With tuition on the rise, and the economy in a rut, electing appropriate representation is more important than ever. Students are advocating for a better student government, with more communication and increased participation. The candidates, some with years of ASI experience and others with little, are looking to be your next campus leaders.
TEAM B.E.S.T.
RICHARD LIU
President
As vice secretary for ASI Programs and Services and Indoor Recreation chair, Liu sees the needs of students and wants to bring ASI to the students.
“I want to conduct meetings outside in University Park where students can come sit and see exactly what the student leaders are doing,” Liu said.
“The vision I have for ASI next year is different from other ticket leaders. I want to help the campus and its students achieve.”
CHRIS CHEN
Vice President
As current ASI senator at large for the MultiCultural Council, Chen believes he has been given many opportunities and would like to give some of them back to the Cal Poly community.
“I plan to better the university internally by expanding and reinvesting in our programs and services that are already offered, while making a difference externally,” Chen said.
“Simple equation: reinvest in CPP, and it will invest back into you.”
JONATHAN JIANU
Senator at Large
Jianu, a second-year mechanical engineering student, feels his lack of experience will bring a fresh look into ASI and be beneficial in representing the student body.
“I bring a new perspective to things,” Jianu said.
Jianu said it’s like having a fresh pair of eyes on a puzzle.
“[It’s like] if you’ve ever worked on a puzzle and you’ve been staring at it for so long and you just can’t get it to work … and then someone walks up and says, ‘Hey there’s the answer right there.’”
SERGIO NAVA
Senator at Large
Nava, a second-year management and human resources student, is currently serving on the Greek Council.
Nava says he is passionate about making sure the Greek community gets the most from ASI, as well as informing Greeks about the services ASI has for them.
“I see the way ASI can benefit students,” he said. “I want to make sure the Greek community gets the most out of it. I also want to make my presence known. I’m here for you. Use me.”
WILL PFEFFER
Senator at Large
Pfeffer, a fourth-year construction engineering technology student, currently serves as president of the Educational Interest Council, which is a council that oversees athletic clubs, religious clubs and honors societies.
Pfeffer has also served as representative for Campus Crusade for Christ.
“I want to see ASI come down and ask what the students want,” said Pfeffer. “Instead of bringing out a table once a quarter, I want us to have something on a weekly basis that connects ASI and the students.”
MATTHEW MARTIN
Business Senator
Martin, a third-year international business and marketing management student, has been a part of the Business Council for the past four quarters and feels he has an understanding of the inside of ASI.
“Feedback is an important part of every organization,” Martin said. “I don’t think that’s what we have been doing in the Business Council.
“I want to give out surveys to business clubs. I want to see what changes they want.”
TRUC LE
Collins College Senator
Le, a second-year hotel and restaurant management student, is currently involved in clubs, executive boards and councils in the HRT department and wants to bring ASI to the Collins College by having a second office at the college.
“I feel I can make changes for the Collins College,” said Le.
“One of my goals is to have my office up there. We are one big family with over 1,000 students, and as a member I feel I should help make college easier for them.”
JENNIFER CRYER*
CLASS Senator
Cryer, a third-year economics and philosophy student athlete participating in woman’s track and field, feels passionately about serving the student body and offering them the best services possible.
“The College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences contains some of the most gifted students at the University,” Cryer said. “These students are strong in their respective fields, and diverse in their lifestyles. I want to facilitate opportunity, and provide the chance for these wonderful students to become leaders.”
ISMAEL SOULEY
Engineering Senator
Souley, a second-year civil engineering student, is currently in ASI BEAT and feels his experience with staff and students and his role as treasure of the Emergency Preparedness Awareness association qualifies him for this position.
“I see there is a big miscommunication happening between the students and faculty and the senator is supposed to be that bridge,” Souley said. “The more I interact with students, the more I understand that problems within the College of Engineering cannot be taken the same way.”
SETH HUANG*
Science Senator
Huang, a fourth-year biology student, feels passionately about creating unity within the different fields of the Science Department.
“I don’t think science is just biology, physics and chemistry anymore, there are a lot of combinations between the disciplines.” said Huang. “I want to start a once a month meeting where students can talk and share ideas.”
Huang plans to create a system that would allow students who are enrolled in a series of science courses to have priority over others.
TEAM YSS
BLAKE ADHAM
President
Adham, who can be spotted around campus wearing shorts and a T-shirt instead of the typical suit and tie campaign attire, wants to shake things up as student body president.
“I have a different way of doing things,” Adham said.
“I’m a little less politically correct and more cut the crap let’s get to it. I think a lot of people are going to like that and a lot of people won’t. Anjan and I want to keep it college.”
ANJAN PUROHIT
Vice President
Purohit feels his connection with students of different backgrounds, cultures and experiences qualifies him for this position. He has not held any positions within ASI.
“I am aware of the responsibility that comes with being ASI Vice President,” Purohit said.
