ONLINE EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is part of a series of articles interviewing Undergraduate Student Government senatorial candidates. Check back for more features as election time approaches.
The Basics
Name: Richard Sales
Year: Junior
Major: Political Science
College: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
On the Ticket: Supports Crystal Choi
Web site: http://www.RichardforSenate.com
Background
1. What activities are you involved in?
As a former high school debater, I lend my expertise as a judge in high school speech and debate tournaments, providing feedback and tips to young debaters. A few years ago, I provided community service at a junior high school by tutoring struggling students in writing, reading, algebra, geometry, science, history and Spanish.
Of course, I am always actively speaking to different fraternities, sororities and student organizations to learn more about their interests and goals and better shape policies in USG if elected. In my spare time, I practice my left-handed baseball pitching skills, throwing high-movement fastballs, big curveballs, and sharp sinkers ... at least, I wish.
2. What kind of jobs have you worked?
Currently, I am a computer lab attendant at the Learning Resource Center's Montgomery Computer Lab inside the Memorial Union. I pride myself in customer service, as I give friendly one-on-one software tutoring and I am always willing to offer my help with a smile. Cheesy, I know, but it's really what I do.
My ambitious drive and my friendly nature helped land me a quick promotion to software workshop presenter, where I give 3 software workshops a week to students. Doing this job has helped me refine my public speaking skills, as well as my objectivity and patience in working with students' different learning styles and paces. I love working at the LRC and making friends with the people who stop by.
3. What kind of leadership have you demonstrated?
Way back in high school, I served as chairman of the fundraising committee in National Honor Society, where we worked on innovative fundraising strategies and lobbying the general assembly for support. I was also senior class treasurer in the student council, where we ended the year with record funds.
As a member of the high school marching band and concert band, I served as a role model for young musicians through my skills as top clarinetist and overall willingness to help out. More recently, I attended the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. There, I was part of a Model Congress simulation where I worked on an education bill and gave an impassioned speech to add my amendment to the bill. I am a ranking member in the LRC Computer Lab staff, where I am always looked to for answers to problems and ideas for improvement.
I am also notably known for my leadership in the movement against the policies of ASU President Michael Crow and the Arizona Board of Regents, as the moderator of the Facebook group, "Students Against the Policies of Michael Crow." And of course, my Senatorial campaign is just the latest example of my leadership in the movement for student government reform.
The Future
1. What would you do if you were elected a senator in student government?
Every candidate, whether it's for president or senate, is making specific promises for the school. Whether it's increased campus security, lower tuition, or more parking, everyone is doing it. But when the signs come down and when we are elected, the bottom line is that none of our plans can hope to be implemented without something extra.
And I offer that something extra: a more aggressive and responsive student government. We must understand that USG is simply a student lobbying body; it has no direct power in university affairs. As such, Michael Crow and the regents are the final decision-makers in any attempts by USG to implement change. Thus, USG is rendered pointless and useless if it cannot step up the pressure on Crow and the board.
As senator, it will be my number one priority to communicate more with students. I will push for the establishment of an easy-access Web site where students can easily respond to polls, submit ideas and concerns, and voice their opinions.
2. Why do you want the job?
At first, I must admit, I was not too interested in running. I just thought it would be something fun to do; to run a campaign and win. But after researching all the different issues affecting student life, I grew more and more attached to the idea of making a difference. I didn't think my campaign would evolve into something as extravagant as it is now, but after discovering grievance after grievance, I've become driven to win so I can implement real changes.
Too many times, students have told me that they are sick of the problems they deal with on campus and that it's "too bad that Michael Crow always gets his way." And while some have criticized my ambitious agenda, I believe that there is no goal too ambitious to reach. For those who think change isn't possible, I challenge them to give me a chance and to let me show them what I am capable of doing for the students of ASU.
3. What are some key issues that need to be addressed on campus?
There is no doubt that 2004 was a year with numerous controversies and problems. We began the year with a record tuition rate and higher parking costs. As we moved toward the presidential debate, students 1st amendment rights were violated when they were prohibited from displaying signs in their windows and when Michael Crow and Ira A. Fulton threatened to censor The State Press.
We continued the year with threats by Michael Crow to implement a Mandatory Meal Plan that would cost on-campus students additional thousands of dollars to buy meal plans they may or may not want to have. Now, meal plans have been approved by the Arizona Board of Regents and, once again, Crow and the board have escaped unharmed by USG. Pricing in the Memorial Union continues to be higher than off-campus restaurants and food quality is limited and mediocre. But Sodexho enjoys the monetary rewards of its contract with the MU.
And now, tuition rates have once again been hiked up to record levels, even when student opinion has been opposed to them. The bottom line is that all these policies were allowed to pass because USG failed miserably to step up the pressure and utilize student opinion to its advantage. And there are many other problems I have not mentioned, such as the continuing on-campus security problems of rape, auto theft and bike theft. We must act now, and we can only get these addressed with a reformed vision of student government.
4. What issues does your college face and what do you hope to do to address that?
An issue that hits close to home is the deterioration of the Social Sciences Building. Luckily, the administration has acted on this, and this should not be a problem for long. But then again, the building has been deteriorating for quite some time, and it is very possible that the administration will further delay its solution. If it does, rest assured that I will be one of the first senators to demand immediate action. Another issue is the value of a liberal arts degree at ASU.
Michael Crow has favored the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering by spending millions of dollars on new research facilities, but has offered little to the improvement of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. If CLAS students have no choice but to pay more in tuition, these students must be given their fair share of the benefits.
To favor one college over the other is elitism at its worst, and I will aggressively push for more attention to the university's largest college: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. To increase the value of a CLAS degree at ASU, I will push for the hiring of more qualified teachers, smaller class sizes, and more research grants for our CLAS faculty.
5. What is one thing student government can improve its handling of?
As I've said before, communication is the key to becoming a more aggressive lobbying body. It is the only way to step up the pressure on Crow and the regents, and I hope that as senator, I will be able to work with current USG leaders to reform their mentality and do more to seek the involvement of their student constituents. In other words, see Nos. 1 and 2. Please visit my Web site for more information. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my candidacy for USG Senate, representing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
--Report compiled by Nicole Saidi. Reach the editor at nicole.saidi@asu.edu.
