For the past 367 days, we have been working our hardest to improve all aspects of student life. As we now look forward to leaving office, we want to offer our two cents as to whom we would choose as our successors.

First, yesterday’s Daily endorsement of Lee-Mefford made the statement, “choose action over advocacy.” We prefer the statement, “choose positive action and long-term advocacy,” as it better embodies how the executive can best serve students. As always, neither of the executive slates is ideal, but we believe one offers more promise than the other.

Lee and Mefford have certainly put a lot of work into their campaign. Lee and Mefford deserve credit for the most politically savvy campaign, but we question some of their means. They have made promises they cannot fulfill and have neglected current duties while running their campaign. Furthermore, receiving The Daily endorsement is suspect, as it came from an editorial board that includes Lee’s co-workers and campaign manager.

In regards to their platform, communication seems to take top priority. As current ASSU executives, we believe it is not much of an action item to send unsolicited e-mails to all Stanford students. We appreciate good communications, but students do not want to know every detail of the ASSU. It is more important to lower cost of living, strengthen advising or support diversity than to cheer small victories.

Despite significant research prior to campaigning, the proposed action items lack depth and true understanding.

For instance: Cost of living — SSE does not want to adopt the book program. It is a non-profit service for students, not a business. Diversity — there is a reason why they did not receive endorsement from the communities of color, as these communities need more than promises of funds to address long-term issues of representation, support and advocacy. Student space — they want to carve up the brand-new Tresidder eating facility to provide smaller meeting rooms, which are already available in the recently renovated Nitery. Specialized performance, rehearsal and large meeting space are far more needed.

Overall, the slate and their promises are too one-dimensional. We have two men, who do not have much personal experience or great insight into diversity, arts and graduate life, or the ability to empower these communities.

Husbands-Schwartz have not been as smart with their politicking. And whereas The Daily has found them weak in action items, they have consistently proposed a plan of involving students and groups to create their own programs to best service their needs.

Moreover, while Husbands-Schwartz have fewer action items, their items are more positive and plausible, such as: increasing visual arts display space, improving athletic event affordability and making international New Student Orientation affordable for the international community. In comparing these ideas with Lee-Mefford, the experience and expertise of each slate shines through.

While on paper these slates have similar experiences, in fact, their dedication and exhibited leadership are far different. Lee, as a Junior and Senior Class president, gained much worthwhile experience in planning programs and maintaining contact with his class. The ASSU executive is less about programming and visibility, and more about accomplishing gains for students. Mefford has exhibited poor participation in the Senate this year. For example, he failed to attend any special-fee meetings with student groups.

On the other hand, Schwartz has been an extremely hardworking senator, attending ASSU events, planning student leadership dinners and working closely with communities throughout campus. Husbands has been an integral member of the arts community, publications community and black community. We feel that Husbands and Schwartz will well complement one another and provide a balanced, multi-dimensional team.

No ASSU executive team is ideal, as we have personally experienced. However, we implore voters to make an educated decision and carefully choose which slate would do the best job based on past experiences, exhibited leadership skills and articulated vision for the student body.

Nadiya Figueroa and Joey Natoli were this year’s ASSU president and vice president. They can be reached at nfigs@stanford.edu and jnatoli@stanford.edu, respectively.