Alex Binz for ASSP President

Save the Date:
General Election:     April 15, 2009


Check out my candidate bio in the Falcon newspaper online!


Money Back Guarantee!

My name is Alex Binz, and I believe your government costs too much.

Each student pays an ASSP fee of $80 every quarter. Our student government currently has an annual budget of nearly $700,000. But over one-tenth of that ($78,811) goes directly to ASSP officers and executives. Currently, the ASSP President receives an annual stipend of over $12,000, and each Vice-President receives over $11,000 per year.

This means that every year, almost 1000 students pay their entire $80 quarterly fee to pay nine individuals. Each major officer is supported by the fall quarter payments of about 140 students.

These officers are grossly overpaid.

The stipends are adjusted every year by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC). I was one of the first to bring this to their attention, along with Alex Mech, my fellow candidate running for Exec. VP. At our suggestion, CRC is looking to decrease these numbers. However,  don't want to take any chances.

Student government should be about serving the students.  We cannot and should not treat public service as just another job.

Therefore, I promise that I will not accept any more than half of the current ASSP stipend if elected.

If CRC decides to retain an officer stipend above that $6000 mark, I will donate the difference to the University Fund to provide merit-based scholarships for students at Seattle Pacific University.

I encourage my fellow candidates to join me in this pledge. Together, we can save students tens of thousands of dollars. 

This is my Money Back Guarantee.  


My Platform

First, Money Back Guarantee
I will ensure that ASSP money is wisely budgeted, and not wasted on excessive stipends for executive officers.


Second, Student Involvement
I will actively encourage others on campus to pursue positions of leadership on campus, from clubs to Hall Councils, from ASSP to media, from academics to athletics.


Third, University Connections
I will connect with other universities in the region, building relationships, learning from their experiences, and coordinating activities with them.

For more information on these, see below.


Student Involvement

I am actively involved in many areas on campus. I am an officer in Ivy Honorary, and President of Pemberley Society. Before living on Third Central Emerson, I was a commuter student, and last year was named a Commuter Senator in ASSP. I currently work as Chair of the Board of Student Media, coordinating the operations and finances of the Falcon student newspaper, KSPU student radio, Lingua arts journal, and the Cascade Yearbook.

I not only understand the concerns of these various groups, I know the skill sets and experiences they provide. With this background, I know where to guide others who come to me, whether to point them to  residence life or student government, ministries or media. From my background in many of these fields, I know which ones will satisfy others the most, and can encourage their involvement more effectively.

As ASSP President, I will do my utmost to encourage participation in all facets of campus activities and leadership.


University Connections

Last year I was inspired by a weekend with the Washington Student Leadership conference, which invites Christian students from around the state to gather and learn from each other in the name of Christ. Last year, they invited John Perkins and a number of students from Mississippi to join our motley crew of Washingtonians.

From this experience, I committed myself to connecting with these fellow students, to learning from them and bridging regional divides.

My plan is to work with representatives of these student governments over the course of the year, culminating in a series of joint events near the end of next spring. Representatives of each campus would visit a number of different colleges, so student leaders, faculty, staff, and the various student bodies, could learn from their experiences. This would help connect student radio stations around the state, for instance, and build bridges between clubs with the same mission.

Why work in isolation, when there is a wealth of institutional experience and expertise awaiting us within our own state?


Who is Alex Binz?


Alex Binz is a bookworm (UScholar), benevolent dictator (Choir Director at his church), publicity guru (Communications Director of the honor society), dancing fiend (President of the Pemberley Society),  and media mogul (Chair of the Board of Student Media).

In addition to these, Alex is also an instructor of political science to high school students, a camp counselor for science-minded children, a theorist of economic history for professional academics, an amateur pianist, an active politico, and a student of law.

As ASSP President, Alex would bring an ability to relate to others, to understand the contours of a situation or issue, and to quickly diagnose helpful solutions. As BSM Chair, he has been able to work with both sides of an ongoing disagreement, and has articulated the concerns of the other while meeting and working with either.


Vote Alex Binz for ASSP President
Remember to Cast your Ballot via Banner
April 15, 2009