To our fellow Biolans:
We would first like to extend our thanks to the Biola community for your participation in this AS election. Alex and I have been encouraged not only by all of the great ideas of our fellow candidates, but also by the amazing turnout of voters over the past two days. This demonstrates a growing interest in the welfare of this institution among the student body, a trend that we truly appreciate.
After a truly close election, we have been in discussion with Jared and Tiffany and we have every confidence in their abilities to represent Biola this year. We encourage all of our supporters to rally around them in the next year, uniting as a Student Body to collaborate for the cause of Christ.
Though we have not been selected to become next year’s AS President and Vice President, we still have much passion to push Biola toward a higher standard. In the next year, we would ask you to stand alongside us as we push toward the launch of the Isaiah project. As you may know, the Isaiah project will unite Christians across vocational, ethnic, and geographical barriers in order to shape the global panorama in the cause of Christ. A statement on the future of the Isaiah project will be posted following spring break on this blog.
At the same time, we implore the new administration to push for excellence, taking Biola to new heights and greater influence without compromising this Institution’s tradition and original vision.
We would like to thank those that ran alongside us this election. Your passion and energy for Biola is inspiring, and the spirit of camaraderie in this campaign was truly refreshing.
We would like to thank those in support of the RECAPTURE vision and of us. Your tireless efforts carried each of us personally through the weeks that have transpired. We would ask you to continue to collaborate with us in the coming year as we begin the initiative behind the Isaiah project.
Once again, we would like to thank our Biola peers for your consideration of our candidacy. Each of us has grown through this process and hope that perhaps some of you may have as well.
We are confident that God will continue to bless Biola this year and in the years to come.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
THE ELECTION
The results of the AS election by the numbers:
A total of 1126 ballots were cast in the runoff election.
AS President run-off election results:
Jared Gibo and Tiffany Jones - 564 votes
Bradley Clarke and Alex Carpenter - 562 votes
A total of 1300 ballots were cast in the original election.
AS President
34% - Jared Gibo and Tiffany Jones (440 votes)
33% - Bradley Clarke and Alex Carpenter (429 votes)
9% - Andrew Webb and Amanda Zook (114 votes)
24% - Marcello Crivella and Jasmine Kahookele (317 votes)
A note on the election confusion:
Jared and I had a discussion late Thursday night about the different options presented to us, and we mutually agreed that the best way to decide the election would be to hold a recount and let those results stand.
Jared and I both knew and implicitly agreed to the runoff as a one-day election process. We each had the same amount of time to campaign, and we were each given equal opportunity in the entire election process.
Therefore, both Alex and I agree that Jared is the fair and rightful winner of the election and we encourage the student body to support the outcome of this election, Jared’s presidency, and AS as an organization.
A total of 1126 ballots were cast in the runoff election.
AS President run-off election results:
Jared Gibo and Tiffany Jones - 564 votes
Bradley Clarke and Alex Carpenter - 562 votes
A total of 1300 ballots were cast in the original election.
AS President
34% - Jared Gibo and Tiffany Jones (440 votes)
33% - Bradley Clarke and Alex Carpenter (429 votes)
9% - Andrew Webb and Amanda Zook (114 votes)
24% - Marcello Crivella and Jasmine Kahookele (317 votes)
A note on the election confusion:
Jared and I had a discussion late Thursday night about the different options presented to us, and we mutually agreed that the best way to decide the election would be to hold a recount and let those results stand.
Jared and I both knew and implicitly agreed to the runoff as a one-day election process. We each had the same amount of time to campaign, and we were each given equal opportunity in the entire election process.
Therefore, both Alex and I agree that Jared is the fair and rightful winner of the election and we encourage the student body to support the outcome of this election, Jared’s presidency, and AS as an organization.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
IT'S A RUNOFF!!!
Alex and I have just received word from Cory that though we did exceedingly well at the polls over the last couple days, we did not secure the requisite 51% majority vote necessary according to the AS Constitution for the declaration of a winner.
Tomorrow, Wednesday the 4 of April, there will be a one-day runoff election between Jared & Tiffany and Bradley & Alex. The polls will be open until 7 pm, so please go out of your way to support RECAPTURE.
Alex and I truly want to RECAPTURE the vision among the students of Biola University to be a global center for Christian thought and action. A vote for us will mean voting for a Presidency that will raise the bar among both students and staff, beginning a paradigm shift that will surely change the global panorama for the cause of Christ.
In the midst of our excitement, we’d like to extend our compliments on a well-run campaign to both Marcelo & Jasmine and Andrew & Amanda. It has been a pleasure to exchange ideas and represent Biola alongside you in the last weeks, and we know that God will bless you for your work.
Again, please remember to vote for RECAPTURE today!
Tomorrow, Wednesday the 4 of April, there will be a one-day runoff election between Jared & Tiffany and Bradley & Alex. The polls will be open until 7 pm, so please go out of your way to support RECAPTURE.
Alex and I truly want to RECAPTURE the vision among the students of Biola University to be a global center for Christian thought and action. A vote for us will mean voting for a Presidency that will raise the bar among both students and staff, beginning a paradigm shift that will surely change the global panorama for the cause of Christ.
In the midst of our excitement, we’d like to extend our compliments on a well-run campaign to both Marcelo & Jasmine and Andrew & Amanda. It has been a pleasure to exchange ideas and represent Biola alongside you in the last weeks, and we know that God will bless you for your work.
Again, please remember to vote for RECAPTURE today!
Monday, April 2, 2007
THE MEDIA
Just got an email from one of the members of EagleVision that the election coverage appeared on the Wednesday, March 28 show. The piece is very well put together and features all the Presidential candidates. The show can be found at http://www.mcom.biola.edu/ev/.
THE SPEECH
Good morning, Dr. Cook, esteemed faculty, and my fellow students. As we share a glimpse of the vision we have for Biola, please realize that this is not the full picture, but the condensed version edited for the sake of time.
