My name is Ashwin Narla, and I’m running for GW Student Association President. I want to help give students a voice and work to make sure that their concerns, ideas, and goals are being heard. From the creation of an all-encompassing events calendar to the expansion of student space on campus, I plan to ensure that we are working together to improve our university across the board. Please take a few minutes to browse my website to discover more about me, read about my platform, and learn how you can get involved.
Best,
My name is Ashwin Narla, and I am a junior majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in History. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, I came to The George Washington University to take advantage of all of the opportunities available both on campus and in Washington, DC. I’'ve been involved in the GW community since my freshman year when I participated in Community Building Community (CBC) , a three-day service co-curricular program, and I later went on to serve as a small group leader for the program. My sophomore year, I traveled to New Orleans as part of GW Alternative Breaks , and I just returned to New Orleans as a leader over winter break. Last summer, I served as a member of Colonial Cabinet , working to help incoming students learn about the benefits of our university, and I spent the remainder of my summer working as a student assistant for University Hallmark Events . I am a brother of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and in my free time, I enjoy playing intramural sports.
BACK TO PLATFORM PORTAL
Student
Orgs
SA Accessibility
Space
Graduate Issues
Vern
Issues
Education Focus
Student Orgs
This year student orgs were shortchanged by the SA Finance Committee. The SA Finance Committee announced that this year they had more money to give to organizations than ever before. However, as student orgs requested their annual funding, budgets came up short across the board with many cases where orgs received significantly less than previous years. What many students don't realize, and the SA has failed to promote, are resources available to fund activities and operations above and beyond orgs normal operating costs. My cabinet and I will reach out to all organizations to ensure that they know how to tap into these resources and urge the administration to allocate more resources to fund student activities and organizations.
I will enhance student org life by creating a universal calendar of events available on the SA website. This will assist student orgs in coordinating events and ease the process of selecting the most appropriate dates and times for student org functions.
The SA is not “the Hill.” Students involved in the SA need to stop pretending they are actual politicians, end the political bickering, and get to work doing things for the GW community. The executive and legislative bodies must work together to create cohesion, and provide an avenue for legitimate results. More emphasis needs to be focused on working as a student body to address the issues that arise on our campus. By including all SA bodies into meetings, more issues will be addressed in comprehensive and efficient ways.
Accessibility is key to a properly functioning and productive student government. I will push for the SA to be more accessible to all students, facilitating transparency of the SA with weekly podcasts, a monthly “state of the campus,” and follow-up with monthly letters to media organizations on campus addressing the main issues.
Results are the best way the SA can better its reputation. The focus needs to be on student issues.
Student Space
There just isn't enough space on campus for studying and meetings. The administration took away the fifth floor of Marvin, they took away the Fishbowl, they close academic buildings on Sundays, and by midnight half of Marvin Center is evacuated. The amount of student space must be increased. Moreover, as of now, the university does not have a focused plan on creating more student space. As SA president, I will urge the administration to start plans on developing a larger and more focused student union that caters to all student needs.
My plan for student space will open up academic as well as music, dance, and theatrical rehearsal spaces for students and student orgs to utilize, absolutely free of charge. Technology and equipment fees for these rooms will be things of the past.
Graduate programs do not need RAM trained individuals at their events. They are at an age where supervision is just excessive. A continued effort to lower the ratio of RAM trained individuals will be pursued and sought after for the graduate community.
Graduate programming attention and needs must be addressed as well, which will be enhanced through additional open dialogues between the SA and graduate student groups.
I will meet with grad students during the school year on a consistent basis to make sure their issues are being addressed.
Vern Issues
Living on the Vern shouldn't have to seem like a burden, let alone make you feel as though you are spending a year abroad thousands of miles away from Foggy Bottom. While there isn't much I can do about the commute, I will work with the administration and the community to make life on Mount Vernon more eventful.
Areas of improvement:
•Work to keep Lloyd gym open for non-athletes, so that students on the Vern dont have to commute all the way to Hel-well to play a game of pick-up.
•Since J Street (and not to mention the plethora of restaurants around D.C.) now has late night food options for Foggy Bottom students, I will advocate for night time food options for students on the Vern seven days of the week.
•There are some really great events that happen on the Vern, but there is plenty of room for more activities. I will work with the Dean of Students Office to bring more programming options to the Vern.
•Working with Creative Management Services, I will work to advocate sports teams across the board (not just basketball), and encourage incentives for team spirit on the Vern.
Work with the administration to give students 24/7 all access to their respective academic school’s study rooms.
With much anticipation for the Gelman renovations, I will ensure that the writing center is remodeled in the Gelman plans, while also advocating for the school to create a tutoring center (free for GW students) and more study space.
I will advocate for a Center for Educational Support, working with the Office of the Provost to offer tutoring and research services, an archive for scholarships, as well as a site for monthly talks where university professors give lectures on a broad range of topics, followed by receptions where professors mingle and network with students.
Ashwin was featured in an article in GW Today, amongst his fellow Colonial Cabinet 2011 members, where he expressed his "pride in [his] school" and his hope to instill that pride in the incoming Freshmen Class.
The GW Hatchet has posted an article about Ashwin, following an interview session held with them. In the article, Ashwin outlines his platform and shares his ideas on how he would make a better GW.
Contact the Campaign
If you would like to help the campaign, ask Ashwin a question, or would like to leave a comment, please fill out the form below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Facebook Cover and Profile Photos
If you would like to support the campaign by uploading the official Ashwin for GW Facebook profile and cover photos, please click on the links below to download them.
Facebook Timeline, Cover Photo- 274 KB
Facebook Timeline, Profile Photo- 57 KB
Facebook Non-Timeline, Profile Photo- 115 KB
