Age: 20

Year: Sophomore

Major: Political science

Hometown: Sturbridge, Mass.

Embarrassing freshman year moment: I intern for Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and one day I was walking his dogs for him and they decided to go to the bathroom on the metal detectors. I had to clean it up myself and was absolutely mortified. I was talking about it recently with Sen. Brown and he said, “Oh that was you? I heard about that!”

Next song University President Steven Knapp should dance to: “Whip My Hair” by Willow Smith

Platform: improve GWireless; revamp CourseRank; increase funding for Gelman Library

For Amanda Galonek, the Student Association needs to create a sense of unity on campus.

So if elected, Galonek plans to unite organizations and promote student life. “We go to school in an overwhelming city and some students feel that if they’re not in large organizations, they don’t have the right connections that others do,” Galonek said.

Galonek said also she will bring organizations together in an effort to raise awareness and funding for Gelman Library.

“The SA voice is finally being heard by the administration and are working to make plans for Gelman,” Galonek said. “But we cannot stop there, we know our concerns and we know we need the funding to make that happen.”

Recognizing that Gelman has been a campaign promise for SA candidates in the past, she cited the work of the current SA administration as proof that change is possible: the University hired an architect this semester to draw up plans for remodeling the aging building’s first floor and is actively searching for donors to fund the first-floor renovations.

“Now there is momentum, and we want to keep that up,” Galonek said. “This upcoming year is the year of opportunity for Gelman.”

She said she will work to eliminate GWireless timeouts and revamp CourseRank – an online program the SA helped launch at GW last year to facilitate student feedback about various classes – to include book swaps, online tutoring, a test bank and add a link to professor ratings.

Galonek said her goals are tangible and achievable, especially due to her experience on the Senate. As a two-term senator, including the current chair of the SA Rules Committee, Galonek said her connections with administrators will be invaluable if elected.

“I have my own platform and I know how to make it happen,” Galonek said. “After serving on the [SA] for two years, I know can administrate the senate to promote legislation that will positively effect the everyday life of students.”