We would like each and every one of you to RECAPTURE with us. As our vision reads, we hope to RECAPTURE among the Biola student body the vision of being a forward-thinking global center for Christian thought and action. In other words, we want each one of you to join us in our pursuit of making a lasting impact in our culture. We want to RECAPTURE what our culture has told us is impossible – all for the sake of bringing the truth of the gospel to the center of local and global attention. Each one of you is integral in this process.
The vision of RECAPTURE has been around in various forms since last summer, as we were neighbors in summer housing. Last fall, in conversations with our peers, our residents, and with each other, the vision began to come into focus. One day I came to my good friend Bradley with the idea to run, knowing that he and I were committed to leading others to impacting the world for Christ. A long conversation at Denny’s, followed by much prayer and council, has led us to this point. I’d like to invite my friend, my brother, and my running mate, Bradley Clarke.
Thank you, Alex. I’d like to reiterate that the vision of RECAPTURE is truly the lifeblood of this campaign. Everything that we propose springs from a desire to have maximum impact for the cause of Christ.
As RAs this last year, Alex and I served in the trenches, living both the good and the unfavorable moments with our residents, listening to their concerns and sympathizing with their struggles. One of the major issues that we believe must be addressed is the contract. If our residents are to live by this document, it cannot be a 56-page burden. We would collaborate with Residence Life and the University to simplify the contract, advocating the creation of a one page document which would highlight all the factors that make Biola distinct and inspire residents to take ownership of their choice to submit to Biola’s standards.
Communication is a central issue for every candidate this cycle, and rightly so, as it is one of the three main items in the AS President’s job description. Our plan is simple and straightforward: Alex and I will have weekly podcasts, internet radio broadcasts which detail everything from highlights of the Senate to our collaboration with the new administration. We will create the Associated Students Public Access Network, making the complete and entire goings on of each and every meeting public for all of Biola to observe. We will create online interactive polls in which students can directly voice their opinion to their senators and to us. We will maintain our blog that we already operate with the most current of information. All of these will be assembled in one website, easily accessible by each and every student at Biola, therefore bringing AS communication fully into the 21st century and empowering students by allowing the free flow of information. In short, the student body will know what AS is doing.
RECAPTURE is about putting the learning each student has acquired at Biola into practice, empowering students to impact their world directly for the cause of Christ. To that end we have a two-step plan: Through AS we will hold forums to increase unity among the different vocations represented here, locking arms in ministry, learning from each other in how to reach our culture and becoming a generation that rises up to the challenges which lie ahead. Alex and I will work with clubs and organizations on campus such as SMU to provide students with opportunities for vocational mission.
RECAPTURE is an enormous vision—this is very intentional. The church has long suffered a lack of vision that has led us to our current place of fragmentation and cultural irrelevancy. Alex and I are aware that the fullness of RECAPTURE may not be realized in one year. We are, however, capitalizing on our unique position at the centennial of the University and the simultaneous change of administration to lay the groundwork for a paradigm shift that will alter the global landscape in years to come. At the same time, we will lead the Associated Students organization toward greater collaboration between all of its services, clubs and organizations on campus. We have just explained our specific goals to increase communication at Biola. We will voice the concerns of students to the administration over services, facilities, and overall quality of education immediately as soon as we take office.
When I transferred here, I was aware that every student, including myself, was being prepared to change the world for the cause of Christ. However, I do not find myself alone in saying that through years in the classroom I had lost some of that passion I had when I arrived. Alex and I both thoroughly and truly believe that we must RECAPTURE the vision to be a forward-thinking, global center for Christian thought and action if Biola is to continue to exist for any reason other than self-sustention.
Therefore, I humbly ask you to join with Alex and I by supporting RECAPTURE as you go to the polls today. Thank you for your time and may God increase Biola and each one of you through this election process and in the coming year.
We would like each and every one of you to RECAPTURE with us. As our vision reads, we hope to RECAPTURE among the Biola student body the vision of being a forward-thinking global center for Christian thought and action. In other words, we want each one of you to join us in our pursuit of making a lasting impact in our culture. We want to RECAPTURE what our culture has told us is impossible – all for the sake of bringing the truth of the gospel to the center of local and global attention. Each one of you is integral in this process.
The vision of RECAPTURE has been around in various forms since last summer, as we were neighbors in summer housing. Last fall, in conversations with our peers, our residents, and with each other, the vision began to come into focus. One day I came to my good friend Bradley with the idea to run, knowing that he and I were committed to leading others to impacting the world for Christ. A long conversation at Denny’s, followed by much prayer and council, has led us to this point. I’d like to invite my friend, my brother, and my running mate, Bradley Clarke.
Thank you, Alex. I’d like to reiterate that the vision of RECAPTURE is truly the lifeblood of this campaign. Everything that we propose springs from a desire to have maximum impact for the cause of Christ.
As RAs this last year, Alex and I served in the trenches, living both the good and the unfavorable moments with our residents, listening to their concerns and sympathizing with their struggles. One of the major issues that we believe must be addressed is the contract. If our residents are to live by this document, it cannot be a 56-page burden. We would collaborate with Residence Life and the University to simplify the contract, advocating the creation of a one page document which would highlight all the factors that make Biola distinct and inspire residents to take ownership of their choice to submit to Biola’s standards.
Communication is a central issue for every candidate this cycle, and rightly so, as it is one of the three main items in the AS President’s job description. Our plan is simple and straightforward: Alex and I will have weekly podcasts, internet radio broadcasts which detail everything from highlights of the Senate to our collaboration with the new administration. We will create the Associated Students Public Access Network, making the complete and entire goings on of each and every meeting public for all of Biola to observe. We will create online interactive polls in which students can directly voice their opinion to their senators and to us. We will maintain our blog that we already operate with the most current of information. All of these will be assembled in one website, easily accessible by each and every student at Biola, therefore bringing AS communication fully into the 21st century and empowering students by allowing the free flow of information. In short, the student body will know what AS is doing.
