ASUM candidate profiles

The Kaimin asked ASUM Senate candidates what they, if elected, would do for ASUM. Here are the questions, and what they had to say:

Q1.  What specifically would you like to accomplish as an ASUM senator?

Q2.  What sets you apart from the other candidates?

Q3.  The Montana Legislature will meet in 2009. What would your priorities be when lobbying for students in Helena?

Q4.  If you were to start a band, what would its name be and what kind of music would you play?

Bonggoch (Gail) Tangjaipak
Senior, financial management

Q1: As an ASUM senator I would like to get involved with ASUM transportation. My main concerns are parking on campus, extended bus schedule and a Sunday bus. I want to push for an increase in bus hours and space for students with parking permits. I would also like to work closely with getting students involved in student groups. UM campus has great student groups that need encouragement and promotion. I would like to push the budget increase for each student group so that they could promote their group and gain more student involvement.

Q2: I am from Thailand and I have been living in Missoula for three years, and I love it here. If I have chosen to represent the student voice, I would dedicate my effort to doing so. As a foreign student who studied in many countries and was brought up in a western culture, I have learned to understand people from different backgrounds. Also with my experiences from traveling and meeting people around the world, I have become more creative and tend to have many ways to solve a problem.

Q3: For the Montana Legislative lobbying, my priorities are NOT to increase the tuition fee but to increase funding for transportation. As funding increases, then we could have more transportation options and be able to have longer operating hours and a bus on Sunday.

Q4: My band would be named as Fräastadz, which would play techno music. I like the name because it sounds like a foreign band group, but actually American, just like Haagen Dazs (which people think it’s foreign, but actually an American-owned company).

Yan To Cheung
Junior, accounting/finance

Q1: If I became an ASUM senator, the first thing that I would like to accomplish is to eliminate the $100 repeat fee. The repeat fee is unnecessary and acts like a penalty to the students who make efforts to improve their grades. Students are already bearing an enormous financial burden with their tuition; they don’t want an extra burden from the repeat fee. Second, I hope to voice students’ opinions to Campus Security regarding the inadequate parking spaces for regular permits. Students have a difficult time looking for parking spaces and that’s why they keep getting parking tickets. It is a vicious cycle, but adequate parking spaces can solve this problem. Last, I hope that ASUM transportation can extend Park-N-Ride’s operating hours to Sundays. Sunday transportation is needed to make our campus more accessible.

Q2: As a junior with a dual major in accounting and finance, I have learned accounting and budgeting skills. I hope to use these skills to benefit all student groups by raising their funding to overcome this year’s extreme budget cut. As a peer adviser for the Undergraduate Advising Center, I came to understand students’ academic and financial concerns and want to make their voices heard. Last, I look forward to raising cultural awareness effectively, by using my experiences as the current International Student Association (ISA) Business Manager and incoming ISA President.

Q3: Student loans are definitely my priority when lobbying for students in Helena. I have been talking with students who will end up with loans of $70,000 – $80,000 by the time they graduate. This is not a healthy phenomenon and not the way that the education system should function. Higher education should be affordable to all students.

Q4: If I were to start a band, its name would be “Echo of the Edge” and it would be my pleasure to play the kind of music you want me to play.

Jon Dempersmier
Junior, chemistry

Q1: I have three main objectives as an ASUM senator. First, I’d like to expand the Off-Campus Renter Center to not only pressure more rental agencies to have properties inspected before inhabitance to ensure safety but to expand education programs so students know their rights as renters.  The second thing I’d like to do is work to reduce overhead costs in ASUM to free more money for student groups.  My third and final objective as a senator would be to help organize grassroots efforts here at UM to take to Helena to pressure legislators to keep the price of tuition low.

Q2: What sets me apart from the other candidates is that I’m not running on a “ASUM is terrible” platform.  ASUM can work for students and I intend to make it do so.

Q3: Student lobbying in the 2009 Legislature will be a priority of mine.  The cost of higher education gets higher every year so we need to work with legislators to keep tuition low while maintaining a high quality of education.  To do this, I intend to work to develop student lobbying groups to go to Helena and pressure legislators to keep tuition low.

Q4: If I were to start a band they would be called the Hallmark Heroes and sing TV commercial jingles.

Andrew Dusek
Sophomore, journalism

Q1: I would like to encourage more of an interaction between students, ASUM, and university/state officials through positive dialogue. I want to see more communication, not just during lobbying, but year-round to have the issues that matter put on the agenda and addressed. I would also love to pursue the sustainability issue, make sure student groups receive adequate funding, and make UM a safer, cleaner campus.

