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Show Wednesday, May 15, 1991 nnn n lie ii . j !' I; t i .' ; j i i ? .-' ; , i i a s it ' l F S. Ui t. ! f : -.-;:-' -, , .-1 " iy f :., ? ASWSU President Doug Peterson, chair of the "Save the Library" campaign infront of the WSU Stewart Library. Color photos By Jim Sawdey Photo Editor of The Signpost Student fees. Library, parking, community involvement Peterson reviews progress in office, ASWSU By Christine Rasmussen U.Post Editor of The Sgnpost While he has said that he is glad it is almost over, Doug Peterson said he feels very positive about the job he has done as serving as president of the Associated Students of Weber State University. "It has been a very successful year," Peterson said of his performance which began June 1990. "As a candidate for this position," he said, "I said I would do my best to not raise student fees during my term, and I was able to do that." "It is true that the budget this year had an increase of one percent, but the budget for the 1992-1993 year, which was approved during my term as president, will have a decrease in total cost of student fees." Peterson said this budget will be the first one in twelve years that student fees have not been raised and that is one of the goals that I wanted to acomplish. Peterson has also been in charge of the ASWSU fund raising campaign for the Stewart Library. Of the $39,850 that Weber State was chal-langed by the state legistlature to raise, over $30,000 has been received without the raising of student fees which Peterson had the capability of doing. "The Board of Regents are very impressed with the fact that all of the money that we have raised is by student generated donations," Peterson said. Another achievement during Peterson's administration was the allocation of more parking areas in the location of the Swenson Gym and expansion of the A-l lot for both visitors to the campus, workers and students. "The parking problem will not be solved by the new areas," Peterson said, "but it will assist those who are here for a limited time." Peterson and other ASWSU officers have introduced several new programs to compliment the concept of Weber State being modeled as a Metropolitan University encouraging student's involvement in the community. Weber County voter registration can now occur with registration to WSU. Peterson said that hebelieves that being informed about the local communities is a valuable part of a person's education and the ability for incoming freshman and transfer students to register is an important community role that everyone should be involved in. 'The ASWSU Elementary School Letter-Writing Campaign which I have started to develop offers university students a chance to enrich the life of a local sixth grade student by telling their views of the importance of education," he said. Aside from providing a role model for the youth, Peterson says he believes that the WSU student will become involved in the community and care about the future of education on all levels. "The year's not over yet," Peterson said optimistically about the chance of him completing all of the goals and projects that he had set for his term as president. "During the last few weeks of school I hope to finish andor start on some of the plans I wanted to do this year," Peterson said. "Some of the issues that I haven't been able to focus on I will speak with ASWSU President-elect Shane Stewart about, so maybe they can be addressed during his term." Peterson admits that the year has not been without some problems. "There are many people in the Botany Club who don't like me for not allowing student fees to fund a memorial garden for Dr. Michael Cousens. It's not that it isn't a good cause, but that is not what student fees are for." Even with all the successes and controversies, Peterson admitted that he believes he did a fair job during his term as ASWSU president. "It took a few months to learn all of the responsibilities and to gain the trust of people you work with, to learn everything and make relationships," Peterson said, "and not that it is ever all learned, but when you begin to master it, either something new occurs, or your term is over." Peterson decided not to run for a second term due to educational reasons and because he feels he wouldn't learn as much which would allow his effectiveness to decreases. "It has been very rewarding to me to see programs done and I believe that ASWSU has risen in credibility and stature," Peterson said. "When students realize the importance of student officers and that they do have a voice in what happens at Weber State, I think a good working relationship can be developed with the administration and positive things can occur." NfW titi i i i i i |