RECAPTURE is about putting the learning each student has acquired at Biola into practice, empowering students to impact their world directly for the cause of Christ. To that end we have a two-step plan: Through AS we will hold forums to increase unity among the different vocations represented here, locking arms in ministry, learning from each other in how to reach our culture and becoming a generation that rises up to the challenges which lie ahead. Alex and I will work with clubs and organizations on campus such as SMU to provide students with opportunities for vocational mission.
RECAPTURE is an enormous vision—this is very intentional. The church has long suffered a lack of vision that has led us to our current place of fragmentation and cultural irrelevancy. Alex and I are aware that the fullness of RECAPTURE may not be realized in one year. We are, however, capitalizing on our unique position at the centennial of the University and the simultaneous change of administration to lay the groundwork for a paradigm shift that will alter the global landscape in years to come. At the same time, we will lead the Associated Students organization toward greater collaboration between all of its services, clubs and organizations on campus. We have just explained our specific goals to increase communication at Biola. We will voice the concerns of students to the administration over services, facilities, and overall quality of education immediately as soon as we take office.
When I transferred here, I was aware that every student, including myself, was being prepared to change the world for the cause of Christ. However, I do not find myself alone in saying that through years in the classroom I had lost some of that passion I had when I arrived. Alex and I both thoroughly and truly believe that we must RECAPTURE the vision to be a forward-thinking, global center for Christian thought and action if Biola is to continue to exist for any reason other than self-sustention.
Therefore, I humbly ask you to join with Alex and I by supporting RECAPTURE as you go to the polls today. Thank you for your time and may God increase Biola and each one of you through this election process and in the coming year.
THE DAY...
...rather, the days have arrived. Election chapel is this morning at both 9.30 and 10.30. For those of you who won't be able to make it, a transcript of our speech will be posted here by 11 am allowing you to make an informed decision before you vote.
Thank you to all the students who put up with a mess of signs for the past couple of weeks... just a couple days left on that.
Regular election ends Tuesday night...
One final comment- please take advantage of the fact that Biola is a small campus by taking the time to talk to all the candidates. You can reach me via BUBBS or at bradleyandalex@yahoo.com. I'll be checking both compulsively throughout the process.
Thank you all very much for your consideration.
Thank you to all the students who put up with a mess of signs for the past couple of weeks... just a couple days left on that.
Regular election ends Tuesday night...
One final comment- please take advantage of the fact that Biola is a small campus by taking the time to talk to all the candidates. You can reach me via BUBBS or at bradleyandalex@yahoo.com. I'll be checking both compulsively throughout the process.
Thank you all very much for your consideration.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
THE WEEKEND...
Perhaps you have noticed that I haven’t mentioned anything on the blog for the last couple of days. I have been on retreat with my RA staff in beautiful Idyllwild since Friday, but now it’s nose back to the grindstone.
Over the weekend, I was discussing my ideas about the amendment of the Biola contract with my fellow RAs, and their response to simplification was very positive. My boss, the Resident Director of North Horton, indicated that it would likely be an idea that Residence Life would want to collaborate with Alex and I to implement.
In my spare time I was able to write a series of new posts. Their topics include a word about our excellence of experience, the plausibility of RECAPTURE, and the genesis of the vision.
A couple of reminders: Tomorrow (Monday 4.2) is election chapel. Alex and I (along with the rest of the candidates) will give our speech in both the 9.30 and 10.30 am chapels before voting commences over Monday and Tuesday (4.2-3). Don’t forget to support RECAPTURE when you go to the polls!
Over the weekend, I was discussing my ideas about the amendment of the Biola contract with my fellow RAs, and their response to simplification was very positive. My boss, the Resident Director of North Horton, indicated that it would likely be an idea that Residence Life would want to collaborate with Alex and I to implement.
In my spare time I was able to write a series of new posts. Their topics include a word about our excellence of experience, the plausibility of RECAPTURE, and the genesis of the vision.
A couple of reminders: Tomorrow (Monday 4.2) is election chapel. Alex and I (along with the rest of the candidates) will give our speech in both the 9.30 and 10.30 am chapels before voting commences over Monday and Tuesday (4.2-3). Don’t forget to support RECAPTURE when you go to the polls!
THE GENESIS
Alex and I are currently big pushing the RECAPTURE campaign because we are running for AS President and Vice President, but the ideas behind it have a much older origin.
Last summer Alex and I collaborated on the documentary project “Quoth the Raven,” a film about one man’s struggle with faith, Christ, and Christianity. This experience brought us into many discussions about the role of faith in today’s society. It was much to my excitement that I had at last found another who shared my views on what the Church was doing right and where the Church could improve.
January found Alex and I at Denny’s, having a midnight discussion about our vision for Christianity at large and the similarities we found at Biola. During the course of our conversation, we realized how strategic Biola is for the vision of RECAPTURE—the University is a microcosm of Christianity; the problems Biola faces are the same that the Church as a whole faces, and the steps of RECAPTURE for each entity echo each other.
It was then that Alex and I decided that the proper thing to do would be to take the enormity of the vision and begin at Biola, running for the AS Presidency. The specifics which we have to chosen to advocate spring out of the widespread vision of RECAPTURE—being a forward-thinking global center for Christian thought and action.
Thus when we say we want to improve internet at Biola, we are not merely complaining about perceived inadequacy of delivery of a felt need, but we are advocating the proper equipment of the current generation of Biolans to RECAPTURE our culture. The same idea informs our stance on mail service, food service, the endowment, the NCAA, the facilities, and everything else we have chosen to stand for.
Each of these is just a tiny portion of the grand vision of RECAPTURE; though the details may seem mundane, they are a series of simple and strategic elements of a vision that will forever shake the way the world turns.
Last summer Alex and I collaborated on the documentary project “Quoth the Raven,” a film about one man’s struggle with faith, Christ, and Christianity. This experience brought us into many discussions about the role of faith in today’s society. It was much to my excitement that I had at last found another who shared my views on what the Church was doing right and where the Church could improve.
