Luca Cassidy is a freshman double-majoring in economics and sociology.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself — any clubs, hobbies or major plans for the future?
“This is a big question, but I will try my best to answer it. For clubs, I am in the Binghamton University] College Democrats. I really like the club because of its focus on local/state issues, which are often and sadly ignored. In addition to that, I am a Student Association (SA) representative for Hinman [College], which has been my favorite experience on campus. As an SA representative, I learned how to cooperate with others (students and administration), how to deal with bureaucracy and how to initiate ideas that I believe in. My hobbies are video games, reading and volunteering. I play mostly map games, like Crusader Kings III, but I am HYPED for Elden Ring. I love a good challenge and story of hope. Some of my favorite books include “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara, “Tattoos on the Heart: [The Power of Boundless Compassion]” by Greg Boyle and “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi. I was never into volunteering before college, but after I joined [Hinman College’s] Public Service Learning Community, I realized how amazing it was. Running up and down two flights of stairs with pounds of warm food for [those with] food [insecurity] really fills you with purpose. It feels great to truly help people and do work that makes the difference. In regard to future plans, I got a summer internship with my local assemblywoman, Amy Paulin, who is ranked one of the most productive and successful lawmakers in the state. She can teach me how to be a great politician and she specializes in areas I am interested in, like education, health care and gun violence. I may want to enter state politics, so she will be a great introduction to that world.”
2. What is your platform?
“My platform is to make voting easier, introduce interdisciplinary courses and expand the learning community network. I plan to make voting easier by establishing a campus early voting site. This would increase student voter turnout tremendously. It is also possible. The Broome County [Board of Elections] has already begun the process, but have put it off to the side. With student pressure and cooperation, we could get it by next year. My second platform is to include more interdisciplinary courses, which would help undecided students and student researchers. Undecided students can take interdisciplinary [general education classes] that give an introduction to multiple majors and how these majors translate into the job market. Now, undecided students can take fewer classes and be exposed to more, which will help them pick their majors much faster. In regard to student researchers, the best type of academic research is interdisciplinary. For example, Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” which is upheld as one of the greatest modern books on economics, was created with the help of experts in dozens of different fields. Interdisciplinary research classes will teach students that working with others who have different skill sets creates more complex and well-rounded work, which is also important once they enter the job sector. My last platform, the expansion of learning communities, will benefit students tremendously. Learning communities allow people to meet others with similar interests, take interesting classes and do character-building extracurricular activities together, and they allow easy access to a mentor who specializes in a field that students are interested in. I plan to carry this out by promoting the current ones more, since many do not know of them, and creating new learning communities based on student interests. Promotion can easily be done with a more aggressive email campaign before and during the housing process. Expansion is more difficult, but I have already begun the process of creating a Women in [science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)] learning community, which has the full support of the Society of Women Engineers and has gotten the attention of people in Residential Life.”
3. Why did you decide to run for a SA E-Board position?
“I decided to run because I genuinely enjoy helping people, whether it means holding the door open, giving them a warm meal or passing legislation that improves their lives. I just enjoy it. Another reason I decided to run is that it excites me. Being able to work with the administration so closely and being able to really make a change energizes me. The meetings, the debates, the everything. It excites me. I can not wait to meet with the Broome County Board of Elections. I can not wait to debate on how to implement interdisciplinary [general education classes]. I cannot wait to have meetings with professors on how to encourage interdisciplinary research. I cannot wait to discuss with [Residential Life] on whether or not a learning community idea is sustainable and worthwhile. I cannot wait for it all.”
4. Why should students vote for you?
“I think students should vote for me, even though I do not promise the largest of ideas, because I plan to actually do something. It is hard to know whether or not someone is telling the truth when they say that, but I have already done things. I am working on legislation that would make voting easier on campus already in the SA Congress. I am in talks with [Residential Life], collegiate professors and student groups on creating and promoting learning communities. I have reached out to the administration on interdisciplinary courses and will meet with a geology professor who wants to work on the idea with me. I have even taken action on things not on my platform. For example, I shot into action when the food problem went viral across campus and created a survey to help investigate the food issue. Along with my survey, I joined the Special Dining Committee in the SA in hopes to address the dining hall issues. In addition to my food activism, I wrote a piece of legislation to address the restaurants that sexually assaulted our students, but it would have been difficult to implement practically, so I am meeting with the Violence, [Abuse and] Rape Crisis Center (VARCC) to see if we can come up with any practical ideas to make students safer downtown and on campus. I do things. Students should want people who do things. Not people who promise things.”