Bob Simon was not planning to run for Student Association president until current SA President David Burt approached him and encouraged him to run. That is when Simon realized he would have a lot to offer the SA if elected.

“Being the president of a fraternity I know how to run a large organization,” Simon said. “I’ve gone to bat with administrators before and I’m going to go straight to the top for the students.”

Although he has never held an SA position, Simon said he has always been involved on campus.

“There’s never been a time in my life when I’ve been inactive,” he said. “When I was a freshman I joined a fraternity right away and was very involved with it. I’ve also played intramural basketball, volleyball and football. I’m the typical student.”

Simon said his lack of SA experience does not affect his ability to understand the organization. He said Burt has been helping him learn how the SA works and how to get things done.

Simon said his two main goals are to fight tuition increases and improve food service at GW.

“The tuition increases while financial aid packages stay the same,” Simon said. “Financial aid should be increased proportionally to the tuition increase.”

Simon said he wants to change Aramark’s food contract to better fit the students’ food service needs. He said Aramark should not receive students’ leftover points at the end of the year, but should earn them with better service.

“Aramark gets the money right away, so that is why our food service is slow, mean and expensive,” he said.

Simon said he hopes to continue some SA programs started this year, including SA Inc., a proposed business venture that would offer students services such as low rates for rental cars, laundry and better return rates for books.

He also hopes to improve Student Judicial Services by providing students who are facing charges with student judicial advisors.

Simon said the SA needs to be more accessible to students.

“How many times do you see a senator go door-to-door after being elected?” he said. “I’m a real person who students can talk to and will listen to their concerns. After all, this is the Student – underline student – Association.”

Simon said the SA should distribute information packets to students outlining all services the SA provides, finish putting money request forms for student groups online and focus on getting freshmen involved.