Q2: As a journalism student, I can speak my mind and listen to others while accurately reporting back to ASUM what students want. I’m naturally persistent and personable. As an active student, I also represent many different facets of the student body and represent them with “Dusek style.”

Q3: My main priority would be to lobby for a renewed cap on tuition to make attending college more affordable. Other than that, many new issues can arise before 2009 and I’m interested to see what can be done for UM in Helena.

Q4: “Randy Andy and the Deuces Wild” - It would be a fab and trendy rock and roll “experience” that would make women cry and fling undergarments on stage. Not your mother’s British invasion.

Matt Fennell
Sophomore, social work

Q1: As one of three senators running for re-election I hope to continue the work ASUM begun this last year. ASUM has undergone serious expansion. We have a new agency: the Sustainability Center, this should flourish. Essentially, as a direct organized representation of students, ASUM has the role of an advocacy group, not just in sustainability. This, in addition to funding student groups and providing: transportation, childcare, legal services, ensuring safety and more. It’s especially important next year to have a vocal body that’s interested in students’ rights, and is attentive and responsive to student needs because we have national election and it’s the Montana legislative session. We need representatives who can articulate why tuition can’t rise and why funding higher education should be a priority for Montana legislators.

Q2: I’m committed to student interests just like everyone else that’s running. I have a lot of diversity in my experiences as an advocate for student interests that I believe can make a strong contribution to the Senate. For the last two years I’ve acted as President of the Student Social Work Association, I’ve interned with MontPIRG, worked in SESJ, helped found the new printmaking group (M.E.s.S), worked on campus, and I’m a double major in social work and art. Students studying these subjects typically don’t serve in student government. I think all students deserve a voice. I think the difference in my concentration and extra curricular involvement is crucial because I’ve had my hands in a lot of cookie jars, so to speak.

Q3: Tuition. First and foremost tuition cannot increase. The University needs to remain affordable for students. As an out-of-state student I truly appreciate how much a tuition hike would affect the size of my debt. There are many other issues in addition to tuition regarding public institutions of education that will be raised in the legislature. I’ll emphasize at the moment how ASUM should be made up of articulate and informed representatives who are committed to student interests.

Q4: Jug band: four guys and me, blowing across empty growlers. We’d be “The Spirit of a Saint’s Sermon.” I think we’d do a lot of electronica covers, maybe some Zep. Me? I’d be the rebel of the band, the artistic outsider. I know I’d push for a lot of dueling banjo kind of stuff. I think that would be really cool if we could get that sound out.

Justyn Field
Sophomore, pre-journalism

Q1: I’d like to see several things change that are ethically sketchy, perhaps the fee that lets students drop poor scores from a transcript or the mandatory campus meal plans that don’t roll money to the next week…

Q2: I can fit in a locker, so if we ever have to have super-secret meetings…

Q3: I’ll have to wait and see what the tone of the trip is, and find out precisely what can be accomplished.  Would hate to say ‘I’d lobby for lower tuition across the state!’ only to have it be totally ineffective and reflect poorly on the school…

Q4: I’d pick up the copyright to ‘Wyld Stallyns’ ... and the music we’d play would be totally awesome.

Lucas Hamilton
Junior, journalism

Q1: My goal as a senator is to make sure the student run agencies stay student run.  The best educational opportunities available on this campus happen outside of the classroom and in student groups and organizations.

Q2: Quite frankly, we’re all sickeningly alike.  The differences between our campaign messages are about as shallow as the Royal Family’s gene pool.  Yes, I’ll support students.  Yes, I have experience.  Let’s see if we all can’t get over ourselves a bit.

Q3: The Montana Legislature in 2009 will almost assuredly produce some ridiculous bills aimed at damaging the integrity of higher education in this state.  Two years ago, we had to kill that colossal waste of time known as the Academic Bill of Rights.  Senators and representatives in the mold of Bozeman legislator Roger Koopman will no doubt be back with more of the same.  Though I can’t stop them from trying to pull garbage like that, I’ll surely enjoy fighting it.

Q4: We would be the “Dr. Fünke’s 100% Natural Good-Time Family-Band Solution.” We would play Beatles covers and occasionally embark on free-form jazz odysseys.