January found Alex and I at Denny’s, having a midnight discussion about our vision for Christianity at large and the similarities we found at Biola. During the course of our conversation, we realized how strategic Biola is for the vision of RECAPTURE—the University is a microcosm of Christianity; the problems Biola faces are the same that the Church as a whole faces, and the steps of RECAPTURE for each entity echo each other.
It was then that Alex and I decided that the proper thing to do would be to take the enormity of the vision and begin at Biola, running for the AS Presidency. The specifics which we have to chosen to advocate spring out of the widespread vision of RECAPTURE—being a forward-thinking global center for Christian thought and action.
Thus when we say we want to improve internet at Biola, we are not merely complaining about perceived inadequacy of delivery of a felt need, but we are advocating the proper equipment of the current generation of Biolans to RECAPTURE our culture. The same idea informs our stance on mail service, food service, the endowment, the NCAA, the facilities, and everything else we have chosen to stand for.
Each of these is just a tiny portion of the grand vision of RECAPTURE; though the details may seem mundane, they are a series of simple and strategic elements of a vision that will forever shake the way the world turns.
THE PLAUSIBILITY
A note to those in doubt:
The vision of RECAPTURE is enormous—world changing in both scope and depth. Therefore, the ideas that are a part of the AS campaign are huge; some will change this year while others may take a decade to come to fruition.
However, whether or not a certain idea may or may not be immediately fulfilled is not a fair criterion for judgment. This limited thinking has plagued the Church (and hence Biola) for far too long, leading to today’s fragmentation and cultural irrelevancy.
A key tenet of the RECAPTURE philosophy is to be forward-thinking. It is not only a wise modus operandi but it will be necessary to create and implement a strategic plan for excellence among Christians if Christianity (Biola at the forefront) is to regain its place at the forward echelons of human civilization.
Let’s bring this in to the current topic: the AS Presidency. Practically speaking, the President is charged with a) leading the Associated Students organization, b) being the voice of the students to the administration, and c) communicating both back to the student body. We have high goals for each area, but they are appropriate given the position in which Biola finds itself.
We will lead the Associated Student organization toward greater collaboration between all of its services, the departments, clubs and organizations on campus, and the students themselves in the specific ways we have mentioned elsewhere in this blog. This can be accomplished immediately; it is our challenge to ensure that the process continues after our administration.
We will voice the concerns of both current and graduated students to the administration over services, facilities, athletic competition, fiscal preparedness and responsibility, and overall quality of education immediately. It will then be the responsibility of the new President and his staff to respond to those concerns if Biola is to continue as a student focused organization.
We will implement the aforementioned plan to increase communication from both AS and the administration immediately. Our plan is so simple yet effective that it is nearly certain that it will continue through years to come.
Again, Alex and I have formulated the RECAPTURE campaign as a specific way to begin a paradigm shift that will influence the global panorama for the cause of Christ beginning right here at Biola University, and you can rest assured that we will not rest until every measure has been taken to give life to that vision.
The vision of RECAPTURE is enormous—world changing in both scope and depth. Therefore, the ideas that are a part of the AS campaign are huge; some will change this year while others may take a decade to come to fruition.
However, whether or not a certain idea may or may not be immediately fulfilled is not a fair criterion for judgment. This limited thinking has plagued the Church (and hence Biola) for far too long, leading to today’s fragmentation and cultural irrelevancy.
A key tenet of the RECAPTURE philosophy is to be forward-thinking. It is not only a wise modus operandi but it will be necessary to create and implement a strategic plan for excellence among Christians if Christianity (Biola at the forefront) is to regain its place at the forward echelons of human civilization.
Let’s bring this in to the current topic: the AS Presidency. Practically speaking, the President is charged with a) leading the Associated Students organization, b) being the voice of the students to the administration, and c) communicating both back to the student body. We have high goals for each area, but they are appropriate given the position in which Biola finds itself.
We will lead the Associated Student organization toward greater collaboration between all of its services, the departments, clubs and organizations on campus, and the students themselves in the specific ways we have mentioned elsewhere in this blog. This can be accomplished immediately; it is our challenge to ensure that the process continues after our administration.
We will voice the concerns of both current and graduated students to the administration over services, facilities, athletic competition, fiscal preparedness and responsibility, and overall quality of education immediately. It will then be the responsibility of the new President and his staff to respond to those concerns if Biola is to continue as a student focused organization.
We will implement the aforementioned plan to increase communication from both AS and the administration immediately. Our plan is so simple yet effective that it is nearly certain that it will continue through years to come.
Again, Alex and I have formulated the RECAPTURE campaign as a specific way to begin a paradigm shift that will influence the global panorama for the cause of Christ beginning right here at Biola University, and you can rest assured that we will not rest until every measure has been taken to give life to that vision.
THE EXPERIENCE
RECAPTURE is about harnessing excellence in everything and applying it for the cause of Christ. When it comes to the Associated Students, excellence in experience is integral to the success of the organization itself and by extension the whole of Biola.
Allow me to describe my own experience, starting at the beginning. In High School, I was a member of Student Government all four years. After graduation, I was a Legislative Assistant to Oregon State Representative Jim Thompson. My chief duty for the representative was correspondence with his constituents, collecting opinions from and writing letters/emails to those he represented. In Fall 2005, my first semester at Biola, I created the sketch comedy show LATE. Within six months, I found myself at the helm of an organization of over fifty people that was regularly delivering a valuable service to the Biola community. This past year, I have been an RA, in the trenches with the students, walking alongside my peers in their Biola experience. This extensive resume proves:
-Excellence in student government. The only differences between high school and college are budget and student population. Robert’s Rules of Order (the guidelines generally accepted for parliamentary procedure) are universal.
-Excellence in vision casting. With LATE, I was able to find a need of both the film department and the Biola community at large and fill it. The idea seemed impossible, too big to accomplish, but not only did it come to fruition, it has been sustained.
-Excellence in uniting and inspiring for a common cause. LATE was a huge vision, and I was able to draw together members of several majors to put in the 200+ man hours necessary for the proper execution of each show without spending a dime on any member of the staff.
