Hello again, Aztecs! It’s election time! We’ve been listening to the speeches, and the majority of the candidates running for Associated Students positions are fervent and motivated. But Her Campus SDSU wanted to speak each candidate one-on-one, for a more personal connection.
To get to know the candidates running for executive positions, we made sure to interview each of them. We’ll continue to post each of their interviews online. Here are the two candidates running for Vice President of University Affairs:
Morgan Chan
Year: Junior
Majors: Integrated Marketing Communication and Sustainability
What makes you the most qualified for this position?
My experience and my involvement across campus, and my knowledge of AS and the university. I’ve been the Sustainability Commissioner for two years, and chaired the Green Love Sustainability Advisory Board. In my role as the commissioner, I work closely with different staff and people within AS that have given me an understanding of how the corporation works, between the processes and approvals necessary, the Senate Sustainability Commission, and working closely with faculty and administration. My involvements include the EnviroBusiness Society, ABSC, Engineers without Borders, and various AS boards and committees. Those involvements have different focuses and different groups of people, which gives me a diverse background in who I’m able to work with in these organizations.
What has inspired you to run?
I’ve been involved in AS since freshman year, and every year, I’ve gotten more involved, met new people, and been able to see how impactful the student voice can be. That’s inspiring, knowing our university and seeing how we can benefit the most from it. I want to continue that and let all students know that they are able to contribute to what they want to see on campus and have the best college experience they can have. There are a lot of opportunities to get involved and many students aren’t aware of these opportunities. To see students get involved and grow within certain positions is inspiring. Working with strong leaders in the past and seeing who took on my role and how that was created, how the student union was built, how a number of projects and initiatives were started in boards and committees, passed through Council and the University and implemented shows how powerful the students are.
What kind of positive change can you make on this campus?
I can be that connection between all aspects of the university, be it through AS, working with faculty and administration, and being able to effectively rep the students is something that I think I can do. I’ve had the experience doing so and that’s what I can bring, my want and passion for advocating the student perspective and advocating for the changes students wish to see next year.
What is your favorite SDSU memory?
GreenFest, my freshman year. That was the first big campus event I participated in and to see all the students organizations and forming various teams with so much excitement and coming together was really cool. Really fun and focused on sustainability! It was a lot of fun to see that Aztec Pride and the campus community come together.
Washington Navarrete
Year: Senior
Major: Criminal Justice
What makes you the most qualified for this position?
I’ve been a part of AS for three years now. I have served two terms as a voting member of AS Council, working directly with student organizations, the five executive officers, and the seven college councils. I am the previous chair for M.E.Ch.A de SDSU and I am currently the Diversity Commissioner on the Presidents Cabinet. Through my role as Diversity Commissioner I am part of the GreenFest Executive Committee and the current Vice Chair of Student Diversity Commission. Currently I sit as one of two student designees for the Diversity Task Force of San Diego State University’s Strategic Plan, working directly with the Vice President of Student Affairs, university partners, and the university senate, setting the goals and vision for the next five years of the university.
What inspired you to run?
Coming together to represent all of SDSU and being able to represent and work with many diverse students has really fueled me to give that representation to all students and empower the student voice so that all students feel safe and included on this campus. It’s also an amazing opportunity to have the ability to inspire students to be leaders themselves.
What kind of positive change can you make on this campus?
Empowering the student voice, and working with a lot of underrepresented organizations on our campus. Being the active member that makes sure those voices are heard, whether through student government, through the university administration, or all students, I want to represent SDSU in all its facets.
What is your favorite SDSU memory?
My favorite memory at SDSU is the Spring 2010 GreenFest. It was great seeing all these students come together, not just for LMFAO, but also for the sense of community. We all felt like Aztecs, and we all just felt like one unified student body.
So there you have it! Log onto WebPortal to vote for your favorite until Thursday at 7 p.m. All it takes is a click to cast your vote!
Stay tuned for more interviews by Bree Lutjens!