“Being a newcomer to the ASI team will help me to think outside the box. Blake and I don’t have lofty ideas. We want people to see change on campus.”
THE U ELEMENT
CLARK DeBEVOISE
President
Because of his involvement with ASI as secretary of external affairs, DeBevoise feels his knowledge of ASI equips him with the skills and understanding that will benefit students by getting them the classes they need when they need them.
“Cal Poly is a very diverse and powerful university and it needs a student government that is going to fight for quality education,” DeBevoise said.
“That is what myself and the entire ticket have to offer.”
JOHN ABARY
Vice President
Abary currently serves as business senator and has been a Conference and Event Services assistant. Through his involvement, he sees the need for students to value their campus.
“I want students to feel comfortable on campus,” Abary said.
“They shouldn’t feel like this is just the place they drop $400 on books for one quarter or where they [are] waitlisted for all their classes. I want student to feel like this is their campus.”
HELEN LIENG
Senator at Large
Lieng, a second-year mechanical engineering student, is a member of the Vietnamese Student Association and feels she is well rounded on the academic, cultural and social planes of Cal Poly.
“As a Vietnamese student I appreciate the cultural aspect of Cal Poly and I feel [the diverse culture] should be more integrated into the school,” Lieng said.
“I feel the student body should vote for me because I am connected with the Multicultural Council, and I do know the background and needs of those students,” she said.
JARED NOJIMA
Senator at Large
Nojima, a third-year kinesiology student, currently sits on the ASI Senate and InterHall Council and feels he will represent the students well because of his experiences in ASI.
“I would like to see more active collaboration within the clubs and councils,” Nojima said.
“I also want to see relationship building throughout our campus, so that once we have these bonds, this won’t just be a residential community, but a Cal Poly community.”
JUSTIN REZVANI
Senator at Large
Rezvani, a third-year marketing student, currently serves as a representative on the Greek Council and believes in the ideals The U Element stands for.
“I know what the job entails and I am a hard worker,” Rezvani said.
“I have been in ASI for the past six months. I know how it’s run, when I am elected into the position I will start my job right away and I will be there for the students.”
ANDY TUY
Agriculture Senator
Tuy, a second-year food science technology student, remembers feeling lost as an incoming freshman and wants to continue to give back to his college.
He currently serves as an ambassador for the Agriculture Department.
“I want to make a difference. I want to give back to the students,” Tuy said.
“The goals I have set for myself, if I do get elected as senator, I have already started doing. I have been actively recruiting students to our programs. Becoming senator would be the next step.”
STEPHANIE WONG
Business Senator
Wong, a third-year international business and marketing student, has been involved in the Facilities and Operation Committee and the Strategic Task Team Committee and feels the desire to connect students in the Business Department because of her involvement.
“I want to increase community and communication by creating a quarterly newsletter in order to connect the business community together and to also connect the Business College to the rest of the campus,” said Wong.
MATTHEW MINTZIAS
Collins College Senator
Mintzias, a hotel restaurant management student, feels it is his duty as a fourth-year student to give back to his college and represent the students to the best of his ability.
“I have a good grasp of what happens in the Collins College. I have gone through most of the classes and I know the problems people face,” Mintzias said.
“I understand Cal Poly Pomona a lot more now, and I feel that makes me a qualified candidate.”
JANINE WATKINS
Engineering Senator
Watkins, a second-year civil engineering student, has served as publicity chair for the National Society of Black Engineers. She feels she has what it takes to make changes that are needed in the Engineering Department, as well as in the university.
“I feel that sometimes the Engineering Department is overshadowed and I can be the voice that will help get [the Engineering Department] out there to be heard,” said Walkins.
“I feel as a senator I will be that bridge builder.”
INDEPENDENTS
RACHEL MARYANSKI
Agriculture Senator
Maryanski, a third-year animal health science student, chose not to run on a ticket because she did not see the benefit in running with a team. She feels representing herself to the Agriculture Department is key.
“I want to run for senator because I believe the average student doesn’t understand the benefits of getting involved,” Maryanski said.
ANDREW KANZLER*
ENV Senator
Kanzler, a fourth-year landscape architecture student, is currently up for re-election as ENV Senator and plans to follow through with current plans, an efficiency fund he began this year.
“It’s a document that allows some of the money from ASI to go towards student grants to improve the resource and energy efficiency of the college,” said Kanzler.
JULIANA CAPRA*
CEIS Senator
Write-in candidate
Capra, a third-year liberal studies student, has been the current CEIS senator since January because the former senator could no longer serve. “I feel I need to continue next year because I didn’t get enough time to work on the goals I set with the council and the previous senator,” she said.
Students running uncontested have an asterisk (*)
VOTE - Tues, Wed, Thurs
University Park
Collins College
Engineering Meadow
University Quad
Tuesday and Wednesday only
Cowboy Corner
Thursday only
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