-Excellence in empowering students. In addition to numerous examples with LATE, my short film Winston shines as an example of empowerment. Winston was recently nominated for five awards from the Biola Film Festival, tying Be the Man for most noms. Four of these were best of craft (Best Editing, Production Design, Sound Design, and Score). I collaborated with the excellent members of my crew, allowing them to merge their vision with mine and create a project that was recognized for uniform excellence.
-Excellence in organizational leadership. LATE has allowed me to manage a vast staff of students, developing students in craft and fostering both personal and technical growth. Similarly, as an RA I have worked among my peers on the floor to create a brand new community in Horton while identifying and empowering the leadership of the next generation.
Excellence in communication. Members of AS (Presidents, Senators, and Service Chairs) have had the opportunity in their incumbency, yet the accomplishments simply state the status quo. I have been the main liaison for a State Representative, counseled my peers through ResLife, and have used all manner of new media to promote both LATE and this campaign.
I will let my proven track record of excellence in leadership serve as my case for why I have lived up to the call of RECAPTURE. It is up to you, my friend and fellow student to decide whether this is worthy of the position of AS President.
Allow me to describe my own experience, starting at the beginning. In High School, I was a member of Student Government all four years. After graduation, I was a Legislative Assistant to Oregon State Representative Jim Thompson. My chief duty for the representative was correspondence with his constituents, collecting opinions from and writing letters/emails to those he represented. In Fall 2005, my first semester at Biola, I created the sketch comedy show LATE. Within six months, I found myself at the helm of an organization of over fifty people that was regularly delivering a valuable service to the Biola community. This past year, I have been an RA, in the trenches with the students, walking alongside my peers in their Biola experience. This extensive resume proves:
-Excellence in student government. The only differences between high school and college are budget and student population. Robert’s Rules of Order (the guidelines generally accepted for parliamentary procedure) are universal.
-Excellence in vision casting. With LATE, I was able to find a need of both the film department and the Biola community at large and fill it. The idea seemed impossible, too big to accomplish, but not only did it come to fruition, it has been sustained.
-Excellence in uniting and inspiring for a common cause. LATE was a huge vision, and I was able to draw together members of several majors to put in the 200+ man hours necessary for the proper execution of each show without spending a dime on any member of the staff.
-Excellence in empowering students. In addition to numerous examples with LATE, my short film Winston shines as an example of empowerment. Winston was recently nominated for five awards from the Biola Film Festival, tying Be the Man for most noms. Four of these were best of craft (Best Editing, Production Design, Sound Design, and Score). I collaborated with the excellent members of my crew, allowing them to merge their vision with mine and create a project that was recognized for uniform excellence.
-Excellence in organizational leadership. LATE has allowed me to manage a vast staff of students, developing students in craft and fostering both personal and technical growth. Similarly, as an RA I have worked among my peers on the floor to create a brand new community in Horton while identifying and empowering the leadership of the next generation.
Excellence in communication. Members of AS (Presidents, Senators, and Service Chairs) have had the opportunity in their incumbency, yet the accomplishments simply state the status quo. I have been the main liaison for a State Representative, counseled my peers through ResLife, and have used all manner of new media to promote both LATE and this campaign.
I will let my proven track record of excellence in leadership serve as my case for why I have lived up to the call of RECAPTURE. It is up to you, my friend and fellow student to decide whether this is worthy of the position of AS President.
Friday, March 30, 2007
THE ISAIAH PROJECT
As we began to develop our ideas for global impact for the sake of the gospel, we reached an important conclusion. The particular organization cannot supercede what the goal is. In other words, even if we are unable to work in the AS panorama, the ideas expressed during the course of our campaign cannot die. Why?
The motivation for impacting the culture so that the nations may come to know Christ is what propels this campaign. Yes, there will be meetings to attend, funds to disburse, logistics to be determined. However, we want to make it clear that the driving force behind our campaing is the idea of bringing Christ into the world, in ways that shift our known cultural paradigms.
With all that said, we would like to announce that we have plans of founding a movement of intentional and focused believers, striving to impact the world, named The Isaiah Project. This project would involve forums and planned conversations between the many represented groups at Biola, whether they be in the vocational, cultural, racial, or denominational settings.
The Isaiah Project would exist as a network of believers wanting to influence the culture, and striving to shift the paradigms by which our culture operates. Unity for the sake of vocational and evangelistic missions.
Why is it called The Isaiah Project? The prophetic, often revolutionary voice of Isaiah fell many times on deaf ears. Who will rise up and stand against a culture that determines what is or is not impossible to achieve? Friends, it is time for you and I to be such people.
We are victorious, brothers and sisters, for we have been redeemed. Dream with us. Pray with us. Help us RECAPTURE a culture that is so influenced by apathy. Let us unite, through this school, in becoming a place where the light of the gospel shines to all four corners of the earth. AS can be an agent of change if we only believe.
Blessings to all, including the other hard-working candidates, during the days to come.
The motivation for impacting the culture so that the nations may come to know Christ is what propels this campaign. Yes, there will be meetings to attend, funds to disburse, logistics to be determined. However, we want to make it clear that the driving force behind our campaing is the idea of bringing Christ into the world, in ways that shift our known cultural paradigms.
With all that said, we would like to announce that we have plans of founding a movement of intentional and focused believers, striving to impact the world, named The Isaiah Project. This project would involve forums and planned conversations between the many represented groups at Biola, whether they be in the vocational, cultural, racial, or denominational settings.
The Isaiah Project would exist as a network of believers wanting to influence the culture, and striving to shift the paradigms by which our culture operates. Unity for the sake of vocational and evangelistic missions.
Why is it called The Isaiah Project? The prophetic, often revolutionary voice of Isaiah fell many times on deaf ears. Who will rise up and stand against a culture that determines what is or is not impossible to achieve? Friends, it is time for you and I to be such people.
