Name: Kari Herinckx
Position: ASUO President
Age: 22
Hometown: Forest Grove, Ore.
Class standing: Senior
Major: Family and Human Services
Criminal record: None
Platform:
Your voice, your vote, your future, your experience, your education, your choice. Your voice, your vote is about bringing back student voice in big decisions. We think there has been a lack of student voice in the larger decisions being made within the University. This is our campus, so we want to have a say in what’s going on. Your education, your choice is about wanting to have student involvement – really engaging in our experience in the classroom and outside of the classroom.
Qualifications:
Desire to do it, understands ASUO isn’t very accessible. Member of the Black Student Union and Black Women of Achievement for three years, Co-Director of the Multicultural Center for two years. Being involved with student unions, I have felt how the ASUO has been exclusive, but having divides on both sides doesn’t do anyone any favors.
How do you propose increasing interest in the ASUO to ensure quality candidates for open positions?
I’ll try to focus on using positive public relations that will show the issues that student government is working on for the students and make sure our space and student leaders are accessible. Also, I’ll be more social and go to different departments and colleges and really utilize our academic senators as well as other student leaders around campus that are connected to the ASUO.
What do you think about current student oversight of the Student Recreation Center?
The advisory board is good in theory, but I wish students had more decision-making power and that students had a say in the direction the rec center is going. I know there have been a lot of issues and budgetary concerns with what’s happening with the rec center and the future of the rec center. I’d like to see the advisory board have a say because that’s our space as well.
Do you believe the student government should expand as suggested by recent changes to the Green Tape Notebook?
Maybe in the sense of the special elections. Having additional seats within the Department Finance Committee as well as the Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee will help in the long run because it gives more specific focus to those groups. I think expansion within the Exec staff should make sure everyone is represented, such as an advocate for students with different abilities.
What changes would you make to the proposal for student ticket distribution?
Definitely the efficiency and making sure students aren’t being excluded and not necessarily first-come, first-served, but not necessarily seniority either.
Name: Jesse Hough
Position: ASUO Vice President
Age: 21
Hometown: Scappoose, Ore.
Class standing: Junior
Major: Psychology
Criminal record: None
Platform:
Amping up student power and getting more students involved in decision-making. We want students to know the ASUO is there for them, and we’re designed to work for them. Right now making sure students have a say in what happens to Mac Court and working on making meal points available for use in the EMU. The list is very long.
Qualifications:
Worked with a lot of programs, co-director of Survival Center, been through budget process with other student groups, formed a group on campus and a regional group, Cascade Climate Network.
How do you propose increasing interest in the ASUO to ensure quality candidates for open positions?
Keeping students updated on what we’re doing and engaging them on how our actions are affecting their lifestyle. I think that will perpetuate more student involvement.
What do you think about current student oversight of the Student Recreation Center?
Right now it could be stronger; I feel like we don’t have as much power on the decisions being made with the Rec Center as we could. I think we should have more student vote, not just voice.
Do you believe the student government should expand as proposed by recent changes to the Green Tape Notebook?
Expansion, I don’t know if that’s really the word. Inclusive – bring more people into it, and if expansion is what comes out of that, then maybe. Providing what the students want, and if that turns out to be expansion, then yes, but it might take a different form.
What changes would you make to the proposal for student ticket distribution?
Making it as easy as possible to get the tickets to people and making sure everybody knows how to get the tickets and making the hours more wide. I’d have to do more research and talk to the people who make those decisions.