Get to know the candidates: ENGINEERING SENATOR
CHAD BROWN
Helping engineering freshmen and sophomores survive the rigors of college is something Chad Brown, a candidate for Engineering senator, hopes to accomplish.
* Why should students care about ASUSU?
The ability to interact with various people is a must for prospective ASUSU senators, Brown said. This is an area in which he fits the position, he said.
“I’ve struggled through school like everybody else, and so I can relate well with everybody,” he said. “I think that’s what sets me apart.”
* How do your platform and qualifications relate to the position you are running for?
To help engineering students in their academic efforts, Brown said he plans on implementing a “mentoring program to help freshmen and sophomores that are struggling to make it through the program” — something that wasn’t listed in his original platform.
“I know what it’s like to get a test score back and get a 60 on an exam, and feel like it’s the end of the world,” he said. “But I know you can keep working hard, and that you can make it through that.”
* What are some of the concerns you would address at ASUSU meetings?
With the termination of the welding and computer-aided drafting programs, Brown said he, as well as other students, are concerned about the future of other, smaller programs.
“With the welding engineering program, I don’t feel that those students’ opinions were properly addressed,” he said. “I feel the decision was made without the voice of the student, and I feel that put a shock into the other engineering programs.”
* Does your platform of increasing communications between students and the dean of the College of Engineering stem from the program cuts?
Brown said the program cuts weighed into that part of his platform, but said he has felt “you should be able to voice your concerns to him, and he should address those concerns.”
–jasonwturner@cc.usu.edu
ADAM JONES
Promoting community involvement for the College of Engineering is the primary goal of Adam Jones, a candidate for Engineering senator, and is something he said the program needs for future growth.
* Why should students care about ASUSU?
The biggest things Jones said he feels make him the right person for the job are his desire to accomplish his goals and his ability to consider the long-term future of the program.
“I really believe that if you have a desire and you have goals, you’ll get somewhere and you push for things to happen.”
* How do your platform and qualifications relate to the position you are running for?
“I’ve been on the Engineering Council for two years. I know how things run. I’ve worked with the adviser for the College of Engineering on a weekly basis.”
* What is you response to your college’s recently announced program cuts?
While he said it concerned him, he felt the basis of the decision was complex and went well beyond the dean of the college. With the budget difficulties for higher education, a tough decision had to be made, he said.
“I don’t like it, but what do you do?” he said. “As students, we can complain and we can say, ‘Keep the welding and technology program,’ and I wish I could. But the decision goes way above me.”
* What are some of the things you plan on doing to help raise money for the college?
Jones said it is imperative engineering students are able to show members of the community visual, hands-on projects, such as robots. Only then will people support it fiscally, he said.
“If we can make it so the community is involved, I think the community will say, ‘You know what? The College of Engineering is really turning out some good individuals that are going to benefit our economy.'”
* How do you plan on raising community awareness?
Jones said he plans to use local radio stations to spread the word about activities, such as Engineering Week. Holding the activities at a feasible time is also a must, he said.
“I’d like it so the Engineering Week activities happen maybe at 5 o’clock at night so people getting off of work can see these things.”
–jasonwturner@cc.usu.edu