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Show MONDAY, THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 26, 2001 3 now Your Future Stud ent Leaders BCBBI PARRY Chronicle News Writer photos by Jeremy Harmon Innovation Party fo Experience, vision and focus are three things that set the Innovation party apart, said presidential candidate Steve Nelson. Nelson said his administration would like to see the development of a leadership program under which students would be able to graduate with a "leadership emphasis" on their diploma. The program would include a "training n coursc.a leadership center similar to the Nelson said. and Center scholarships," The center would instruct students in general leadership skills, such as management and conflict resolution, and offer courses for leadership in certain fields of study. "The center would attract people to the U and add a nice polish to a diploma," he said. Nick Paulk, Innovation party candidate, said his party would gauge student interest by establishing regular meetings between ASUU Senate and Assembly members and the student advisory committees (SACs) of each department. It would also carry on the current administration's use of the Student Online Survey, a page on ASUU's Web site where students may voice their opinions on various issues, and of other student forums, he said. Paulk said an advisory board consisting of representatives from each group of campus organizations would become part of ASUU. This board would also increase diversity at ASUU by including representation from every student group on campus, he said. They are trying to set up a system where they can get input from every student, Paulk said. ASUU budget: "We believe it is a misconception to say there is no flexibility in ASUU's budget," Nelson said. According to Nelson, his party plans to reevaluate the budget to ensure all funds are spent to directly benefit students. His administration would also work to create an ASUU development office, whose purpose would be to locate outside sources of funding, such as donations or sponsors for ASUU projects. Tuition: The Innovation party plans to create a Government Relations Team, consisting of the ASUU president, vice president, senior class president, chief of staff and government relations chair, in order to increase the U's voice in the Utah Student Association and the state Legislature. The team would assign various members of the ASUU cabinet to work to lobby the Legislature. Olympics: The Innovation party says it will work to help students become involved in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games through volunteering, temporary jobs and internships. ASUU would also be involved in sponsoring activities such as Olympic sport Ben-nio- Bull Party The party says its candidates represent diverse areas of campus and will work to maintain that diversity while in ASUU. "We have visited with so many different groups and organizations...and will continue to candido so next year," said date Mike Nelson. A major point on the party's platform is the idea of a student referendum, said presidential candidate Ben Lowe. "We want to give students the option of saying where their money goes," he said. The administration would make changes to Redbook, the ASUU constitution, that would allow students to introduce certain issues into the ballot during each election. "Voter turnout would go up" as students voted for the referendum as well as for the candidates, Lowe said. ASUU Budget: Nelson said another focus of the party's platform is a bill known as "Truth in Funding." The bill, which the administration would introduce into ASUU legislation, is based on the "Truth in Tuition" bill currently in the Utah State Legislature. The Truth in Tuition bill requires U administrators to announce all decisions regarding tuition changes prior to their being passed. "It would be hypocritical of us to ask that of the Legislature without doing it ourselves," Nelson said. "The bill would make ASUU accountable, and inform students and administration of specifics of funding." Nelson said many things ASUU currently uses its funding for are not the best use of student fees, and a Truth in Funding bill would "clean things up." The No Bull administration would hold student forums and post statements on the Internet, in addition to other publicity, to keep students informed, Nelson said. Tuition: The No Bull party platform states its administration would carry on the current administration's lobbying efforts in the Legislature, and also continue the current administration's work on a tuition payment plan. Olympics: "The Olympics are a huge opportunity for the U, and we need to take full advantage," said Lowe. A No Bull administration would create the cabinet position of Olympic Chairperson in an effort to seize the advantage of the hosting the Games, he said.' "It would serve as a liaison between ASUU, the Olympic Coordinator's office and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee," Lowe said. The chairperson would plan activities for students during the Olympics, and act as a resource for students interested in volunteering or working in the Games. "We have also been working with SLOC on a big Olympic kick-oparty...with the possibility of national media coverage," he said. ff CHRONICLE NEWS EDITOR U Force Party Unity Party The U Force Party is based on diversity, presidential candidate Lindsey Welker said. Wclker with candidate Jay von Byrd plan to maintain and increase the U's diversity by "touching upon points that will help every student, and make sure every student is heard and protected," she said. According to Welker, the platform itself concentrates on campus safety. "This month, crime after crime was perpetrated; we would make that information readily available to students." The U Force party would offer free classes to students, and would institute a free "Night Ride Program," Welker said. Under this program, students who feel uncomfortable driving alone or riding the bus late, or who are intoxicated would be able get free rides home. "There would be a number students would call, and it would utilize volunteer students" who would provide transportation, Welker said. ASUU budget: "Certain things with the ASUU budget can't be negotiated, such as the 39 percent of the budget given to the Presenter's Office," Welker said. However, the party plans to allocate funds for its safety programs. "We will also spend some of the budget fighting tuition increases," she said. The money spent would go toward keeping students informed and involved in decisions regarding tuition. Tuition: Welker said her administration would continue the work began by ASUU President Jess Dalton and Government Relations Director Kelly Booth. However, the party feels two points dropped from the original bill will need to be addressed in the next year. The original bill required administration to provide students with a" comparison of the tuition-rat- e increases elsewhere and of the rate of inflation. The other point stipulated that the administration had to discuss graduate as well as undergraduate tuition decisions with students. The party would like to see these points included in the bill. "We want to stop anything that is going to hurt students...We want to protect students," Welker said. Olympics: Welker said the platform's most important point is that of bureaucratic accountvice-president- ial self-defen- se ability. Because this is an Olympic year, bureaucratic influences at the U, such as those of the administration and Salt Lake Organizing Committee, will be increased, she said. "We will ensure that people who have authority make students aware of changes," she said. The U Force party would create a cabinet position of Olympic Chair, whose duty would be to work with the Games' organizers to notify students of changes caused by the Olympics. LORIN FISCHER LFISCHERCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU The Unity party said it wants to create a campus community. Presidential candidate Adam Blundell feels diversity is one of the most important points on his party's platform. "We want to create awareness days. ..such as holding Pacific Islander Day in the union; we will have awareness of common interests," Blundell said. He said he and candidate to serve would Katrina Mustoe diversify vice-president- ASUU. "We came together from different parts of campus and utilized different clubs and organizations... to join our party," he said. Once in office, the administration would further diversify ASUU by distributing applications for ASUU positions throughout student clubs, groups, academic departments and other organizations, in order to have as varied a group as possible, Blundell said. The A. Ray Olpin University Union would see changes under Unity party administration, Elundell said. "We have met with Whit Hollis director of the union and...would like to tie the Union Board and ASUU together to make the union a true campus hub," he said. He and Hollis have developed a three- - to plan to improve the union, Blundell 10-ye- ar said. The improvements include a hair and nail salon, dry cleaning, a convenience store and a bank, he said. Blundell said his administration's role in the project would be locating funding and developing a timeline for the project. "We should realize what is best for all U students," including those who are not yet attending school here, he said. ASUU budget: Blundell said his party's plans for the ASUU budget depend upon the current administration's decisions. "It depends on how much flexibility the current administration leaves us," he said He said his administration may shift funding toward more Olympic opportunities as well as revitalizing the union. Tuition: The Unity party plans to continue working for low tuition with the Legislature, Blundell said. He also said his party will ensure the comtuition plan that pletion of a is already in the works. . Olympics: The Unity party will increase campus awareness about changes and oppormulti-payme- nt tunities surrounding the Games by moving the Olympic Coordinator's office to a more centralized location and by actively advertising important Olympic events and dates. The party says it will work to make the union a centralized location for students during the Olympics. 531-704- 1 |