Curtis Haley

• Desired position: EMU Board at-large
• Major, year in school, age: Political science and economics, junior, 22
• Criminal activity charges: None

ODE: Briefly explain your platform.
CH: The platform that I have specifically for the EMU Board actually ties a lot into the things that we’ve developed as the 3C coalition. The three things that we’re focused on — one is sustainability … the second one is safety … and community involvement.
ODE: What qualities and experience qualify you for the position you’re seeking?
CH: I have been a member of the ASUO Exec this year. I am a two-timed failed Senate candidate. I’ve been around and have been kind of watching student government and involved in student government since I got on campus three years ago. I’ve been the national president of a student organization. I’ve been an organizer for the Obama campaign.
ODE: What are your thoughts on the purpose and size of the student incidental fee?
CH: It’s the most important thing on campus in a lot of ways. We can keep the current level of services and even expand that if we can try to get the administration to pick up some of the core things that are really important to students that they should be paying for in the first place.
ODE: How should the EMU change when and if plans to renovate or rebuild it go ahead?
CH: We need to find more profitable services that can be put in the EMU. Student unions need to get out of the basement. This building needs to be more navigable.
ODE: What can the EMU do to make more money?
CH: Services that are more profitable … especially food services and expanding the ability of meeting space that’s able to be reserved.
 
Katherine Prince

• Desired position: EMU Board at-large
• Major, year in school, age: Spanish and ethnic studies, second year, 19
• Criminal activity charges: None

ODE: Briefly explain your platform.
KP: I’m on a slate. We have our own platform. The one that I think is most relevant to my position is that of community building. Because there’s not enough unity here on campus, to be able to bring the groups that are involved in the EMU together would be really good.
ODE: What qualities and experience qualify you for the position you’re seeking?
KP: I’m on staff for the Asian Pacific American Student Union and also the Multicultural Center, both of which are housed in the EMU, so I’m here every day, almost.
ODE: What are your thoughts on the purpose and size of the student incidental fee?
KP: I think it’s good. It gives the opportunity for programs to exist, basically. I’m happy to pay it.
ODE: How should the EMU change when and if plans to renovate or rebuild it go ahead?
KP: It’s really important that the unions are given more prominence, making the EMU a place where students want to be.
ODE: What can the EMU do to make more money?
KP: Putting something in The Break. I’m not really sure at this point, but I know that in order to make money it would have to appeal not only to all students, but also to people who are just visiting campus.

Cara Merendino

• Desired position: EMU Board at-large
• Major, year in school, age: English, junior, 20
• Criminal activity charges: None.

ODE: Briefly explain your platform.
CM: Our platform consists of really just keeping student funds in Eugene and utilizing those funds creatively while not making them any higher. There’s the 2020 plan and I think that is going to be a really key point in our campaign. The EMU is not functional for students. We’re going to find a way to open up the EMU, make it more cost-efficient.
ODE: What qualities and experience qualify you for the position you’re seeking?
CM: I’ve been involved in student programs over the last two years. I’ve taken up leadership positions in those student groups, including the Oregon Voice and KWVA, so I have knowledge of the student government and the budget process. I’m hardworking.
ODE: What are your thoughts on the purpose and size of the student incidental fee?
CM: The student incidental fee, I think it’s too high. It should be used to fund student programs, things that help out students in the most efficient manner possible and the most cost-effective manner possible.
ODE: How should the EMU change when and if plans to renovate or rebuild it go ahead?
CM: It should be open later, definitely. Also, creating businesses that generate revenue for the EMU as a whole would be a good thing to have. Also energy efficiency: certain portions of the EMU use 70 percent of the energy.
ODE: What can the EMU do to make more money?
CM: Create businesses.
 
Jo Niehaus

• Desired position: EMU Board at-large
• Major, year in school, age: Anthropology, sophomore, 19
• Criminal activity charges: None

ODE: Briefly explain your platform.
JN: Reality Check. Our platform focuses on not raising the incidental fees per student anymore — keeping it where it is or lowering it. Focusing on making campus cohesion one of our priorities and we also want to make athletic tickets more available for students, as well as focusing on Oregon Initiative 2010-2020.
ODE: What qualities and experience qualify you for the position you’re seeking?
JN: I’ve worked in the EMU office with DDS. I’m actually really interested about the remodel that may happen within the next two years, and I really want to be a part of that.
ODE: What are your thoughts on the purpose and size of the student incidental fee?
JN: Our goal here is to not raise it anymore. We are overpaying by hundreds of dollars.
ODE: How should the EMU change when and if plans to renovate or rebuild it go ahead?
JN: I think the EMU should focus on being more energy-efficient. The hours could stretch a little bit longer. There should be more room for more revenue-creating businesses. A lot of clubs need more offices and places to meet, and we want to make sure the EMU is a safe environment for all students.
ODE: What can the EMU do to make more money?
JN: More revenue-creating businesses. Also, we can save a lot more money by becoming energy-efficient in the long run.
Laura M Johnson

• Desired position: ASPAC at-large
• Major, class standing, age: Journalism and digital arts, sophomore, 20
• Criminal activity charges: None.

ODE: Briefly explain your platform.
LJ: Serving on ASPAC is important because students at the University of Oregon have the right to be able to speak with administration because ultimately the reason why this institution exits is for students. And, for students to feel safe and part of a community on campus is really important to me and I believe the administration should hear that from students.
ODE: What qualities and experience qualify you for the position you’re seeking?
LJ: I’ve alway
s had an interest in student government. In high school I was involved in student government. Last year I was an intern on the Student Senate. I am in an a cappella choir. I am helping to facilitate a trip to San Diego. Having good communication is important.
ODE: How will you gauge the concerns of average students and ensure that they are addressed?
LJ: I hope to do a lot of outreach. I hope to have office hours where students could come talk to me, but I would also go to students on campus. I think that, by outreaching and going to talk to students, I’m going to get a good idea of what students want and what students feel is important on campus.
ODE: If you could change on thing about the University of Oregon, what would it be?
LJ: The University of Oregon has a lot to offer students and a lot of students don’t have the opportunity to see what is available, but if students have more opportunity to give feedback and provide ideas and opinions, there’s unbound potential for the things that this university could offer.

James Neste

• Desired position: ASPAC at-large
• Major, class standing, age: Undeclared, sophomore, 19
• Criminal activity charges: None.

ODE: Briefly explain your platform.
JN: Basically what we’re focusing on is mainly keeping the cost of the incidental fee down for students, increasing the amount of tickets for home games, especially for football, kind of, you know, working with the LTD to get the cost of the contract down.
ODE: What qualities and experience qualify you for the position you’re seeking?
JN: You obviously have to be in tune with what the students want. I’m a really outgoing, social person. By putting myself out there, going to the other elected positions, and holding open forums.
ODE: How will you gauge the concerns of average students and ensure that they are addressed?
JN: I’ll have to go and put myself out there and see what students actually believe and think and what they want, and then bringing that forth to the president.
ODE: If you could change on thing about the University of Oregon, what would it be?
JN: I don’t know what I would change. Personally, I would like multipe things, like lower cost of attendance, more tickets to the game, but personally, just me, I don’t think I would change anything. I don’t really know the infrastructure enough to make that decision or make that judgment.