The candidates for ASSG positions in the 2011 election are as follows. ASSG candidate profiles are also available on CUSG’s website.
ASSG
EXECUTIVE
Larissa Armand
Age: 21
Year: Junior
Major: Sociology
Ticket: INVEST
Currently serving? Yes: ASSG Secretary and Board Member
What is your No. 1 goal?
My main goal is to increase affordability. Making the best use of student fees is an important first step, but I plan to also address textbook prices and collaborate with the Regents and state legislators to find long-term funding solutions for higher education in Colorado.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
I support groups and programs with the greatest campus impact, either through wide involvement or deep significance to those involved. All groups, new or established, large or small, are crucial to a socially and culturally healthy campus. Surveying students about funding cuts encourages involvement in decision-making and awareness of programs.
Ashley Bernal
Age: 20
Year: Sophomore
Major: Psychology and Chinese Language and Civilization
Ticket: EDGE
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My goal is to try and teach acceptance and equality around campus. Many times people are judged based on what they look like, however you shouldn’t be judged based on physical characteristics, but what your attitude towards education and life is.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
It is sad that any program suffers budget cuts, however it could benefit the whole campus. I would analyze which programs/student groups have the least attendance. Then I would look at the student groups that I know can sustain themselves the best through other means.
Joseph Dinnen
Age: 20
Year: Sophomore
Major: Film
Ticket: INVEST
Currently serving? Yes: ASSG Legislator
What is your No. 1 goal?
Efficiency in the allocation of student fees is crucial in our development as a university. My main goal is to ensure that each student group is receiving equal representation in funding, while avoiding unnecessary allocation to those that do no need it.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
Ultimately, a representative is elected to represent the student body as a whole. Allocating funds should be efficient and in the interest of student population. By addressing individual students and student groups, funding can be allocated in their interest.
Ian Harold
Age: 20
Year: Sophomore
Major: Sociology
Ticket: PROPEL
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal is to represent minority voices on campus like the queer community and to increase involvement between the students and their government.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
PROPEL will support all current programs that enrich the student experience. Efficiencies within programs will be explored in order to cut costs without damaging how students grow and learn.
Luis Morales
Age: 20
Year: Junior
Major: International Spanish for the Professions
Ticket: EDGE
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number 1 goal is to make the campus experience the best for EVERY student regardless of affiliation. I also want to create a better relationship between administration and the student body.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
We will leave it up to the students in which we govern in order to best fulfill the idea of a student-influenced government. We will also take that input and factor that into what we believe to be the best situation for the campus to thrive.
Jennifer Romero
Age: 22
Year: Senior
Major: Ethnic/Women Studies and Gender Studies
Ticket: EDGE
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My goal is to create a campus community which will have a voice and/or opinion that will be heard and taken into consideration to the best of our capacity. By supporting the community I inspire to reflect their best interests.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
Speaking to the programs or student groups directly about their personal impact on our campus community as well as hearing from students how these programs or student groups support their career at the University.
Megan Roper
Age: 21
Year: Junior
Major: Advertising and Studio Art
Ticket: PROPEL
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal is to be truly representative of the students voice. I want students to know that I care deeply about CU, and will not make a decision unless it directly correlates with the ideas of my fellow students. PROPEL the student voice forward!
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
I personally believe that if a student group has positive support from the students, faculty and staff who are involved with it, it should not face cuts at all. College is all about creating memorable experiences through these groups, and I could never take that away from another student.
Connie Vargas
Age: 21
Year: Senior
Major: International Affairs and Political Science
Ticket: EDGE
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
To be an effective advocate for all students. I make it a priority to appreciate the differences in people. In making a real effort to reach out and respect ideas different than my own I can truly show I want all students to be respected, included, and influential.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
One thing I will not support is eliminating entire programs or cutting an organizations budget so much that they are destined to fail. Let me be clear, when cuts are made they will be made logically and the reasoning will and should always make sense to the students.
ASSG
REPRESENTATIVE-
AT-LARGE
Kaylah Braun
Age: 21
Year: Senior
Major: Political Science and Speech, Language and Hearing Science
Ticket: INVEST
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
Reducing Student Fees and making Higher Education more affordable.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
In a time of economic downturn, we should all be expected to face budget cuts. If each program, office and student group operates in a fiscally responsible manner, there should be no need to cut programs or groups.
Cecilia Chavez
Age: 19
Year: Freshman
Major: Sociology and Ethnic Studies
Ticket: EDGE
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
Serve the CU student body and listen to the issues that concern them and work with them in order to reach a solution to the issue. I want to build a stronger community through transparency, visibility and responsiveness. I will strive to represent every student that practices their democracy rights.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
Creating an evaluation on the progress and outcomes of student groups will help to determine what student groups will face cuts. Create dialogue with the student groups and the students that found this groups will be critical to make decisions such as cutting funds.
