weather tomorrow
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ASL becoming foreign language. in news, P. 5
volume LXXIV, number 109
Martha Graham ballet comes to Cal Poly.
Men’s tennis aims for conference championship.
in arts, P. 10
in sports, P. 16
mustangdaily Tuesday, April 27, 2010
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ASI presidential campaigns begin Storelli and Kaplan face off before students vote next week
Jessica Barba jessicabarba.md@gmail.com
Sarah Storelli plans to put her three years of student government experience to address several issues on campus if she is elected Associated Students Inc. president. Compared to her opponent, Storelli keeps the tradition of candidates with an ASI background as she joins this year’s campaign. Sitting in her apartment in Cerro Vista Apartments on campus, the 21-year-old English major who is minoring in law and society, recalled growing up in Fresno and being very close to her family, who all have an interest in law. She added that both her brothers, who have also participated in multiple clubs on their own college campuses, were both very active in school, and have pushed her to get involved in her campus since grammar school. As she changed into her painting clothes to finish decorating sandwich boards for her campaign, Storelli said Stanford University was her first choice for college; she didn’t even decide to apply to Cal Poly until several days before applications were due. After being accepted, she attended Open House and was sure the campus was the right place for her. She now calls the school her second home. “When I saw everyone more or less as excited about school spirit as I was, I was sold,” Storelli said. During her visit, she approached the ASI booth and introduced herself. Then in fall, she joined the ASI executive staff, which is comprised entirely of freshman students who attend ASI meetings and assist the executive cabinet. “I feel like it’s really exposed me to a lot of facets under the ASI umbrella. It
shaped me into a better leader and person. I really believe that everything I learned from ASI could not have been learned in a classroom,” Storelli said. Since then, Storelli has also been the University Union Advisory Board (UUAB) College of Liberal Arts representative and is now the vice chair. She is also involved in 14 clubs on campus, her duties ranging from acting treasurer and ambassador for the College of Liberal Arts to member of the Empower Poly Coalition and Cal Poly College Republicans Board of Director Club Liaison. By joining clubs that represent her interests, Storelli said she was able to take a see Storelli, page 3
Jessica Barba jessicabarba.md@gmail.com
Alex Kaplan is an unconventional candidate in this year’s race for Associated Students Inc. president. With no background in student leadership, he said he wants to represent students who aren’t the typical face of ASI. Although Kaplan said he initially wanted to join student government to get priority registration, he eventually decided to run for president when he could no longer stand the tank top policy at the gym. “I always thought the ‘no tank tops in the gym’ rule was stupid, and that was the one thing that upset me more then anything. I go to the gym every day and as toolish as it sounds,
photo illustration: patrick fina and kevin black
mustang daily
I would ask why I can’t wear a tank top and, ‘Why are you kicking people out of the gym?’” Kaplan said. The gym’s policy has now become one of the issues he plans to address as president, in addition to communication with students, the noise and unruly gathering ordinances and healthier food options on campus. After several attempts to set up an interview, the 21-year-old agricultural systems management junior walked into Linnaea’s Cafe to discuss his campaign to become ASI president. He had recently worked out at the gym and was hungry, he said. After looking at the menu, he said none of the dishes have enough protein and asked to walk to Natural Café. As he walked, he said his daily exercise routine and high protein diet are all part of his training to become a Navy Seal after college. “I don’t want to be sitting behind a desk like my dad and brother. I want to be doing something that’s more active,” Kaplan said. He described growing up in San Diego and how he first decided to come to Cal Poly after speaking with his brother’s friend and considering his academic background. “I messed around in school, so I didn’t have the best grades. I applied as an ag major and then planned to change to business. My freshman year, I tried to switch into political science but didn’t have the grades,” Kaplan said. While he admits it does bother him how hard it is to switch majors and said that Cal Poly should not force freshmen to choose a major so young, he has chosen not to make this issee Kaplan, page 3