Tara Haupt
Junior, education/marketing

Q1: I would urge students to become more involved on campus.  It is necessary for the complete college experience.  ASUM was founded to serve the students and that would be my top priority.  I want to make the most informed and fair decisions when allocating funds to student groups.  I want to implement open-door policy so that students feel comfortable voicing complaints and expressing ideas.

Q2: I am very open-minded and willing to accept and work out new ideas.  I would be ecstatic to talk to student groups during the school year and attend meetings and events to get input on how ASUM can better serve the student body.

Q3: My main goal would be to give the student body a voice.  I would also express to the Legislature the benefits of a higher education.  Urging them to lower tuition and keep funding available for all students.

Q4: The band would be The Taradactyls and we would be Indie-Rock.

Adina Kaliyeva
Junior, Finance

Q1: I am hoping to be part of the ASUM senate to voice student’s concerns and learn more about the issues that students face. It is important to work as a team and create new events that will help ASUM reach other student groups on campus. We need to gather ideas and thoughts on campus issues from the student leaders and increase support of other organizations.

Q2: I was born in Kazakhstan. I traveled all my life and adapted to different cultures. I came to the University of Montana in the fall of 2005. I love the Missoula community and campus. I am a very outgoing person. I joined the peer advising program in Spring 2006 and still am an active peer adviser on campus. I am a dedicated volunteer and a secretary for the International Student Association since fall 2006.

Q3: I would treat every issue facing the students with respect. I would stand for increased student involvement with the help of student leaders for promoting diversity and resolving issues. I would like to see improved ASUM transportation services by extending bus hours on campus.

Q4: The name of the band would be Techno Classic. The band would play mix of classical and club music.

Tyler Kondelik
Sophomore, recreation management

Q1: I believe that the students need a pro-active voice in senate affairs.  I want our student body to know that I am adamant about representing all student interests as best I can on the senate.  Part of this will be fighting against university policy that you as students don’t agree with.  I will also see to it that any student group is representative of student diversity and tastes while promoting active university involvement will be funded.  Also, you as students should be entitled to a more beautiful and greener campus.  In ordered to exemplify the rugged, forested, Missoula image, I propose to fill in the gaps on campus with more vegetation and pine to make our university greener and more intrinsically appealing to students and faculty. 

Q2: Well bullshit aside, I’m not planning on sitting on this senate to keep my mouth shut.  If there is a proposal that I don’t believe the general student body would allocate, I will do everything in my power to attack the problem at the source.  This includes appealing directly to administrators who a lot of time when developing student policy have their heads so far up their asses they need someone to bring them back to earth.  Unlike other potential candidates who may take a back seat to disagreeable student policy, I will not.

Q3: Doesn’t it seem a bit strange that despite all of the tax dollars that we and our parents pump back into this economy, we’re still paying a fortune just to educate ourselves?  I think Montana education needs to be better than other state not only as far as educational quality goes, but on an affordability level as well.  I will certainly lobby for more of taxes to go to this ludicrously expensive education of ours and less to pathetic foreign wars that we do not believe in the first place.  I don’t want to see my future generations go even more broke than I have paying for college.

Q4: DCB - Drunken cheddar and the bong. Reggae for sure

Mary Martin
Freshman, exercise science

Q1: I would like to keep the focus on student groups, because they are a vital part of the community. I would also like to keep improving the university wherever any problem areas might crop up.

Q2: I’ve been in many different leadership positions, and I’m confident that I am a good leader. I love and prefer to work in a team setting though and I get along with many personalities.

Q3: The cost of being a student is definitely one of the most important things in schools nationwide, not just Montana. Where our tuition money goes, how we get the funds to actually hire new professors, how different departments get money to support themselves, getting more available parking ... it all needs to be looked at. It is so important to get a college education, but many do not want to be in debt all their lives because of getting a degree to further themselves.

Q4: Back in the day, a couple of friends and I wanted to start a band called the Bleeding Hearts, and at that time, play punk rock. Now ... it’d have something to do with country music in general ... and be called the Hannah Dolls.

Emily May
freshman, environmental studies

Q1: Two principle issues concern me: (1) recycling; and (2) student safety. If elected to ASUM Senate I want to expand and streamline UM’s recycling program.  I think it is also important that we expand programs like the escort service and SARC.

Q2:  I haven’t really noticed any other candidates who look like me so this one should be obvious. Beyond looks, well let’s see. There’s the obvious affinity for pteranodons and swine. Then there’s my animal instincts, aversion to pussyfooting around, and singular love for John Wilke (my partner is this ASUM Senate coup).  Oh, and I have an outty bellybutton.

