Editor’s note: The following information are direct quotes or paraphrases from each USGD presidential candidate about their respective platform.
Frank Smith III
Current position: University College Senator
Major goals:
Parking: It doesn’t always work for students to pay hundreds of dollars up front to park. There should be a monthly payment system for parking.
Fees: There are a lot of “inappropriate” fees students have to pay every semester that add up.
Other goals:
Sun Devil Coalition and Inter-Club Council: The organizations will advertise that they exist and try to help students more. Vice president of services candidate Marcus Dudas would work heavily with organizations.
Partnerships: Create partnerships with MidFirst Western and the UPS store to help students. For instance, a partnership with the UPS store to make moving into Taylor Place easier by allowing students to ship items with UPS.
Live streaming meetings: “Not everyone can attend the meetings, so this will increase transparency so we show we’re not in a secret room making rules.”
Textbook pledge: USGD should work more on the textbook pledge that would have teachers agree to use a book for a set amount of semesters before using a new book. Current president Joseph Grossman ran on this goal. USGD didn’t approve the measure.
Lobbying at the Capitol: It’s important to go to the Capitol and talk to the lawmakers because they can give input to the legislators and hear their ideas as well to find more ways to help students.
How to accomplish goals:
Networking: “I have a lot of professional networks and people I can contact to help solve the issues.”
Read Smith’s full platform on his website.
Read the Downtown Devil‘s candidate profile on Smith.
Travis Arbon
Current position: Barrett, the Honors College Senator
Major goals:
Fees: Students pay a lot of fees they don’t have enough information on. The university provides the information, but it’s not easily available. The information could be put on USGD’s website or another medium to make it easily accessible.
Presence: Not enough students know that USGD exists. They don’t know who their senators are or what it does. USGD needs to be more visible. For example, having senators spend one hour a week on Taylor Mall talking to students.
Other goals:
Sun Devil Coalition and Inter-Club Council: The SDC tries to be PAB, USGD and the ICC at the same time. It’s good at each job, but should focus on one. SDC should be the services arm of student government. “It’s like the complaint box for the university. Students can bring up issues that the vice presidents of policy can discuss with the other campuses’ VPSs. This might create pan-campus changes.”
Game-day experience: The stadiums are in Tempe, so the games favor those students. USGD should talk to downtown students about improving the game-day experience for students on the Downtown and other campuses.
How to accomplish goals:
Accountability and transparency: All the goals are “do-able,” especially by working with the senators to make sure they spend time on Taylor Mall talking to students. An advertisement campaign to inform students about what USGD does and how it can help students is important.
Read Arbon’s full platform on his website.
Read the Downtown Devil‘s candidate profile on Arbon.
Editor’s note: Travis Arbon is a contributing reporter for the Downtown Devil but did not contribute to writing this article or any article about USGD elections.
Contact the reporter at mlongdon@asu.edu