We are victorious, brothers and sisters, for we have been redeemed. Dream with us. Pray with us. Help us RECAPTURE a culture that is so influenced by apathy. Let us unite, through this school, in becoming a place where the light of the gospel shines to all four corners of the earth. AS can be an agent of change if we only believe.
Blessings to all, including the other hard-working candidates, during the days to come.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
THE FORUMS
As we have mentioned before, our top goal is to involve students in making an impression in the global panorama for the cause of Christ. To that end, we would establish an ongoing series of public forums put on by AS. These would hopefully be instrumental in the process of uniting different majors and ministries for the sake of vocational integration as it relates to the advancement of the gospel.
What does this look like?
For instance, an ICS major and an Art major forum in which people of different interests and gifts are uniting in order to better influence their culture. What can an Art major learn from an ICS major to make his or her work more universally appealing? How can an ICS major begin to view the world artistically? Vocational integration, and this is extremely important to us.
Another type of forum could be one that unites different ethnicities, to discuss upfront what can be done in the realm of racial reconciliation.
Another type would unite Christians of various denominational backgrounds in order to lock arms in ministry.
Get the picture? Unity in purpose, the kind of purpose that changes the paradigms of a culture.
If you have any questions on this, please email us and let us know.
What does this look like?
For instance, an ICS major and an Art major forum in which people of different interests and gifts are uniting in order to better influence their culture. What can an Art major learn from an ICS major to make his or her work more universally appealing? How can an ICS major begin to view the world artistically? Vocational integration, and this is extremely important to us.
Another type of forum could be one that unites different ethnicities, to discuss upfront what can be done in the realm of racial reconciliation.
Another type would unite Christians of various denominational backgrounds in order to lock arms in ministry.
Get the picture? Unity in purpose, the kind of purpose that changes the paradigms of a culture.
If you have any questions on this, please email us and let us know.
THE INFORMATION
Remember the turn of the century? The millennium? Y2K?
One of the greatest things about the dawn of the 21st century was the way in which information is easier than ever to transmit. The internet has brought the daily video diaries of everyone from CEO’s to teenage girls into the same realm as feature films and primetime television.
It is high time that AS capitalize on new media to distribute information to the student body. One of the AS president’s primary duties is to distribute information about AS to the student body, and Alex and I are deeply committed to keeping the students involved in their government in the following ways:
We will have weekly podcasts. Alex’s will detail happenings and highlights from the Senate while mine will deal with the direction of the University and the thoughts of the administration.
We will create AS-PAN (Associated Students Public Access Network), video coverage of each week’s Senate meetings. The complete and entire goings on of each and every meeting will be made public for all of Biola to observe.
We will create online interactive polls in which students can directly voice their opinion to their senators.
We will include profile pages of all members of AS along with their contact information so that they will be easily accessible to the student body.
We will maintain our blog (currently found at bradleyandalex.blogspot.com) with the most current of information.
We will collaborate with the Registrar and each department to create one University wide calendar detailing every event that happens on campus.
All of these will be assembled in one website, easily accessible by each and every student at Biola, therefore bringing AS fully into the 21st century. All of these ideas are entirely feasible. I personally am familiar with delivery of information via the web through my work with LATE.
Alex and I intend to RECAPTURE thorough efficiency and wide use of the most current media of distributing information to the student body.
One of the greatest things about the dawn of the 21st century was the way in which information is easier than ever to transmit. The internet has brought the daily video diaries of everyone from CEO’s to teenage girls into the same realm as feature films and primetime television.
It is high time that AS capitalize on new media to distribute information to the student body. One of the AS president’s primary duties is to distribute information about AS to the student body, and Alex and I are deeply committed to keeping the students involved in their government in the following ways:
We will have weekly podcasts. Alex’s will detail happenings and highlights from the Senate while mine will deal with the direction of the University and the thoughts of the administration.
We will create AS-PAN (Associated Students Public Access Network), video coverage of each week’s Senate meetings. The complete and entire goings on of each and every meeting will be made public for all of Biola to observe.
We will create online interactive polls in which students can directly voice their opinion to their senators.
We will include profile pages of all members of AS along with their contact information so that they will be easily accessible to the student body.
We will maintain our blog (currently found at bradleyandalex.blogspot.com) with the most current of information.
We will collaborate with the Registrar and each department to create one University wide calendar detailing every event that happens on campus.
All of these will be assembled in one website, easily accessible by each and every student at Biola, therefore bringing AS fully into the 21st century. All of these ideas are entirely feasible. I personally am familiar with delivery of information via the web through my work with LATE.
Alex and I intend to RECAPTURE thorough efficiency and wide use of the most current media of distributing information to the student body.
THE PRESTIGE
Prestige—at one time, Christians were at the forefront of every field that they entered. It is our duty to RECAPTURE this prestige so that we are able to truly and completely impact the global panorama for the cause of Christ.
Biola, being a Christian institution of higher education, ought to be among the top schools in the nation. In the foreseeable future, we need to be able to deserve mention alongside names such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the like.
In order to set Biola on the right track, Alex and I fully intend to collaborate with the administration to RECAPTURE the prestige in the following ways:
-Addition of graduate programs. If Christians are to be considered experts in their field, the best way to give them that credibility is to allow them the opportunity to earn advanced degrees on this campus. Talbot and Rosemead are prime examples of RECAPTURING prestige; Alex and I want to spread this to several more fields.
-Raising the ratio of faculty with doctorates. According to the Office of Admissions, only 2/3 of Biola’s faculty hold terminal degrees (source), compared to Azusa’a 76% (source).
-Dramatically growing the endowment. The top colleges in the nation have endowments worth $500,000 to $1,500,000 per student! Biola’s, on the other hand, is $8,618 (according to Carl Schreiber, Biola’s Vice President for Financial Affairs & Information Technology).
-Joining the NCAA. This would raise school spirit; the prospect of winning contests against other respected institutions raises the stakes drastically. Our teams would attract athletes of even higher quality. The athletic programs of most NCAA schools make money for their school. All this, and we would generate national media attention, much like Oral Roberts University as they made it to the tournament this month.
