Get to know the candidates: SCIENCE SENATOR
STEVE SKINNER
Focusing on realistic goals and getting motivated students to help are the key factors behind science senator candidate Steve Skinner’s platform, he said.
* Why should students care about ASUSU?
The student’s have a voice at USU through the student government and are represented by ASUSU, Skinner said.
“We kind of take care of their needs and their concerns,” he said.
* What research have you done for your platform?
Working with senators in the past has given him an idea of what can be implemented and what can’t, Skinner said.
“During the past couple of years, the senators have had some good goals and some really lofty ones, but I thought, ‘let’s be realistic,'” he said.
Skinner said he has been in the college for three years, and so he has a good knowledge of the faculty and the departments and what will benefit them.
* How do your platform and qualification relate to your position?
Being on the Science Council and working with the Science senator have given him a lot of experience and helped him learn what is necessary for the position, Skinner said.
He knows what can be accomplished and has created realistic goals, he said.
* How does your platform differ from past platforms, and how do you plan on continuing current programs?
Continuing successful programs from the past and implementing programs that would continue after he’s finished are his main focus, Skinner said.
One of his biggest goals is to push for undergraduate research.
His personal experience with research has helped him and made him “feel more like a scientist,” he said.
Skinner also said he wants to promote the college newsletter and help establish a college ombudsman.
“Some of the ideas are from the past, but they haven’t really been implemented well,” Skinner said. “I think these are some really good ideas and good programs.”
To accomplish his goals, Skinner said, he wants to expand the Science Council to get more people involved.
“I know the larger goals probably won’t happen if I don’t have a lot of motivated people helping me out,” he said.
–slbk5@cc.usu.edu
RYAN MALNAR
Ryan Malnar, Science senator candidate, said his goals are to market the College of Science and promote student research.
* Why should students care about ASUSU?
With recent increases, student fees have been an issue on campus, and Malnar said students should be concerned with what the fees go toward.
He said ASUSU is largely responsible for where the fees are directed and whether they are being used correctly, so “obviously there should be a lot of concern there [by students].”
* What research have you done for your platform?
Meeting with the dean of the College of Science and the college departments has been a big part in establishing his campaign, Malnar said.
“I contacted all the departments and the academic resource center to find out how things are working,” he said.
* How do your platform and qualifications relate to the position you are running for?
Malnar said owning his own business, helping to start the pre-law society, and being one of the first transfer ambassadors have been helpful in giving him leadership experience and starting things from scratch.
“Just that experience of starting things new, I’m not going to be stuck in the rut of doing things the same old way,” Malnar said.
* How does your platform differ from past platforms, and how do you plan on continuing current programs?
Promoting student research and marketing the College of Science are two of his main areas of focus, Malnar said.
There are opportunities for students, he said, and he wants to get them involved by making the opportunities more available.
To market the college, and promote research, Malnar said he wants to continue to work on the college newsletter and post it as a Web site to save on costs and make it more accessible.
Finally, Malnar said he wants to establish a network of tutors and mentors, based on the model of the Chemistry Club, to help students.
“I want to aggressively get more tutors, even for upper-division classes, where a lot of students need more help,” he said.
To accomplish this, Malnar said he will organize clubs in the different departments.
–slbk5@cc.usu.edu