The Associated Student Government (ASG) elections are coming up and voting will be open from April 17-21. Below are answers from executive candidates in the ASG race. Each candidate was asked four questions and given the chance to write a 100-word or less response to each. All answers remain unedited from what candidates sent so there is no alteration to their messages. The questions are below: 

Questions for President and Vice President candidates:

– If you win the election, how will you change Colorado Mesa University for the better?

– What changes can you realistically make as President and Vice President?

– What do you believe is the most important message in your campaign?

– How will you uphold the trust of students and include their voices in your administration?

Questions for Student Trustee candidates:

– If you win the election, how will you change Colorado Mesa University for the better?

– What changes can you realistically make as the Student Trustee?

– What do you believe is the most important message in your campaign?

– How will you uphold the trust of students and include their voices in your conversations with the Board of Trustees?

[media-credit name=”Courtesy Photo” align=”alignnone” width=”265″][/media-credit]Sadie Kelley and Sauvelyne Randel, President and Vice President Candidates

– Our perspective of change is to continue to lay a foundation for current and future students at Colorado Mesa University. Our responsibility first and foremost is to the students; advocating, supporting, and guiding the collective body. If we win the election, we will instill spaces where students can voice their concerns and visions for the future. One tangible change that we want to bring to the table for the security and overall health of the students would be increasing lighting on campus, proper resources for dealing with mental health and having inviting spaces for underrepresented students on campus.

– The process of implementation is no small feat, however, as possible future President and Vice President, it is our responsibility to actively listen and apply the objectives of the students. To be more specific, we will address the stigmas around mental health within every level of academia and athletics, increasing student engagement within campus activities, and provide more resources and support for underrepresented individuals. Change is what is needed on this campus and it’s only possible if our administration and the student population collaborate; to ensure equitable opportunities while pursuing a degree(s) and in the years post-graduation.

– The most important attribute of our campaign is reaching past, present, and future students. As a unified front we also acknowledge that the students are the heart of the University, so we want to utilize every avenue to contribute to the collective destination. As our campaign has evolved, we have reiterated our message of reducing the stigma of mental health, positive student and community involvement and opportunities for the underrepresented students at the main CMU campus, WCCC and Montrose. Which requires that we are very active within the Mavily and the community to support the voices of the students.

– As current students it is in our best interest and the interest of the students to create and reinforce safe spaces. Life thus far has taught us the significance of securing spaces for varying individuals; by creating open dialogue, new proposals, and interpersonal relationships. Trust is a two-way revolving door; both parties must be able to collaborate and cooperate to sustain trust. We aspire to keep this institution accountable by aiding and providing resources to its students for their personal successes. As possible future President and Vice President, we will amplify students; voices, concerns and their ambitions.

[media-credit name=”Courtesy Photo” align=”none” width=”300″][/media-credit]Aleena Gomez and Robert Hammes, President and Vice President Candidates

– Our campaign and future administration revolve around four key issues: accessible and diverse representation, mental health awareness and support, responsible university growth and development, and equal opportunity for all students. Pursuing these ideas next year is of utmost importance for the students of Colorado Mesa University, because diverse representation ensures that all student voices are being heard, support for mental health services makes sure that all students are doing their best mentally, responsible growth of the university protects the aspects of CMU we all love, and equal opportunity is the first step to achieving anything in order to benefit students.

– ASG presidents and vice presidents have relatively limited formal power, but that will not stop us from creating positive change at this university through collaboration and cooperation with CMU administration and decision-makers. Everything that can be done to serve students will be pursued by ASG under our administration because of our ability to bring attention to the issues facing students, and see solutions through all the way to completion. Your next president and vice president must be able to fight hard in favor of student interests, which is why Aleena Gomez and Robert Hammes are the right choice.

– “Let us help you leave a legacy.” This has been the guiding principle of our campaign since day one, and will be our administration’s number one goal. Every student deserves the opportunity and support to be the best they can be, and we will work day and night to make this a reality at CMU.

– Earning and keeping the trust of students, and including their voices in our administration, is really “step zero” to all of the plans and goals we have for our administration. Nothing can happen until students trust us to represent them and fight for their interests. You have our word: our administration will always put the needs and wants of the students of CMU first, above all other considerations, and ensure we remain accountable to all of those we represent.

[media-credit name=”Courtesy Photo” align=”none” width=”198″][/media-credit]Dejan Urbanek, Student Trustee Candidate

– As an International first-gen student athlete I understand how representation is important for minority groups and my focus will be on supporting and helping other first-gen and minority students to achieve their goals. If I get elected I will propose to ASG to conduct a campus-wide survey to see what students (all students) want to be changed or what students need.

– I think that as a student trustee you can do a lot especially because you are in direct contact with the board of trustees and president. As a student trustee you are representing each and every student, and if large population of students vote for a certain change, I think that the school will follow that and try to make change and make CMU better for all of us.