I realize that all these will not be accomplished in this year alone, but with the new president being hired and a new administration joining him, Alex and I will make it a priority to collaborate in the next round of dreaming, shifting the focus towards RECAPTURE in order to shape the future of our world in the name of Christ.
Biola, being a Christian institution of higher education, ought to be among the top schools in the nation. In the foreseeable future, we need to be able to deserve mention alongside names such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the like.
In order to set Biola on the right track, Alex and I fully intend to collaborate with the administration to RECAPTURE the prestige in the following ways:
-Addition of graduate programs. If Christians are to be considered experts in their field, the best way to give them that credibility is to allow them the opportunity to earn advanced degrees on this campus. Talbot and Rosemead are prime examples of RECAPTURING prestige; Alex and I want to spread this to several more fields.
-Raising the ratio of faculty with doctorates. According to the Office of Admissions, only 2/3 of Biola’s faculty hold terminal degrees (source), compared to Azusa’a 76% (source).
-Dramatically growing the endowment. The top colleges in the nation have endowments worth $500,000 to $1,500,000 per student! Biola’s, on the other hand, is $8,618 (according to Carl Schreiber, Biola’s Vice President for Financial Affairs & Information Technology).
-Joining the NCAA. This would raise school spirit; the prospect of winning contests against other respected institutions raises the stakes drastically. Our teams would attract athletes of even higher quality. The athletic programs of most NCAA schools make money for their school. All this, and we would generate national media attention, much like Oral Roberts University as they made it to the tournament this month.
I realize that all these will not be accomplished in this year alone, but with the new president being hired and a new administration joining him, Alex and I will make it a priority to collaborate in the next round of dreaming, shifting the focus towards RECAPTURE in order to shape the future of our world in the name of Christ.
Collaboration in our services
It is our hope to collaborate with the services of Biola for the sake of their improvement. However, it is not the right response to grumble and complain at what we have available for us. Trust me, I am from a country in which the services do not even compare to the luxuries we have here.
Yet it is an objective we have to improve what we have here. As our school increases in size, we need to make sure we can accommodate everyone. So, services such as food, mail, and internet can be improved. Again, we are grateful for what we have here at Biola, but believe we can collaborate and serve so that we can properly serve the student body.
Why?
First, we believe that this institution deserves the best. In other words, striving for excellence even in the things that are secondary or auxiliary can be a great testimony of the work ethic we have as Christians. Also, in trying to RECAPTURE, we hope not to comply to the cultural stigmas in regards to these services, but to set the standard for them.
Second, we hope to cause global impact; in the pursuit of this higher objective it would be nice to be able to consistently rely on the resources here at Biola. On that note, I would like to thank everyone working in the mentioned departments - the campus is in constant need of humble professionals such as yourselves.
Yet it is an objective we have to improve what we have here. As our school increases in size, we need to make sure we can accommodate everyone. So, services such as food, mail, and internet can be improved. Again, we are grateful for what we have here at Biola, but believe we can collaborate and serve so that we can properly serve the student body.
Why?
First, we believe that this institution deserves the best. In other words, striving for excellence even in the things that are secondary or auxiliary can be a great testimony of the work ethic we have as Christians. Also, in trying to RECAPTURE, we hope not to comply to the cultural stigmas in regards to these services, but to set the standard for them.
Second, we hope to cause global impact; in the pursuit of this higher objective it would be nice to be able to consistently rely on the resources here at Biola. On that note, I would like to thank everyone working in the mentioned departments - the campus is in constant need of humble professionals such as yourselves.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
THE CONTRACT
Contract is a maze. I’m currently an RA, charged with enforcing the rules and regulations of “the contract.” I’ve been trying to figure out all year what exactly this document is, and the only conclusion I’ve been able to come up with is that it is an infinite maze.
Upon applying, all students must sign the statement of agreement (found here) which I believe is generally considered “contract” which refers prospective students to the student handbook (found here) which is a 56 page document.
How many students are able to remember the contents of a 56 page document? Beyond that, these 56 pages are filled with items such as earthquake procedures, bomb threat procedures, fire escape plans (including the plan for the old Horton) &c.
All this trivial information detracts from the distinctives that Biola’s contract uses to set itself apart from other institutions (such as APU). As an RA, I am technically required to write an incident report on a resident for not carrying his ID card at all times just as much as I am required to report someone smoking during an orgy in their room during non open hours.
In order to increase the relevancy and opinion of the contract, I would advocate dramatic simplification of the document. Schools like Oral Roberts University are able to have a one-page contract (found here) yet still say more in that one page than in all 56 pages of Biola’s student handbook.
I’m not saying things like public safety aren’t important. Those things have their place, but if Biola’s contract is truly to be a true distinctive of the institution, then make those requirements distinct. Alex and I will lobby and hopefully collaborate with the administration to create a one-page contract that would be simple to understand, simple to remember, and simple to live by.
Simplification of contract in this manner would be yet another way in which the spirit of RECAPTURE will prevail.
Upon applying, all students must sign the statement of agreement (found here) which I believe is generally considered “contract” which refers prospective students to the student handbook (found here) which is a 56 page document.
How many students are able to remember the contents of a 56 page document? Beyond that, these 56 pages are filled with items such as earthquake procedures, bomb threat procedures, fire escape plans (including the plan for the old Horton) &c.
All this trivial information detracts from the distinctives that Biola’s contract uses to set itself apart from other institutions (such as APU). As an RA, I am technically required to write an incident report on a resident for not carrying his ID card at all times just as much as I am required to report someone smoking during an orgy in their room during non open hours.
In order to increase the relevancy and opinion of the contract, I would advocate dramatic simplification of the document. Schools like Oral Roberts University are able to have a one-page contract (found here) yet still say more in that one page than in all 56 pages of Biola’s student handbook.
I’m not saying things like public safety aren’t important. Those things have their place, but if Biola’s contract is truly to be a true distinctive of the institution, then make those requirements distinct. Alex and I will lobby and hopefully collaborate with the administration to create a one-page contract that would be simple to understand, simple to remember, and simple to live by.
