Oregon Daily Emerald: Could you tell me your name, what year you are in school and your major?
Erik Fordyce: Erik Fordyce, I’m a junior and a finance business administration major.
Emerald: So you’re a double major?
Fordyce: No, finance is the concentration and business administration is the official major.
Emerald: And what year are you in school?
Fordyce: Junior.
Emerald: And did you transfer to the University or have you been here all three years?
Fordyce: I went one semester in a small Christian school down in San Diego called Point Loma Nazarene University , so I transferred here winter term of my freshman year, which would’ve been 2001 I think.
Emerald: What sort of activities and things are you involved with on campus?
Fordyce: On campus, I take an active role with the Investment Group. Do you know what the Investment Group is? We manage two portfolios worth $500,000. We basically decide which stocks to invest in.
Emerald: Those are the pretend kind, right?
Fordyce: No.
Emerald: No, you actually have real money?
Fordyce: Yeah, we have real money.
Emerald: How did you get that money?
Fordyce: One portfolio is sponsored by D.A. Davidson, which is a small, not really small, but it’s a Northwest-based investment firm. They sponsor us with a portfolio worth $50,000. The other portfolio is from the University trust fund and from other private investors and from little investments like Papa John’s.
Emerald: That’s unbelievable.
Fordyce: It’s a pretty big group within the business college, established quite a name for itself. So, I do that and then I had an internship with Merrill Lynch, which has been occupying some of my time this past term. Basically, I do the business classes and then my investment group. The investment group basically takes up a lot of time, probably about 15 to 20 hours a week.
Emerald: How will you figure out how to spend the surplus?
Fordyce: The surplus of the budget? Basically, take every activity, see what the allocation of funds is for that activity, the importance — I believe that within the next coming years groups and organizations should be sponsored more by the school. I think that the University doesn’t do enough to promote growth in clubs and organizations, which for the business school, — which is the seat I’m running for — the importance for business students is to get companies to come and more job opportunities at the University. Right now, we don’t have that and that’s somewhat a sign of the economy. It’s also a sign of the University not taking an active enough role in that. Basically, the surplus, I think, would go toward activities, such as more club sponsorships, more group sponsorships, to get the students actively involved in something they care about.
Emerald: If you are elected, how will you interact with student groups?
Fordyce: Before I’m elected, I want to go talk to groups and get their opinions on stuff that I’m wanting to do. I think they’ll all agree with me. Being in the investment group has kind of given me insight into how groups and organizations influence students’ lives and influence students’ futures. With groups that give so many opportunities for students to excel in things outside of school, I think that actively taking a role in dealing with these groups and helping them along the way, seeing what their concerns are, is the proper way that I’m going to do it.
Emerald: What do you believe are the most important issues facing the students you would represent if elected?
Fordyce: The most important issue is not getting enough opportunities outside of campus. So many people, so many of my friends that are graduating this year have no clue what they’re going to do next year. Like I said before, the economy is hitting us all, but I think we just don’t have enough quality companies coming to the University any more. One reason or another, maybe student performance, maybe student involvement, I think plays an integral role in how we’re going to be able to get companies to come to the University. That’s my main goal, is getting more opportunities for students to plan their future instead of going out into the working world not really knowing what they’re going to do.
Emerald: What is the most important part of section 5 of the student senate rules and why?
Fordyce: Which one is section 5?
Emerald: Well you’re supposed to know that, I’m not allowed to tell you until you answer.
Fordyce: I went over them last night. Let’s see. Can I look in my bag.
Emerald: No, it’s okay if you don’t know it off the top of your head. It’s the senators’ duties, is what section five addresses.
Fordyce: For allocation of student fees?
Emerald: No just a general description of duties, such as holding office hours and attending all meetings.
Fordyce: What do I think the importance of that is? Probably actively taking a part, letting your face be seen, letting you be approachable enough where students who have concerns can come up and talk to you about those concerns. I realize probably everyone says that, but I think it’s probably the most important part. Taking an active role and taking pride in your position, I think. As well, being actively representing what you think the needs are of your student group, in this time, the business college. Playing an active role, talking to organizations and groups like I said earlier, and just letting your name be known so people can come up to you whether it be classes, holding office hours, so people know about your office hours, and stuff like that.
Emerald: How would you open a dialogue with the students you represent, how would you put your face in their minds?
Fordyce: Well, if elected, I would probably post various flyers around the college, let that be known. I would talk to the organizations and groups, such as Beta Alpha Psi, the finance club, other active business organizations, tell them who I am, tell them where they can find me. I’d send my information, if possible, out through maybe a listserv, if I could get in contact with that for all business students. And you can’t reach every business student because you’re not going to see all of them. Putting your information out there, so those you don’t directly see can still come in contact with you is the most important thing.