ASUSU presidential hopefuls open up to 25 students
About one out of every 1,000 Utah State University students watched the debate among four of the five men who want to be Associated Students of USU president.
Les Essig, Josh Cook, Brigham Rupp and Mike Robins gave their platform issues Tuesday morning at 11:10 in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom, which was mostly full of empty chairs.
“It was pretty well-publicized,” said ASUSU adviser Keri Mecham. “The posters were there since before Spring Break.”
Fifth candidate Scott Paul, a junior in international studies, showed up a few minutes late.
He said it was originally scheduled in another auditorium, and he didn’t receive the information about the last-minute change due to Gov. Olene Walker’s noon speech. Paul chose not to take his place on the stand, however, partly because of the poor attendance.
“I didn’t want to debate for 15 people,” Paul said. “I think you need people to have a debate.”
Nevertheless, the show had to go on. Ashley Stolworthy, ASUSU public relations vice president, asked most of the questions in the debate, which was divided into three segments: Two-minute introductions, general questions from Stolworthy and ASUSU President Duke Di Stefano, and finally, personalized questions. The question-and-answer session from the audience was supposed to conclude the discussion, but nobody had any questions.
In the introductions, Student Advocate VP Les Essig stated his goals for next year, such as instituting a no-Friday class schedule.
Essig also hopes to include textbook information with registration of classes, get LoveSacs put in the TSC, and increase awareness and improve the legal services students have on campus.
“A lot of students do not know that we have two part-time attorneys working for us,” said Essig, a finance and economics senior. “And they are not being readily used.”
Josh Cook emphasized his years of involvement in many organizations and committees, pointing specifically to his 18-month stint as chairman of the Student Lobbying Committee. He said he has worked with the state Legislature and others “trying to secure funding for Utah State University.”
Cook also wants to move Spring Break week earlier to align it with those of the University of Utah, Weber State University, Utah Valley State College and Dixie College.
He vowed to improve the direct and indirect communication between Extension sites and the main campus.
“We’ve got roughly one-fifth of our student body that goes to Extension sites,” Cook said. “And they really don’t know much of what goes on here at the main campus as far as ASUSU.”
The junior in public relations also hopes to have teacher evaluation forms that determine professors’ raises.
“The students can get a say in whether or not the teachers should get consideration for a raise, instead of [doing it] across the board,” Cook said.
English major Brigham Rupp focused on the roles and expectations of ASUSU.
“The majority of students don’t really know what ASUSU is, what their responsibilities are, what they are doing or what they can do,” Rupp said.
He said that if there are more ways for students to voice concerns, like forums and Web sites, then students can hold their officers accountable for their actions.
Rupp said if he were elected, he would accurately represent students to the administration “so that the students can be sure that we really are representing their best interests.”
Besides ensuring that responsibilities are fulfilled, Rupp’s specific goal is to “get a university radio station here on Utah State.”
Outspoken conservative Mike Robins said, “I want to continue to do what I love to do: Take action on behalf of students.”
College Republican Robins is known for helping to organize the affirmative action bake sale and traditional values petition. He pointed to these and other activities as demonstrations of his ability to get things done, he said.
He only spent $5 on his campaign, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t care,” he said.
Robins, a senior in public relations, said when other candidates were handing out flyers that were later crumpled up and thrown away, he was meeting with state Sen. Lyle Hillyard, and his brother Tom was meeting with Utah House of Representatives Speaker Marty Stephens.
“I don’t want to be a doormat for the administration,” Robins said. “I want to be out registering people to vote.”
Robins’ other main issues were ensuring that textbook prices are lowered to a fair price, and to fix WebMail.
“What is up with WebMail?” shouted Robins. “If any of y’all can fix WebMail, I will vote for you.”
Although Paul didn’t participate in the debate, he released a statement to the media detailing his platform.
It said he wants to implement a dress code, possible modest school uniforms, and he would use his own funds to help bring it about. He stated that because of earnings made on Linux stocks, which he bought with the money he received for selling his share of his company that exported Italian ties, he will never have to work another day in his life. That is, as long as he doesn’t lead a lavish lifestyle.
The statement also said he only came to USU for two reasons: He wants to attend school and learn along with his wife, and he wants to be president of ASUSU.
After the opening mini-speeches, Stolworthy then asked each candidate what he knew about the ASUSU president’s position and why he wanted to fill that position. Also some questions were asked by current ASUSU President Duke Di Stefano.
The candidates mostly restated their positions in these answers, and Robins revised his answer about the frustration with WebMail after Essig said he and the administration were doing “absolutely everything they possibly can” to speed it up.
In a question directed to Rupp, Di Stefano asked him to name one issue ASUSU had dealt with in the past six weeks, what they did to resolve it, and whether Rupp agreed with the solution.
“Well, you got me,” Rupp said. “I can’t tell you one issue ASUSU has faced in the past six weeks.”
Rupp said he had a class during the ASUSU weekly meeting, but said that very few people know what issues ASUSU is working on.
“In the past six weeks, I’ve asked more than 50 students if they can tell me one thing ASUSU has done in the past year,” Rupp said. “And not one person has been able to tell me.”
Robins expressed his frustration with the current administration, saying “this is what our student government does. They get together and have meetings that nobody comes to.”
Those who didn’t come to the debate can still let their voice be heard. The voting for the primaries closes Wednesday at noon. Students can vote at https://webmail.usu.edu.
-marklaroc@cc.usu.edu