Q3:  I think almost every student wants and expects the same thing from the Legislature: affordable tuition.  I want to help legislators understand that keeping tuition to a minimum doesn’t just help the proverbial “poor college student,” but insures the future of Montana’s work force and economy.

Q4: I already have a band in the works.  It is an ass rocky/glam rocky tribute to all things glittery called Hot n’ Spicy Microwaveable Pork Rinds (HSMPR). We just want to wear feathers AND cutoffs.

Sean Morrison
Junior, English literature/economics

I’ve been with ASUM for close to two years as a senator. I’m finishing my junior year this spring, double majoring in English literature and economics with a minor in French. As one of four siblings who all attended the University of Montana, I’ve enjoyed my experience immensely. I believe that ASUM provides necessary programs all across campus, programs that benefit our entire community. We need to continue our support for those programs, paying diligent attention to the details. We also need creative solutions to funding shortfalls, outside of higher student fees. I propose we make grants a high priority for our students groups. I also believe we can build an endowment fund uniquely for ASUM and our member groups. I would be grateful if given the opportunity to continue my service.

Q1. I’d like to establish outside revenue sources for student groups and ASUM via an endowment and grant workshops.

Q2. Experience; I’ve been here for two years. I love having new people on senate, but institutional memory serves a purpose. Sometimes it takes a little while to figure out how and where change will be most effective.

Q3. I have some experience at the capital, and I think the two priorities, or where our input will have the most impact are 1) securing financial support for the university and 2) preserving the classroom as an open space for both teachers and students to express themselves.

Q4. I was in a punk/grunge band for a while, but now I think I’d play alt-country/folk under some moody, quasi-emo title. I still have some music from the interim online at http://www.myspace.com/sean0815.

Drew Christopher Nelson
Sophomore, business management/international business

Q1: My top responsibility if elected to the ASUM senate would be to address every issue brought to my attention by the students of the University of Montana. My personal objective would be to initiate programs to increase the efficiency of all on campus operations with the intent of using the savings to cut fees, expenses, and possibly maintain a tuition cap. I would also like to look into cutting down the University’s administrative bureaucracy so more state appropriated funds and tuition go directly to financing our educations, improving the sustainability of student groups and hopefully helping free minds find their passion, bring ambitions to fruition and make dreams come true.

Q2: My great-grandmother, great-uncle, aunt, both parents and brother studied here at U of M. If all their paths had not crossed these grounds, I probably would not exist. On account of that assumption I believe I owe the University of Montana a debt of gratitude for the very fact that I exist. I would be honored if given the chance to repay a portion of that debt by representing my peers as a member of the ASUM Senate.

Q3: Considering the cost of a higher education in this day and age it takes a lot of commitment to be a college student. That commitment is a function of an individuals’ dedication to the pursuit of one’s dreams. Our dreams are what we all have in common because EVERYONE has them. The pursuit of a higher education is a reflection of one’s RESOLVE to put forth the EFFORT to INNOVATE themselves in order to be better prepared to fight to make their dreams come true. I would ask the Montana Legislature to help us, help ourselves, because if too many of our generations dreams go unfulfilled, then not only our dreams will disappear, but the dreams of our children and grandchildren may vanish as well.

Q4: My band would be called TRN. That’s short for Triple R North, or the Radical Renegade Representatives of the North. It would be hip-hop/rap. The beats would incorporate elements of Southern Bass Heavy KRUNK, Bay Area High Energy HYPHY, and some distinctly NORTHERN flavors unique to the 406 and surrounding areas. It would all be laced with lines and lyrics from ladies and lads who call Montana home.

Svein Newman
Junior, political science

Q1: ASUM has overwhelming potential to affect positive change on campus. It’s more than just a forum for student advocacy and a funding dispenser (though both of these jobs are incredibly important). Few people know, for instance, about childcare, legal services, dispute resolution, renter advice/advocacy, and other programs run by ASUM. I would like to work both to expand awareness of those services by providing pro-active outreach to the campus community, and to provide them with the resources they need to continue delivering for students. ASUM is expanding. This year saw a massive reinvestment of energy into the Renter Center and the creation of a new Sustainability Center. I think it’s important that this growth continue. This is especially important with the Sustainability Center. There is a lot of momentum around greening this campus, and I am wholeheartedly dedicated to it. Another issue that is near and dear to my heart is ethical purchasing. I applaud the steps that the university has taken in the past in this regard, and will work to continue this trend. That being said, ASUM is a representative body, so I would always be open to student concerns and dedicated to raising issues that get brought to me. Since there are only 20 of us to represent thousands of students, it is important that ASUM remains as open and approachable as possible.

