News Reporter
Photo by: Michael Wong
Bookcliff Café was alive with the clamor of politics last Wednesday as ASG hopefuls took to the stage for the annual Campaign Bash. As students gathered to participate in a variety of booths set up by CMU’s Cultural Diversity Board, candidates introduced themselves and presented their arguments in an effort to round up student votes.
The excitement really began as presidential and vice presidential teams Diamond–Pulido and Watson-Heykoop took to the podium for the debates.
Ariel Diamond is the current ASG Vice President, and even after three years of ASG involvement, she still notes, “Campaigning is difficult anyway that you go, and it takes a whole lot of time. It’s challenging.”
Diamond hopes that her involvement in student life and the hard work she’s put in over the past year will reflect her commitment to the student body.
After attending a meeting with Ashley Pulido this last January concerning the development of ACB 2, Diamond was sure she’d found her VP.
“That was really where the spark kind of started,” Diamond said.
Pulido is the current SAAC president, and while she may not have quite the same experience as her partner, that hasn’t deterred her from giving her all to the campaign.
“I feel like I have a good background in the leadership role,” Pulido said. “I’m really excited to get to know the ASG part.”
Approaching the podium with a different angle, the team of Watson–Heykoop had only announced their intent to run a week prior.
Brain Watson was encouraged to run by one of his professors, but being busy hosting the West Leadership Conference, he was concerned he wouldn’t find a running mate in time. “I talked to a couple friends, but nobody wanted to jump in,” Watson said.
A couple friends pointed Watson to Criterion news editor Cassie Heykoop.
“We just hit it off, like instantly,” Heykoop said. Heykoop has been interested in becoming more involved with ASG for quite some time, and Watson’s pitch was one she didn’t want to pass up.
The team hopes that their diverse involvement in and around the campus will attract a wide audience. “I feel that Brian and I already have such a strong background team who has a ton of experience in ASG,” Heykoop said.
Panelists ASG President Telbe Storbeck and ASG Supreme Court Justice Ben Dunham got the ball rolling with a series of questions that allowed the teams to expand their platforms.
Vice presidential candidates were up first to talk about reforms they’d like to see take place. Pulido emphasized the importance of continuing to update classrooms, while Heykoop stressed broadening community connections.
“We want to create entry points for the community to pour into our campus,” Heykoop said.
Presidential candidates were asked heavier questions concerning discrimination and concealed weapons.
Watson believes an expanding campus is contributing to Grand Junction’s diversity, and Diamond added the importance of nursing cultural clubs to increase awareness.
When asked if it was necessary for students to be able to carry concealed weapons on campus, Diamond claimed that was a decision to be made by the student body.
“I think a lot of polling and research would need to be done,” Diamond said.
Watson believes students should be able to carry a concealed weapon, recounting the extensive procedures necessary in obtaining a firearm.
“Both of the candidates had a pretty solid platform,” Kamakua Aliii, senior at CMU, said. “Both of them seem like they have a vision that they want to accomplish and it’s up to them to make that happen.”
Aliii hopes that students take part in the voting process.
“I feel that a lot of people don’t vote in this,” Aliii continued. “They should take it seriously because ASG does a lot of things.”
ASG elections take place April 29 – May 1 via Mavzone.
cferganc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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