Communication was a hot issue that the candidates for president, vice president and treasurer discussed during the Executive Debate in the University Student Union Wednesday.
ASI Vice Presidential candidates Sen. Lucy Montano of the College of Education and Sen. Christopher Chavez of the College of Liberal Arts started off the debate.
The mediators asked the candidates what they will do to make the “isolated and out-of-touch student government” more accessible to students. Chavez responded by saying that he “feels that it’s obvious students don’t come to ASI for a myriad of reasons…they’re not interested. They don’t know about it or they don’t feel that it reflects them. Well, let’s go to them. I will make sure that they know who I am, what I’m doing and what I’m there for.”
Montano said she “doesn’t think it’s always about going to student organizations because student organizations kind of know who we are. It’s about going and reaching out to those who are not involved and giving them reasons why they should become involved.”
Secretary Mark Andrews, Senator-At-Large Ashley Mara Stanton, Joel Barber and current ASI President Shefali Mistry, are the ASI presidential candidates who debated next.
Mistry, who is running for re-election, said, “I would love to build on those things (that I originally campaigned on) and serve the students for another year.”
Andrews ended by saying “not waiting for them to come to us is something that’s really important. My doors are always going to be open. I’m going give out my cell phone number and e-mail address so that if anyone has a question, I’ll always be on call.”
Stanton said, “Hey, I’m going to get the job done. If you come to me and say something needs to be done, then I’m going to get out there and get it done.”
Barber said he believes that “we need to make ASI more public. The students need to know who we are.”
Finally, ASI treasurer candidates Heather Swan, Sen. Shelena McClinton of the College of Liberal Arts and Viridiana Sanchez also debated about communicating with students.
“I am a student so I want to make sure that not only am I putting myself in your shoes, but that I am listening to all of you guys as well,” Sanchez said.
Swan continued the discussion by saying that “if I were to become ASI treasurer, I want to advocate the fact that you are not going to see my face once on a poster…I’m that person constantly walking around the [University Student] Union.”
McClinton ended the debate by saying she “wants to make sure that there’s open communication. We need to constantly let students know where they’re fees are going.”