Q2: ASUM has a lot of fresh candidates running this year. I think that’s spectacular. New voices are critical to maximizing ASUM’s potential. Experience, however, also has a place. Having served on a wide array of ASUM committees over the last two years, I have the institutional experience to hit the ground running, and to help others do the same.

Q3: During the last legislative session, the ASUM lobbyist did a spectacular job working for Governor Schweitzer’s College Affordability Plan. I think the same issue is pertinent today. Recognizing the heavy burden that most students face, I dedicate to working to keep college affordable. I’m open to suggestions from people as to what they would like to see ASUM push for. Student involvement is overwhelmingly critical. If we take people to Helena so that legislators can connect faces and voices with the issues they’re voting on, we have real potential to score a huge victory for UM.

Q4: If there’s one thing I know in life, it’s this: We’d be a glam rock band named Moonscissor.

Sky Orndoff
Senior, environmental studies/resource conservation

Q1: I see the University as an ecosystem.  When that system is functioning properly, people enter, they work hard, they play hard, they learn profound things and they leave with a heightened ability to go out and change the world.  When things get in the way of this–anything from poor childcare, feeling unsafe, being strapped for money to pay for school, bad campus accessibility, a bad living situation, or having to work too much, the University ecosystem isn’t functioning properly.  My goal as an ASUM senator is to help the University provide the best possible services to its students, to ensure they get the highest quality, most enjoyable, and most forceful education they can.

Q2: I see people as beautiful.  I see humanity as defined not by intelligence or achievement, but by our kindness.

Q3: As students, we need a lot of support to help us grow.  It shouldn’t be only the children of wealthy parents who receive this support.  First of all, we need better State funding for education to reduce tuition and fees.  If a student is working 40 hours a week to pay the bills, it doesn’t leave much time for other things.  But we have diverse other needs as well.  In particular, a single-payer health insurance option would greatly benefit our state economically, and the students individually.  I’ll also work to reduce our environmental impacts, to ensure that in 200 years there will be students around to enjoy this beautiful University.

Q4: The Dancing Belugas—we’d play Raffi covers.

Sean Schilke
Junior, pharmacy

Q1: As an ASUM Senator I would like to enhance student life on campus as much as possible. Primarily, I would like to see more intelligent and expanded funding of student groups. I would like to see ASUM interact with its student groups more often, especially when coming to financial matters. I would like to see student dollars going to a diverse group of activities that benefit the most students the greatest amount. Secondly, I would like to participate in reforming student parking. I believe that parking is a huge issue on campus and would like to see parking allocated differently, especially at night, when there is no open parking available outside of dorms and students have to walk across a campus that isn’t as safe as we’d like it to be. Moreover, I would like to start discussion on how to lessen the daytime parking issues, something that will be challenge fraught with huge and sensitive obstacles. My other issues are relatively minor to this, and include a space on campus for students to smoke that is protected from the elements yet not bothering non-smokers, eliminating the $88,000 administrative assessment–essentially a 10 percent tax of ASUM’s $880,000 dollar budget that doesn’t go directly towards ASUM’s agencies or groups, making campus more accessible, and making ASUM responsive to student needs and easier to understand and participate in. Twenty-three people do not know the inherent will of the student body and must be willing to do what will benefit students and this university as a whole.

Q2: Out of twenty-eight other senatorial candidates, I’m sure that our similarities are much greater than our differences.

Q3: In order for Board of Regents to not increase student tuition drastically, I would be in obvious support of increasing the state subsidy. However, I feel the greatest amount of easing the monetary burden of students would be accomplished through making housing more affordable and finding more ways assist students in easing costs such as fees, books and board.

Q4:  The Electroshock Orchestra and Modernly Interpreted Medieval Music

Katie Singer
Junior, business marketing

Q1: As an ASUM Senator I would hope to be able to create a better relationship between ASUM and the students and student groups that it is suppose to represent.  It seems currently the main time ASUM meets with students is during budgeting in the spring.  I really feel that open and continuous communication would make students feel more connected with ASUM and it would also help ASUM better provide for the needs of those students.

