ASUO 2010 presidential candidate Amélie Rousseau has lifelong experience with cultural diversity: her father is French and her mother American. In the following interview she explains how this background gives her the understanding that there isn’t necessarily a right answer to a problem, but that each situation can be approached in multiple ways. By supporting the diverse groups on campus, Rousseau says she plans to develop a richer campus life.
Chris Parker: What insights does your own cultural background provide in improving the reception of multicultural diversity in the ASUO and on campus?
Amélie Rousseau: I think that I can bring an attitude of cultural inclusion because I was born in France. My dad is French. My mom is American. I learned French and English at the same time. I always lived with two cultures, having to navigate between the two growing up. It’s taught me to really question and always look for the other side whatever the argument is, whatever we take for granted as the correct way to do something.
CP: On your website you said that you want to create ties between various communities on campus. Can you define these communities and how you plan to make the campus more inclusive?
AR: One of the ways I want to bridge communities all over campus is with that personal connection, recruiting people into being part of our internship program or putting together collaborative events with multiple groups from communities that don’t necessarily collaborate together. For example, I’m a member of a sorority so [you could have] an event with my sorority and a multicultural or environmental group. People learn from each other at the same time they are making a difference.
CP: Can you please describe how you feel a diverse range of student groups with various cultural backgrounds creates a richer campus life?
AR: I think that a wide range of student groups from all different cultures broadens the traditional University of Oregon student’s perspective. Eugene doesn’t have a ton of global cultures naturally around it, so the U.O. is crucial to making sure students get that exposure. For example, I went to Indian Night last night, which was a great time. You have food, you spend time with people, you get to see Indian music and fashion. Those are just great opportunities for students to have that exposure even if it’s for just a couple of hours.
CP: What difficulties do these groups face? How do you plan to support these groups?
AR: The difficulty with outreach to those groups is that they see the ASUO as a bureaucratic office instead of a type of support system that can help them promote their events, plan or recruit new members. By showing your face and going and saying “hey”, it’s about personal connection. I would love to go to as many of those groups as possible and encourage my executive staff to as well. Adding that personal element is really key.
CP: Your campaign stresses state legislative involvement from campus to represent students. What role does cultural diversity on campus play in student politics involving the state and larger political institutions?
AR: Multiculturalism and diversity play a huge part in the type of advocacy that I want to prioritize in my administration. I am really excited to go to new legislative sessions and lobby for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, Pell Grants, more need-based aid in general and making sure tuition doesn’t keep climbing. This is because higher education is about creating better accessibility for all students. Not only is it important to lobby for lower tuition for our future, but also to include multicultural students in that process who have need-based aid and that is why they can afford higher education. Protecting that access for all students is really important.
It amazes me how many cultures we have in Eugene already, and we can do a better job of bridging those cultures, understanding each others priorities as students, but also as people.

See Ethos’ interview with Amélie’s campaign manager, Ben Eckstein, and opponent, Alex McCafferty. Voting ended Thursday, April 8, 2010 with Amélie Rousseau as the winner.