the happiest moments of my life. I think all of us Gators can agree that attending this university has greatly impacted our lives; I know it has influenced mine. UF has taught me so many things: academically, socially and professionally. I am always proud to say that I am a Gator.
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Congratulations to the Class of 2017. You are in for some of the best years of your lives.
Women in our society have come so far. The 1920s brought forth the Nineteenth Amendment, allowing women to vote, and the Civil Rights Act outlawed the discrimination in employment because of race or gender. But now more than ever before, women are becoming key figures in our world. Hillary Clinton, Oprah and even Madonna have opened doors for women all over the world.
As a female candidate for student body president, I am excited for the chance to become one of these influential women. If elected, I will be only the fifth female student body president that UF student government has had in its 104 years. I am also proud to have Joselyn Rivas as the Swamp Party's candidate for vice president, making us the first ever female ticket at UF.
We, women as a whole, have earned our way into society, and I am proud to have the opportunity to, like many other women before me, make a difference.
The Swamp Party promotional items are here! I can't wait to get started with this campaign season. I hope to meet and talk to many of you over these next few weeks! Together for tomorrow.
Aim Higher Florida is a student-run campaign to increase funding in higher education. The campaign, which originated at UF, has a simple message: higher education is an investment, not an expense. We believe that the increase in educational funding will have a direct effect on Florida's economic prosperity. And with this outside funding, Aim Higher can help keep tuition low.
Today, Aim Higher held a rally in Turlington Plaza to raise awareness about the campaign and to gain insight into how the students felt about it. I had so much fun promoting such a significant, relevant cause. Come on Gators, let's aim higher!
The January 31st edition of The Odyssey included an article about the upcoming spring elections. The article touched upon the candidates, voting and slating processes, and most importantly the importance of voting. I want every student at UF to have a voice. Together, we can improve our university. So make your voice heard and go out and vote on election day!
I, along with the other UF student senators, spent the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday giving back the the children of our community. We went to the United Way and painted 10 bookshelves for students who do not have access to books. The bookshelves were then filled with over 800 books for the children to take freely.
Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can make a difference. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
No child should ever be deprived of books. I believe we impacted the lives of those students that day.
Today, I was announced as the Swamp Party's candidate for UF Student Body President. As I mentioned in my speech, I am so humbled by the challenge of becoming only the 5th female student body president in the 104 year history of student government. I understand the importance of working together. The leaders of our university's past have worked so hard to make our campus a better place, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to continue in the betterment of the University of Florida.