Q2: I feel that one of the things that would make me a good candidate is that I am already involved in campus and so I can easily relate to the needs of students.  I also am willing to take the time to listen to what students want and would keep their needs my top priority.

Q3: When this Legislature meets, my priority for lobbying is keeping tuition affordable for everyone.  Keeping a cap on tuition is great and I would love to make sure it stays like that.

Q4: If I were to start a band I would definitely play music that was fun and energizing and easy to listen too.  Songs that would just make the listener smile and put them in a good mood.  It needs to be the type of music that can be appreciated for years to come and by all different generations not like some of the stuff that comes out now where after listening to it once you have already had enough of it.  It would also have to have a strong beat and meaningful lyrics.  I would also call my band something like Katie & The Cupcakes because it seems to me that a band’s chances for success are greatly improved when they have “&” in it...think about it Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Micheal Franti & Spearhead, K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Angels & Airwaves...i could go on but i won’t!

Whitney Sjostrom
Freshman, political science

Q1: As an ASUM senator I hope to accomplish more student involvement. It is single -handedly the most important issue on campus. Without the students there is no University system. I think it is important to eliminate the bureaucracies and have students be more hands on and direct in what they want on campus. I plan on focusing on issues more closely related with day-to-day lives of the students. If students want better recycling facilities, political involvement, environment awareness programs, whatever! Then this is what ASUM should be concerning itself with. ASUM’s responsibility is to provide for the student body. I want to take on that responsibility, because happy students means better living for all.

Q2: Diversity is why I stand out from the other candidates. I am a person with lots of interests, meaning that I have taken the time to go to a variety of events around campus and explore the many unique groups on campus. Seeing first hand the issues that face them. It is because of this that I feel like I am better qualified to represent the student body. I know that it is not the big issues that concern most students, it is the little things that people are passionate about that matter most. I am the candidate that will prioritize your passions above the political refuse.

Q3: I think an important thing to remember is that lobbying implies that you are trying to convince someone who has the authority to accomplish what you want. So my thought is that instead of trying to convince a bunch of Montana Senators to lower tuition, something that is not very influenced by student because it will probably come down to politics anyhow. I think the ASUM should focus on more specific ideas, ones that are simple and are within the power of ASUM to accomplish. Such as providing organizations/students on campus with availability to grant money and scholarships, and implementing programs on campus to force the campus to run more efficiently, in turn saving students money on unnecessary fees. If ASUM set its scope to more realistic goals it would better serve the student body and I am going to be the person to make that happen.

Q4: The mindless sheep – I would play music about how people should follow their own path in life and not just jump on the bandwagon.

Aly Spear
Sophomore, athletic training

Q1: Initially, I was drawn to run for ASUM senator simply to become more involved in our school and understand issues directly affecting us as students.  As I learn more about topics discussed at meeting and speak with friends who currently serve on Senate, I realize that my main goal is to emphasize that EVERY student’s voice matters.  I plan to educate my peers regarding old issues, while also encouraging a more progressive way of thinking by bringing new issues to life.

Q2: I am unlike any other candidate in the fact that I do not vacillate on issues once I have weighed out the pros and cons.  I am methodical thinker who is genuinely concerned about others around me.  My friends, family, and faculty can all vouch that when I direct my energy toward something, I put absolutely all I can into it.  I will act as an approachable person to my peers, listening to every voice around me, and push to increase student awareness.  Also, having experienced the collegiate lifestyle on a different college campus, I am able to bring a fresh and diverse perspective.

Q3: As we all know, college is becoming almost unaffordable with each coming year.  We not only need to push to raise awareness of this issue by lobbying for a tuition cap, but we need to stress for more scholarships and loans to be available, especially for students coming from a middle-class family who are in many cases limited in their ability to receive financial aid.  I want to act as an outlet for my peers, relay information back to the students, and push to get people excited and aware of issues, such as tuition caps, directly affecting us.

Q4: Anyone who knows me could say that my ability to start a band would immediately be terminated after they heard my a cappella version of the classic, “Take me home” by Phil Collins.  However… if by the miracle of God, I were blessed with an amazing voice, I would definitely name my band Sweet Nector.  I would be the choreographer because I know how to break it down.  Sweet Nector would play a variety of music, touching on classics from musical genius Ben Harper, to the classic soul sound of Boyz II Men. We would incorporate a multitude of instruments, from marimba to saxophone, providing a soothing, but delicious experience for the ears.

