By Q: How did you get involved with ASI?
A: My second semester here I heard there was a vacancy in the Senate seat for my college [back then the College of Natural Sciences]. At that time, I had not been enrolled long enough to be a senator. That’s when I decided to run during the general election.
Q: And why did you decide to run for vice-president?
A: After being in the Senate for two years, I really felt that the senate chamber is the place that makes decisions for ASI and expresses the voices of the student body to the university community or even the external community. What we discuss in there and what we vote on in that chamber is really going to make an influence in a lot of areas. I wanted to make not just myself but all 20 senators aware that they are not just the rubber stamping body for the executive. The senators elected by students are the ones carrying the voice of the student body, and we are the ones making a sound for the student body. I chose to stay in the senate chamber and be the person to guide other senators to that direction.
Q: What is the change you would most like to see in the student government?
A: A lot of times, we have the student leader being somewhat suspicious of the administrators or faculty. A lot of the time we see them as not our ally but instead the one we fight against. I think we need to evolve from that mentality. A lot of the time, especially administrators, treat us as their colleagues. So we should take that kind of respect in the fullest extent and find our way to express our voice in the most effective manner.
Q: There’s been talk recently that the recreational center is going to be coming again. What do you think about the proposal for building a recreational center?
A: I personally feel that the facility will enhance student life on our campus. If you see the Student Union, a lot of students hang around here and do group study, get coffee or get lunch and the recreational facility will definitely add more dimension to that kind of capacity. I believe that the student body should have a chance to make the decision. In that spirit, I support putting the proposal to the referendum so we can give as many students as possible the chance to express their voice.
Q: What are your thoughts on the possibility of building on Puvungna?
A: I think that’s something that’s been discussed for quite a long time. Right now the land is out there, just out there. No maintenance. No nothing. I think that the university should continue the current discussion. My concern right now is that, because of this controversy and the lack of public forum, we are just having this polarized debate. So the university needs to have some sort of public forum so we can freely express our views on that.
Q: What do you do when you’re not in the ASI office?
A: From time to time I enjoy just walking. I just randomly walk four to five hours when I’m not doing anything. I do enjoy listening to music as long as it’s not too crazy and loud. From time to time, if I have motivation to do so, I enjoy cooking. I live on my own so’I don’t cook much anymore, but’when I was in Japan, that’s what I did.
Q: If you could trade places with anyone on campus for a day, who would you choose?
A: As strange as it sounds, I would probably take the chair of the general education governing committee. I know they’re doing a lot of really good thinking to make general education more interesting and meaningful. That is one area I would be interested to see. A lot of people, including myself, have a major, but once you graduate you go to all sorts of directions to get the job. The skills and knowledge you get from general education will make you a better candidate for those jobs.
Q: If you were stuck wearing only one color for the rest of your life, which color would you choose?
A: Black. It’s just my color. I like to wear black clothing, generally.
