Student body president Officials comment on position, important characteristics of office holder By JASON COX The Battalion Texas A&M's next student body president needs to be willing to make hard decisions which will affect student's lives and work to wards bringing the campus together, said Uni versity officials Monday. "A student body president needs to articu late and communicate the goals, aspirations and needs of the University inside and outside of the community," said University President Dr. William Mobley. Mobley said the student body president is the primary communicator of the student body's perspective, and the president needs to take advantage of the many opportunities to in teract with the administration. "The president will need to be a good listen er and understand how challenging it will be to get unanimity on any issue," he said. Mobley also said the president needs to rep resent the views of the student body in a vari ety of forms, but particularly to the administra tion. "I look personally to the input and advice of the president," he said. Both university presidents and student body presidents perform a limitless number of cere monially duties, he said, and represent students in legislative affairs. "The legislature is very interested in the stu dent perspective," Mobley said. "When a stu dent body president appears before them, it carries the weight of their important elected of fice." Student Body President Steve Beller said al though there are few listed official duties, the office of president is a full-time job. "It seems like the president gets all the glory, but it is a lot of work," he said. "You have to balance school and work, and you're usually "It seems like the president gets all the glory, but it is a lot of work. You have to balance school and work, and you're usually there before eight and until after five." - Steve Beller Student body president there before eight and until after five." A president has the option of approving or vetoing bills presented by the student senate and has to be committed to following up on the issues, he said. Beller compared the job to being the chief executive officer of a corporation. "You're the executor of a $100,000 budget and the talents and resources of over 800 peo ple," he said. Like any leader, Beller said, a president has to be involved with his constituents. "A president has to be in close proximity to effectively represent," Beller said. "A&M is so huge you have to be involved with all factions." Dr. John Koldus, vice president for student services, said the role of president is a demand ing position that takes a "tremendous amount of time." "A president needs to be well-organized and get a handle on things early on," he said. Koldus said a great many things that affect student life come down through the Faculty Senate, and one of the president's chief jobs is to act as liaison for the student body. "A president needs to be someone who can provide leadership in regard to all programs sponsored by student government," he said. In addition to being a representative of all facets of student life, a president has to support those elected officials in positions under him and provide guidance, Koldus said. "A person doesn't know what it's like until he's walked in his shoes," he said. "A presi dent can't say yes to everything. He has to have the ability to say no at times." Former Student Body President Steven Ruth said besides working on policy, the president's has other important duties which include meet ing with the board of regents, the Association of Former Students and visiting dignitaries. Ruth said a president has to see things from a broad perspective and make decisions affect ing students that may not please everybody. "This election is going to be competitive," he said, "The candidates are going to share a lot of their views on the issues - I wish them prudent judgment and moral guidance that will help them in this capacity." -loHona! Ser* Award dKto 1 a nto i "Jin t( stressing accountability ,hi Walker proposes the plan targets childre »ls "We want to teach' T what it is like, but I’nii Walker's plan to like the fraternity"' directed toward collegi "We want to prese o sage must hit home an re; Walker also stressefnl this. Walker said the Further, the Greek: f had a bigger, largersta al Currently, A&M ha el to help fraternities and I houses. Walker said. He has been Austin by testifying who most affect studajivi student services. tofhildrei :ookp shod alize it Sen 5( le large need; incid iksysl prob involv IGi jover in ate Leg ’ersrty Scholarship . f Scholarship ^ * Socle Kappa Honor Society fa Kappa Nu Honor Society ►FhS^man Programs ••External Affairs ^♦judicial Board •President Mobley’s Disciplinary Appeals Pond •S.G.AJs Executive Council •Judicial Board Chair •Director of Development •Lechner Hall Social Chair •lechner Flail Council ♦Casino Dealer right Hall Newsletter Staff Camp Counselor •HQ Crew • Fish Camp Co-Chair ♦Class Council •SCdNA •Aggie Leaders of Tomorrow Howdy! My name is Jason Arbaugh. Tm a senior electrical engineering major from Kyle and I am running for stu dent body president. I would like to take this time to tell you why I am running for student body president. As a senior, I have seen, heard and experienced many of the problems that all of us face each and every day. Then when I realize that no one is working to solve them, I get upset. These problems include things such as: •ACADEMICS - the lack of diverse and effective faculty members in all departments • MULTICULTURALISM - the lack of multiculturalism curriculum andvoluntary educational opportunities •PARKING - the inability of students to find parking on campus whenthey need it •UNIVERSITY SERVICES - the high costs of books the inadequate library, Food Services, Financial Aid, registration, PITS, etc. I am tired of seeing these problems persist and I want to work to solve them for the student body. I will do my best to make sure that the student's views are fully represented to the faculty and administration. In short, I want to work for you. I have the experience and knowledge from my four years in Student Gov ernment, the Memorial Student Center, Fish Camp, and the Residence Hall Association to get things done. Texas A&M is known for it's great traditions, but it is the students who make those traditions and truly make this a great institution, I want to serve the students and make sure that you are getting everything you can from your stay here at Texas A&M University. As Texas A&M University student body president candidate Jason Arbaugh sees it. University funding is the most important issue facing student government. "The reason we are here is academics," said Arbaugh, a senior electrical engineering major. "We need to make sure we're being provided with the education we are paying for." Arbaugh told the Battalion Sunday that it is important for Student Government to maintain close ties with the state Legislature in the coming months. "There's going to be a lot of issues coming up that we need to speak with the legislature about," he said. "We need to make sure they are not going to adversely affect students." Other topics Arbaugh said he would address were on-campus parking, campus safety and on-campus re cycling. Multiculturalism deserves special emphasis, he said. "For students to get a good education, they have to feel comfortable," Arbaugh said. Arbaugh said he would look into proposing a mandatory one-hour class or seminars for student leaders on multiculturalism. "We need to look at our options and see what other universities have done," he said. "Some say a class would just be a way for people to antagonize others." It is Student Government's job to make sure the University is doing everything it can for the students. "I want to work for the students and make sure they are getting what they deserve," he said. "I'll always have an open door and find solutions the University can work with and the students can accept." -Gina Howard •Student Government Outstanding Committee Member - RIO, United Way rOuhtanding Chair for; Experience •Public Information Office member •Student Government United Way member : . •Public Information Committee Chair •Fish Camp counselor •Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing Ai payi • buy HOWDY! My name is ZackB Wi president. Ask yours th 1) Off-Campus Houso cai apartment complexes A&M. 2) Textbook Prices Student Govemment|n save $$ and the seller: hardcover textbooks 3) Engineering Use Fity, can be done? Droptk fee (based on need), private donation of ni|)i 4 ) Traditions at prospective students 5) Multiculturalism • A&M. There existsn si freshmen to cultural ;fI (NOT a class) These issues are on this campus. ould iis if a in be ons). V mg a bo Work' y- ou in alterr r ifthefe 'ment - Codi Wecai lie i noti It] ;efrc sful p thisp how here, Texas A&M UnivS )(]• or# iis, concentrate more ty's focus on Austial "We've had to i on campus that need! Barcevac said What Barcevac cl view of the engineer In addition to "We've been try in! borrow from other un Barcevac proposes other aspects of Texas "The point wouldr dents manners, butwi Getting the s "There are a. . into the things thatafl ly pr e i. The Union its in f ” he s; ingas fok is: 'cane ! > Bare tvhee beady fhinar eople about 'bed candi 3n fin