Name: Pat McLaughlin
Hometown: Willow Grove, Pa.
Major: Exercise Science with a concentration in pre-health studies
Year: Junior
Credentials: Phi Kappa Psi president, men’s crew team varsity captain, Center for Health Services intern, Research and Policy GWU Medical Center.
Web site: http://gwu.edu/~abbylest

Junior Pat McLaughlin said he wants to make the Student Association accountable, respectable and more visible.

We’ve got to create an organization that’s visible on campus, he said.

McLaughlin, who is running for executive vice president, said that as a result of being in an already political city, the SA members have lost sight of what they are supposed to be doing. The SA is no longer representing students, he said. He said the SA should be open to all students and should not just be a training ground for future politicians.

I don’t want to go into politics, McLaughlin said. I want nothing to do with politics.

McLaughlin is running on a ticket with SA presidential candidate Abby Lestition.

He said he wants the SA to participate in other student groups’ events, and he said the SA should keep an open mind to people outside student groups. McLaughlin was formerly the president of Phi Kappa Psi, and he led the fraternity through some difficult times last year. Now, he said, the fraternity is thriving and he remains active as a brother.

I feel that my experience on the (Interfraternity Council) has shown that anyone who cares enough is going to be listened to, he said. His Greek-letter experience showed him about the difficulties in working with administrators, he said.

McLaughlin said last semester’s impeachment of Phil Meisner showed him that he could be a good member of the SA.

At that point, I felt `they’re not working for students, they’re working for themselves,’ he said.

He said he would like the SA to concentrate on updating its student surveys and be more visible on campus regarding academic and dining services issues.

With another large class of freshmen coming in, the University is going to have to worry about the personal attention that they’re going to receive, he said.

Overall, he said, he wants students to learn that the SA is there to help them.

I hope students will gain an understanding that the (SA) is and should be for everybody, he said. They should see that things can be done if you open your mouth.