Blythe Hawthorne-Loizeaux
Age: 18
Year: Freshman
Major: Political Science and International Affairs
Ticket: PROPEL
Currently serving? Yes: Freshman Council
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal for next year is to lobby for more higher education funding at the state and national level. Higher education should be right for anyone who wants to attend
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
PROPEL will support all programs that enriches the student experience. We will continue to look for efficiencies in all the budgets that we oversee but have no plans to cut groups or organizations. PROPEL will use enhanced sustainability practices as a way to lower costs without hurting the student experience.
Helen Katich
Age: 19
Year: Freshman
Major: Humanities
Ticket: EDGE
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
To spend our student fees wisely! Programs that clearly benefit the campus (like the Interactive Theater Project and CoPIRG student chapter) should be protected and encouraged by our student government. I want to represent the students by making myself available to anyone who wishes to get involved in student affairs.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
Student groups that enrich campus life should be preserved. If student groups have clear passion and dedication from the students involved, removing the program is unjustified, even if it cuts down student fees by a couple of dollars.
Lia Korn
Age: 20
Year: Junior
Major: Speech Language and Hearing Sciences
Ticket: PROPEL
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
I think it is very important to make all students heard. Listening to and meeting the needs of many different students and student groups is my largest goal as a ASSG representative.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
By dispersing funds evenly and giving student groups and programs with well organized spending goals (or working with those groups for alternatives when they need help) I think we can help the largest amounts of students the best with their funding and budgeting needs.
Chris Marshall
Age: 20
Year: Junior
Major: Economics
Ticket: INVEST
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal is to raise awareness surrounding the numerous activities and programs our student fees fund through our cost centers while ensuring that our budget is being allocated responsibly.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
First, I will make sure the groups are acting in compliance with the Student Fee Regulations. If they are not violating these regulations I think it is important to consider factors such as the fiscal responsibility of the group and general student participation when making a funding decision.
Chelsea Marroquin
Age: 18
Year: Freshman
Major: Environmental Studies and Policy
Ticket: PROPEL
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal is to make every student feel like an important part of this CU campus community and to know they will have their voices represented in CUSG. I want everyone to find and have a place for him or her to learn and grow as people.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
I feel that no student groups or programs will have to suffer being cut or having their budget reduced if Student Government and Joint Boards come together to find ways to integrate programs, cut out wastefulness in Cost Centers and other programs and look into capital construction student fee.
Margot Ripley
Age: 20
Year: Junior
Major: International Affairs and Political Science
Ticket: PROPEL
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
I intend to work to make CU a place for all current and future Buffs to be proud of and to feel safe and included. The people on this campus have so many awesome ideas to offer to improve our community and I want to see all of that potential utilized.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
I have no desire or intention to cut programs that support CU students and encourage involvement, but I do hope to promote responsible and sustainable spending and operations that will benefit the students needing their services. I want CU to be both affordable and inviting to all.
Sean Robinson
Age: 21
Year: Junior
Major: Political Science
Ticket: INVEST
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My biggest incentive for running is to create a better university, primarily by focusing on student needs. I believe this is achievable by improving transparency between student government and the students, valuing our amazing student groups, and listening to the student body to act on their desires.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
Every student group deserves the opportunity to succeed, no question, I will evaluate groups based on their goals, achievements, and motivations, and give money accordingly to those who truly need more to allow their success to happen. Nevertheless, all student groups will be valued equally, and their success will be encouraged.
Jason Romero
Age: 19
Year: Freshman
Major: Ethnic Studies
Ticket: EDGE
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My major goal is to be a voice for the underrepresented people on this campus. We are affected by the same issues as everyone else, and deserve to have our voices heard on the issues that affect us.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
I believe that those student groups and programs that are the most active and are working to reach the largest audience possible should be funded a reasonable amount. Instead of targeting groups that are very active for cuts, we should be rewarding them.
Logan Schlutz
Age: 18
Year: Freshman
Major: International Affairs
Ticket: INVEST
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal is to keep student fees low and the administration accountable to the students.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
I would cut elements of programs that lack dollar efficiency and serve a minority of students in a way not helpful to their representation or health. We must make cuts to adjust for students struggling in these difficult times, but make cuts that don’t sacrifice what makes CU different from other universities.
Jamie Trafficanda
Age: 20
Year: Junior
Major: International Affairs
Ticket: PROPEL
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal is to make all students feel that they have a voice in CUSG and that their concerns are genuinely being listened to. I want to establish a comfortable environment in which all CU students can come forward and tell CUSG what they want from their student government.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
The last thing I want to do is make such deep cuts to any one program that it can no longer exist or function. With that said, my approach would be to work with student groups and make sure their funding is both needed and used efficiently.
Mitch Whitus
Age: 18
Year: Sophomore
Major: Political Science and History
Ticket: INVEST
Currently serving? No
What is your No. 1 goal?
My number one goal is to reduce student fees while maximizing the benefit that students receive from dollars they pay to the university.
How will you determine which programs to support with fees and which to cut?
The most important aspect to examine in terms of student fees, especially during a period of economic turmoil and decreased state funding to the university, is to determine which programs or student groups are most benefiting the student body for the least money. Those that fall short will be reassessed.
