OCR Text |
Show . U1I1UC1 XIjV ASUU Presidential Aspirants i Candidates Debate involvement j By HEIDI SORENSEN j Chronicle Staff Writer ASUU presidential candidates Leon Dever, Steve Gunn and Randy Ran-dy Mackey, clashed Monday in a i noon debate in the Union Ballroom. s , Issues discussed included the Na- j tional Student Association (NSA), T curriculum planning, tuition and I student political and social involvement. involve-ment. John Kesler, present ASUU president, presi-dent, moderated the discussion and asked the candidates prepared questions. He also described the position of ASUU president as one with final responsibility to see that ities, we could hear their gripes." Involvement Concluding the debate, the candidates candi-dates debated the political and social so-cial involvement of the student in the community. Dever's stand was, "We are citizens not just students. It's necessary to take stands on behalf be-half of our fellow students." "It wouldn't have much affect on anyone if we came out with a decision de-cision on Open Housing or liquor by the drink," said Gunn. Randy Mackey's stand was "We have to take a stand on major issues like civil rights and liquor by the drink. "Our campus is more advanced than most," Dever, University coordinator co-ordinator for NSA stated. "But NSA has something to offer us and we have something to offer it. In the past it has provided us with Free U, Course Evaluation and Challenge. I would also advocate sending the chairman - of Artists and Speakers, since programming is done at the convention." Favor Strong Stand "I take a strong stand in favor of NSA," Mackey said. "It offers a lot of tangible benefits, like student stu-dent discount cards and a union of students. It is important to send Leon Dever Steve Gunn Randy Mackey i A' . j 1 ; - ' f i f :.V' HI -' iiBUlmi J. W.'A V, .L,..,',. . . make the students first class on our own campus ..." "... this year we have made a progressive step ..." "... way to get students involved is not to take stands as a whole rr things are done. "He is the only one looking after ASUU as a whole. Not only does he worry about the directions of ASUU, but he tries to coordinate the Council and establish estab-lish unity." State Reasons Leading off the discussion, each candidate was asked to state his direct reasons for running. Dever stated, "It's my objective to make the students first class on our own campus by giving students a voice in course planning, and campus planning. It is necessary in this election year that we as students participate." Gunn said, "Having worked closely with the president this year as assistant to the president, my prime motivation is one of coordination coordin-ation and initiation. I would like to see the continued initiation of programs like Free University, Council of 20 and lobbying." Progressive Step Mackey described his reasons with, "This year we have made a progressive step. We need to continue con-tinue in that direction and implement imple-ment new ideas. Especially this year, being an election year, we have much work to do in the community com-munity and much work to do with legislative lobby." The students were asked to comment com-ment on tuition increases. Gunn favored a contractual tuition. His basic idea was student would sign four year contracts at the beginning begin-ning of college years. "Since students stu-dents can't forsee tuition hikes, it would be an important factor." He felt it would be a realistic proposal, in that students couldn't expect to pay $130 for four years, but that the contract would include a rate formulated on a four year projection." projec-tion." Need Money Mackey stated, "Utah is 48th out of 50 in apportionments to higher educations. The University needs money to operate, and it will have to come from the students. Having a tuition contract would merely shift the burden. Students would end up paying the money in increased in-creased rates in the dorms or at the bookstore." He saw the answer as working through the Legislature. Legisla-ture. Dever agreed with the contractual contract-ual proposal, and added that to make it realistic it should be extended ex-tended to the five year student. ."Since the amount that actually complete their studies in four years, expanding the contracts to five years would include more people. NSA Withdrawal Referring to NSA, Gunn suggested suggest-ed withdrawing and remaining on the mailing list for information, while Mackey and Dever stated they were for remaining a working work-ing part of the organization. Gunn said, "We can derive the same benefit by being on their mailing list. We would be withdrawing with-drawing in the sense we wouldn't send anyone to the conference. Last year, $2000 was spent to send six delegates, who brought back the same that could be obtained by being on the mailing list. delegates so that we have a vote." Referring to the problem of students stu-dents having a voice in curriculum and tenure committees, Mackey said the real level for work is with the department, for students to get a voice in curriculum planning. He also said students need to be represented rep-resented on the Academic Tenure Committee. "Course Evaluation will put pressure here, and show some student opinion." Effective Voice Gunn said, "It will be a long time before students will get an effective effec-tive voice on the Tenure Committee, Commit-tee, since that area is extremely sensitive. We could prehaps gain a voice on granting of tenure by settling for a small beginning like appointing a committee to act as in an advisory capacity in curriculum curricu-lum studies." "We can't start at the top," Dever Dev-er claimed. "We've got to start at the bottom and work up. Course Evaluation was a good step in expressing ex-pressing student opinion of curriculum. curricu-lum. Some departments are interested in-terested in what students are looking look-ing for, we could begin here." When asked what the president's primary responsibility was and how he would handle it, Dever said, "I would make the campus a better place for students. I would do things that affect students like all about how the campus is being built and let the student be heard, how the Bookstore is run, and how students can't park." Individual Interests "I would represent individual interests," in-terests," Mackey claimed. "I would never be too busy to help out with problem in the dorms, bookstore, parking. I would dedicate 24 hours a day to being president which would include living in the dorms and being aware of student problems." prob-lems." "I would try to render service to as many students as possible. I would help those who want to become be-come involved, broadening the base of student support." He also saw the need for improving education. The candidates discussed ways of communicating and getting to the students. Gunn suggested three methods. (1) Assigning members to attend campus meetings like mayors may-ors meetings in the dorms and pan-hellenic. pan-hellenic. (2) Taking a positive step to limit the number of committees one person can be on, thus giving more people a chance. (3) Setting up a marquis on the Union lawn listing the events of the day. Travelling Council Dever's ideas included: (1) Holding Hold-ing Executive Council meetings in various spots about campus like the dorms so that students could see what really goes on. (2) Expanding Ex-panding KUTE to report Executive Council meetings and reading Calling Call-ing U and Publishing an Executive Council bulletin. Mackey's proposal included an executive sound-off. "We could go to students and tell them the problems prob-lems we're faced with and hear their complaints. By going out to them in places like the dorms, LD-SSA, LD-SSA, and fraternities and soror- - . V-'. i.:i:Z I f j f .' - 1 tr K 'i Li 6'i." i Y i . V : r" - 1 ; ". . . having a tuition contract would merely shift the burden "... I would do things that affect af-fect students like all about . . . the Bookstore . . ." "... same benefit by being on their (of NSA) mailing list ..." ( -i f - . . i ' t ...A ". . . NSA has something to offer us and we have something to offer it . . ." ". . . we have to take a stand on major issues like civil rights . . ." . favors contractual tuition with formulated rate . . . |