For many Colorado Mesa University students, the only time to think about the university’s Associated Student Government is when presidential candidates chalk campaign slogans on the sidewalks in the spring. However, this year’s president and vice president are determined to be present and visible on campus all year, making their organization one that has an impact on many students.
Both ASG President Ben Linzey and Vice President Gabby Gile began their campus involvement as resident assistants. Linzey has been involved in ASG for almost his entire career at CMU. Appointed as chief of staff the end of his freshman year, Linzey served his first year in student government as a sophomore under Selina Najar and Kasey Benish.
“I recognized that [ASG] was a group that really was, not necessarily at the time, but I saw the potential for it to be the leader of all the organizations on campus,” said Linzey of his initial decision to run for office. “I think we’re growing into that position. I definitely saw this as an area where you could create change.”
His junior year, Linzey ran for vice president alongside presidential candidate Josh Dillinger. When Dillinger resigned in Dec. 2016 amid the impeachment of other cabinet members, Linzey was sworn in as president. That spring, he campaigned and won the position of president for the upcoming year, with Gile as his running mate.
“He’s a very convincing individual,” Gile said of Linzey, when reflecting upon her decision to run for the office with him. Gile was an at-large senator the semester previous to her current role as vice president. She said Linzey approached her to run for both positions, but as a political science major, involvement in ASG was something that appealed to her.
“I think there’s a lot of passion in ASG that gets overlooked,” said Gile. For the vice president, making sure their administration represents all students, even those who are uninvested, is important.
Gile explained that one of the main goals of their campaign and for the upcoming year was to develop a visible presence on campus, so that all students know what ASG is and who they can approach to talk about any issues.
In respect to this idea, Gile said, “Getting ourselves out there and being a common name to the student body was a part of that. And then, from there, we realized that we need to be a more transparent body and be more available to students and clubs.” Gile said ASG’s new system of allocating different clubs to specific senators should help students understand to whom they should speak if they have questions or concerns.
Linzey wanted students to know that he’s always available to talk with students. He and Gile hope to impact as many students as possible through events, bills and meetings.
“This can be the organization that can unify CMU, and if we don’t do that, I think we are failing the students,” said Linzey.
If you have ideas, comments, or concerns regarding anything on the CMU campus, don’t hesitate to email Vice President Gile so that she can put you into contact with your departmental or club senator. Or, look for them at events around campus; they’re determined to make sure you know who they are.