Dan Stusek
Junior, political science
Q1: There are a few issues where ASUM could better serve the students on campus.  Transportation, parking and eliminating the out of date retake fee are a few examples.  We should limit the amount of worthless resolutions therefore making the ones we focus on better and more important.  Sustainability and sweatshops shouldn’t be priorities for ASUM as I feel they are outside of ASUM’s jurisdiction.

Q2: I have experience working for a MT senator in D.C. and working for our congressman here in Missoula.  I have spent the last three years being very involved both on campus and around MT and feel I could be a great minority conservative voice on ASUM.

Q3: I hope to serve in the Montana Legislature during this next session.  I am running for house district 92 in the Rattlesnake. I feel this is no better, more direct way to serve the students of our university than by serving on the government body itself.

Q4: It would be the Jody Miller band as he is the best musician I know! We would play great country music with heros such as Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Gary Allen, Chris Cagle, and of course...Taylor Swift.

John Wilke
Freshman, political science

Q1: With the costs of everything from food, gas, and energy skyrocketing, I think the need is greater than ever for the University to be a more sustainable place, both to save money and for the sake of the environment. To do this, I would support the Food Zoo and students to continue cutting down on food waste, back any necessary funding to continue and expand the U-Dash and Park-N-Ride bus systems, stand behind Governor Schweitzer’s request that all state agencies cut energy consumption by 20 percent in the next two years, and take advantage of the expiration of the University’s Coca-Cola contract to get more funding and enhance the on-campus recycling program. Outside of sustainability, I would like to continue and expand necessary funding to students groups, clubs, events and intramural sports, and lobby the state legislature for higher education funding.

Q2: I think a better question is what doesn’t set me apart, aside from Sean Schilke sharing the basic rhyme scheme of my name, I’m only 19 years old, I smoke a pipe, and have a receding hairline and a beard. If that doesn’t spell out wisdom, I don’t know what does.

The only candidate who comes close to and ultimately to par with my level of perfection is Emily May. God love her.

Q3: Of the issues before the state legislature, I think expanded higher education funding is the one that matters the most to the broadest range of students, for obvious reasons. The costs of tuition and fees are growing faster than students are able to keep up with. People who want to stay in school but cannot afford it are forced to choose between student loans with ridiculous interest rates and dropping out and working until they save up enough to pay for another semester. I would ask the state legislature not to look at higher education funding as “throwing money at the poor college kids,” but rather for them to see it as an investment in our states future, a chance to guarantee the next generation of Montanans a chance at graduating college and being competitive with other states on the national scene. But if that were to fail I would beg them to lower the drinking age to 18, or at least put PBR in all the vending machines on campus.

Q4: I’ve thought about this for a while now, here it is: Lewis, Clark & the Portuguese Redemption. If I had the final say, my band would play some Oriental blues with a smooth G-slide funk.

Daniel Zolnikov
Junior, business management/information systems

Honestly, look at the other candidates. They have little in common with the majority of students on campus. Nearly all of the students on campus consider ASUM senators out of touch and nerdy. A large amount of ASUM students aren’t concerned about issues and are more focused on having their own social lives and school to worry about. Basically, the whole idea of ASUM actually representing students is unrealistic today.

As a student, I work out at the gym, recycle and tend to spend my weekends playing beer pong, going downtown and sometimes waking up in a less than satisfactory state of mind. I was raised in a small town in Montana. I pay for my own tuition, books, car, gas and beer and have held many numerous jobs. I have studied abroad which puts me in touch with the international students, be it I was one. I also know quite the range of UM kids, from athletes, to pharmacy students, from students involved in the Greek system, concentrating on community and University involvement, to people who work towards environmental friendly standards. I find it funny that most “eco- friendly” candidates printed up thousands of fliers. Wouldn’t you say hypocrites? The Kaimin is the only paper I have used, and I found it justifiable since the paper would have been used anyway.

As a double business major, political science minor and poor student, I understand how, why and when to use money, or more likely not use money. Give money to a political science major and the correct and responsible concepts of spending tens of thousands of dollars goes right out the window; our government of today is proof!

I am advocating strong fiscal responsibility for unnecessary expenditures while I also am for supporting and rewarding groups that do something for our campus, community and state. I feel that there are a few other candidates who are actually in touch. Their goals may differ from mine, but would represent the student body fairly well. These candidates include Mary Kettering and Dan Stusek.