ASUCC ballots are in
Students might have been stopped by campaigners while walking across campus May 12. Candidates for student government were shaking hands and giving out candy in hopes of receiving votes in their favor.
May 12 was the deadline to vote for ASUCC student government officers. This year most of the candidates were running uncontested; however, current and future ASUCC officers were still strongly encouraging students to vote.
According to Melissa Osborne, current ASUCC president, students’ right to vote in these elections is in jeopardy.
At some Oregon community colleges, the administrators appoint student government officers, and the students do not get to voice their opinions. According to some of the current officers, our administration may follow this example if enough students failed to vote in this year’s election.
Candidates
Mark Silva-Horta ran for president this year. He has been a student at UCC for five terms and a senator for three terms. Silva-Horta decided to run for president because he wanted to make a change. “I want to open doors for students at UCC, and if I am elected president my door will always be open.”
Cody Norris was this year’s candidate for vice president. Norris is in his second year at UCC. He is currently a senator for ASUCC and president of the debate club. Norris has a favorite quote by Thomas Hood: “When was honey ever made with one bee?” He believes this to be an accurate perception of UCC and the student government. “This is our school; we have to work together to make it what we want it to be,” Norris said.
Lucia Vander Velden, better known around campus as “Miss Lucy,” ran for activities officer. Vander Velden is currently an ASUCC senator and has been volunteering her time at numerous agencies since she was 12-years-old. She prides herself on being a voice for the voiceless.
This year only the public relations position had more than one candidate running. Last year’s public relations officer, Sage Kittelman, ran for re-election. “I believe that any job is a job worth doing right,” she says. Kittelman served as the public relations officer throughout the 2009-2010 school year and hopes to keep her title for at least another year.
Mariah Helm also ran for the public relations officer position this year. This is Helm’s second term serving as a senator. “While serving as a senator, I have realized that I have the ability to take initiative to work independently as well as work well with others. I know the public relations position would be a great opportunity for me to work with people and get to know them.”
The candidate for business manager was Kasey Biggs. “Our student government has made some huge strides this year on behalf of our students, and being involved from the ground floor of these changes will enable me to continue the work started without an interim period.” Biggs is currently an ASUCC senator and works very closely with student government.
Ballots were counted May 14, and results were expected to be announced early this week.
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