Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) Associated Student Government (ASG) is holding their elections. After being delayed from April because of the coronavirus pandemic, the elections will be available for students to vote in from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, closing at 5 p.m.
Among the positions up for election are President and Vice President (VP). The two tickets up for the President and VP positions are Angel Bautista and Daniel Haas, and Logan Taylor and Colton Rupple. Every candidate has prior experience with ASG.
Bautista & Haas
Bautista was the Vice President for ASG last year and has served as the Assistant Coordinator for the Latino Student Alliance. He also had been a student representative for CMU’s Faculty Senate.
“There are a couple things I want to do,” Bautista said. “Mental health is something that’s close and dear to my heart, all students, all faculty members and all administration, we all go through mental health issues, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic [. . .] I want to create a mental health initiative where we can have resources available and break the stigma where it’s okay to not be okay.”
In addition to expanding on-campus mental health resources and awareness, Bautista also wants to focus on safety.
“Campus safety is one of our biggest things we want to dress as well. Campus safety is entirely one of the biggest things we need to focus on, and I don’t think it gets much attention paid to. We address it well but we can always do better,” Bautista said.
Bautista’s running mate Daniel Haus has served as the VP of the Sexual Assault Prevention Club (SAP), as well as the Graduate Senator in ASG.
“I chose Daniel Haas because he had a strong connection with the [SAP], he had a good connection with sustainability, a good connection with a lot of the community groups I don’t really have connections to. So I picked him mainly because there were students that I would have not been able to represent,” Bautista said.
Taylor & Rupple
Logan Taylor has served as the Assistant Coordinator for the Ho’olokahi Polynesian Alliance and Chief of Staff for the Student Body President during his time at CMU.
“I believe that the student body President is the bridge between administration and students. Someone that voices the concerns of the students and is the one to find common ground to beneficially affect all of CMU,” Taylor said.
A big concern for Taylor and Rupple is student safety. “We want our family to stay in touch, stay inclusive and sustainable,” Taylor said. “Our main concern is that students, faculty and staff are safe throughout [the semester].
Another concern for Taylor and Rupple is the biennial for student organizations. It’s the reallocation of student fees to fund organizations for the next two years. “The campus is growing, ASG organizations are growing. So we’re going to have to accurately reflect our growth,” Taylor said.
Rupple has served in the past for ASG as Senate Leader and Speaker of the House, as well as a Freshman Senator. He currently serves as the Budget Coordinator for the Programming Activities Club (PAC).
“Colton is a key figure in student activities,” Taylor said of his VP pick. “He is a Senior Resident Assistant, and has been the CAB (Club Advisory Board) Assistant Director. He has also been through the previous biennial, which exemplifies more experience than any of the other candidates.”
Students will be able to vote on the candidates through MAVZone starting Aug 31.
—- I want to break the stigma of mental illnesses…
Breaking it would have to start with breaking those taught and teaching it. We accept them far too readily.