Simplification of contract in this manner would be yet another way in which the spirit of RECAPTURE will prevail.
THE SECOND DAY
I must admit, I am exhausted. These two days of campaigning have been the most tiring of the semester.
Thank you all to all those who attended the AS Q&A tonight! Both Alex and I were quite satisfied with the questions given to us and are very excited to be running alongside such great candidates.
Wednesday is the final day of Phase One of the RECAPTURE presidential campaign... look forward to Thursday for Phase Two!
Thank you all to all those who attended the AS Q&A tonight! Both Alex and I were quite satisfied with the questions given to us and are very excited to be running alongside such great candidates.
Wednesday is the final day of Phase One of the RECAPTURE presidential campaign... look forward to Thursday for Phase Two!
SYSTEMATIC EXCELLENCE
RECAPTURE—we’ve talked about what the vision is, what the goals are, and addressed the need for paradigm shift. Now, to discuss how the vision will carry down to the student body specifically. In order to fit in all the issues, I will first discuss each of these briefly and in the next several days Alex and I will expand upon them on this blog.
If students are to be pursuing world-changing goals, the level of services available at Biola must not restrict them. Therefore, one of our top priorities will be to serve and collaborate with the administration to improve the quality of such services as mail, food, and internet. In this way, Biolans will not only elevate the quality of their everyday life but will be more free to explore the possibilities they have to take action.
As Resident Assistants this year, both Alex and I were in close and constant contact with the Biola contract. This document, so popularly referenced yet so often vilified, is a 56 page maze. Other, more conservative institutions are able to say more with their contract yet keep the document to one page. Alex and I would be strong advocates for a vastly simplified—though not necessarily more liberal—contract.
Communication is one of the key responsibilities of the executive branch of AS. I have often heard and discussed with my friends that it is not generally clear what AS as a body actually does. It is a priority for Alex and I to create an ongoing initiative to promote the workings of AS—essentially, we plan to launch a campus wide PR campaign for AS.
Along similar lines, it can become difficult at times to communicate a purpose if the essence of an organization is unclear. Alex and I desire to establish an independent commission to examine the workings of AS under our own administration, examining processes and purpose of the organization as a whole. Upon hearing the recommendation of the commission, Alex and I will do whatever is necessary to streamline and restructure AS to make it capable to meet the challenges that the future will bring.
We truly desire to create an environment in which students can take action, impacting the world for the cause of Christ. To this end, we would like to establish forums between the various majors on campus in order to share the learning we have acquired at this institution. Furthermore, Alex and I strongly wish to create a network of Christians who excel in the public sectors, called the Isaiah Project. This program would serve as a lifetime launching board into practical ministry for both students and graduates alike.
On the campus wide level, Alex and I will work with the new school president to make Biola a more forward-thinking institution. Several issues which Alex and I both feel strongly about and will lobby the administration for include dramatically raising our endowment, adding more graduate programs, and moving our athletics into the more competitive and prestigious NCAA.
RECAPTURE is a vision, and these are some of the specifics that Alex and I have worked out. It is an ambitious road we set out on, and we understand that it may not be physically possible to accomplish all this in one year. Our goal is to be the cornerstone, the beginning of RECAPTURE, inspiring those that follow today, tomorrow, and in the years to come to take part in this dream.
In short, voting for the team of Bradley and Alex is voting for a liaison for change—we want to keep what works and collaborate with existing structures to RECAPTURE our vision—to make Biola an institution that consistently creates graduates capable of being powerful influences in a global panorama for the cause of Christ.
If students are to be pursuing world-changing goals, the level of services available at Biola must not restrict them. Therefore, one of our top priorities will be to serve and collaborate with the administration to improve the quality of such services as mail, food, and internet. In this way, Biolans will not only elevate the quality of their everyday life but will be more free to explore the possibilities they have to take action.
As Resident Assistants this year, both Alex and I were in close and constant contact with the Biola contract. This document, so popularly referenced yet so often vilified, is a 56 page maze. Other, more conservative institutions are able to say more with their contract yet keep the document to one page. Alex and I would be strong advocates for a vastly simplified—though not necessarily more liberal—contract.
Communication is one of the key responsibilities of the executive branch of AS. I have often heard and discussed with my friends that it is not generally clear what AS as a body actually does. It is a priority for Alex and I to create an ongoing initiative to promote the workings of AS—essentially, we plan to launch a campus wide PR campaign for AS.
Along similar lines, it can become difficult at times to communicate a purpose if the essence of an organization is unclear. Alex and I desire to establish an independent commission to examine the workings of AS under our own administration, examining processes and purpose of the organization as a whole. Upon hearing the recommendation of the commission, Alex and I will do whatever is necessary to streamline and restructure AS to make it capable to meet the challenges that the future will bring.
We truly desire to create an environment in which students can take action, impacting the world for the cause of Christ. To this end, we would like to establish forums between the various majors on campus in order to share the learning we have acquired at this institution. Furthermore, Alex and I strongly wish to create a network of Christians who excel in the public sectors, called the Isaiah Project. This program would serve as a lifetime launching board into practical ministry for both students and graduates alike.
On the campus wide level, Alex and I will work with the new school president to make Biola a more forward-thinking institution. Several issues which Alex and I both feel strongly about and will lobby the administration for include dramatically raising our endowment, adding more graduate programs, and moving our athletics into the more competitive and prestigious NCAA.
RECAPTURE is a vision, and these are some of the specifics that Alex and I have worked out. It is an ambitious road we set out on, and we understand that it may not be physically possible to accomplish all this in one year. Our goal is to be the cornerstone, the beginning of RECAPTURE, inspiring those that follow today, tomorrow, and in the years to come to take part in this dream.
In short, voting for the team of Bradley and Alex is voting for a liaison for change—we want to keep what works and collaborate with existing structures to RECAPTURE our vision—to make Biola an institution that consistently creates graduates capable of being powerful influences in a global panorama for the cause of Christ.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