– I think that the most important message in my campaign is that as an athlete I hate to lose more than I like to win, and in this case winning means making a change and impact on students and campus and making CMU better place for all and providing students with what they want and need. I am running for Student Trustee because I genuinely care about students and what they need and want and I think that is the most important thing about this position.

– If I get elected I will try to push initiatives that all students voted for or expressed concerns. If they get approved Students will see that our hard work paid off and they will be happy with changes we made.

[media-credit name=”Courtesy Photo” align=”none” width=”300″][/media-credit]Kaydee Lucero, Student Trustee Candidate

– If I am given the opportunity to communicate with the Board of Trustees and advocate for students, I will ensure that mental health on campus is addressed. This means giving students more opportunities for counseling, more events surrounding mental health on campus and more obvious resources in portals like MAVzone. My goal is to listen to student voices and make a change, which I have already done by helping to get CMU the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Healthy Minds Designation. Further, I would take the opportunity to start a conversation about sustainability and environmental health on campus.

– The Student Trustee has an incredible opportunity to speak directly to and influence the Board of Trustees, who make most of the important decisions at CMU. The Trustees are in their position because they care about students, so they are more than willing to hear student ideas. This means that the Student Trustee has the ability to make amazing changes on campus with their work and shape the university into what students want to see.

– The most important message in my campaign is that I care about students. In my time at CMU, I have been able to make tangible differences. In Montrose, I was able to get a 24-hour computer lab opened at the will of the students of that campus and I advocated for them to the administration because they are often forgotten. When tough conversations needed to be had about student resources, I ensured student voices were amplified. I have also consistently made sure that everyone around me feels welcome and listened to in every organization I have been a part of.

– Student trust in ASG is essential and in the years I have been at CMU, it has been low. Within my time as Montrose Campus Senator and Senate Leader in ASG, my biggest goal was to consistently let students know what we were doing. In my work with the school paper, I have always sought hard truths because students deserve to know what their tuition and fees are going toward. I will uphold this trust in the student community by being transparent, honest and ensuring that everything I do is open to the public.

[media-credit name=”Courtesy Photo” align=”alignnone” width=”210″][/media-credit]Kylie Graham, Student Trustee Candidate

– I want to change the way students can engage with decisions that directly impact their lives- giving the trustees information on what student actually want to see in their University. Also, I want the community aspect of CMU to incorporate more student involvement and set up connections outside of campus in the city of Grand Junction. I think it’s really important that CMU facilitates a better community life, by involving not only on campus clubs, students and Greek life but involve the community and get students in touch with this city which can foster so many great opportunities for students. 

– As the student trustee the power is influencing policy and so while the Board of Trustees will do what they want, I will make sure they know how they are impacting students and what inform them what student’s thoughts are on a given subject. In this position I can confidently say that I can realistically voice student’s opinions and concerns in order to make sure that the Board of Trustees know that their decisions have more than just a fiscal impact. Students are CMU’s biggest asset, and I will take action to make sure students are put first.

– The most important message in my campaign is creating a better community life here at Colorado Mesa University. What I mean by this is we have three campuses and I think it’s very important that student on each of these campuses feel included and valued. I know so many people who are either in Greek Life or mainly on the WCCC campus that feel like they are undervalued when it comes to resources that the main CMU campus and students have access too.

– Being involved in varying clubs like soccer, ping pong, ASG, and even faith-based organizations I am able to understand and relate to a bunch of different perspectives which allows me to have a better, more trustworthy relationship with all students. Being a very social person, who has a lot of different connections allows me to hear struggles and opinions from students directly. Trust is built through action, and I plan on being that force of action that students need.

Senate and House Candidates

The Senate and House of Appropriations are the student-run legislative bodies that make decisions for ASG. These members hold all the voting power on bills that are introduced and oversee funding requests from other student groups. 

The Senate is made up of 17 students. They deal with budgets, money requests and social issues on campus. There is one for every academic department and one each for the sister campuses. There are also seats for a Minority Student Senator, a Non-Traditional Student Senator, Students With Varying Abilities Senator and an At Large Senator. 

The House of Appropriations focuses on budgets and money and does not participate in some of the events and resolutions the Senate is responsible for. It is made up of nine members, including the Speaker of the House. This is the second year that the House has been open to student voting. Currently, there are not enough candidates to fill all of the Senate and House seats, and ASG will be looking for students to step in after the elections. 

Senator Candidates:

– Carter Pressler 

– Adylene Bautista 

– Kia’I Keone 

– Samantha Overson 

– Grace Stebbins 

– Emma Flores 

– Carissa Crawford 

– Matthew Pederson 

– Austin Jensen 

House of Representatives Candidates:

– Andrew Schuering 

– MacKenzie Collins

– Addison Early 

– Siya Salunke