Friday, Feb. 25, 2011
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President candidates debate for final election By ROUCHELLE BROCKMAN & CATHERINE MEIDELL staff writer, news editor
In the final ASUSU presidential debate Thursday, candidates Keenan Nuehring
and Erik Mikkelsen each stressed why they are the better candidate to preside over the student body in the 2011-12 school year. Lacey Nagao, ASUSU public relations director, asked a slew of formalized questions that both candidates were asked to respond to, which was followed by questions from the audience and the debate ended with closing statements. The first question asked put the candidates on the spot in regards to tuition and fee increases in connection to the price of quality higher education. Nuehring said he believes it is more important to maintain quality in college students’ educations and raise fees when absolutely necessary. Mikkelsen said he also believes maintaining a quality education is more important than concerns over fee increases. He said maintaining quality over cost will give students a competitive edge in the job market. When the issue
of Common Hour was brought up, Nuehring said he is in full support of it because he sees a number of benefits that could come from programs and events inserted into the allotted 12-1 p.m. time frame. The Common Hour bill has been passed, so Nuehring said he sees no choice but to make the most of it. He said he sees career fairs, networking luncheons and students involving themselves in programs where they can receive certificate for leadership, during this time. “Anything we can do to give students a competitive edge is what we need to use Common Hour for,” Nuehring said. Mikkelsen said he supports the implementation of a common hour, citing job competitiveness by allowing students to network with professionals as one of the main reasons for his support. He also said he plans to promote common hour among the student body by utilizing the media, faculty support, and student advocates. If elected president, Nuehring said he would like to see a “State of the Students” address organized to improve transparency dealing with student issues. He said pioneering this address would be beneficial to all students in that they can confront their leaders and tell them how they have not been meeting the students’ needs. He said he will hold all ASUSU officials accountable for their inherited duties. “If they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, let’s
get rid of them,” Nuehring said. Mikkelsen said in his experience as a fraternity president, the most effective way to ensure other officers are doing their duties is to sit down with them individually and discuss their goals versus their accomplishments. Should he be elected president, he said he plans to use this approach with ASUSU officers to ensure they are keeping their campaign promises. In recent Utah legislation, a proposal concerning limited tenures to professors was brought to the table, and the presidential candidates were asked to share their views on this issue. Nuehring said he believes when professors receive tenure they become “comfortable.” It is a positive thing to review professors and make sure they are doing the best job they can. “Even though the tuition we pay is lower than a lot of schools, we still pay it, and we still deserve the best education that we can get,” he said. Mikkelsen said he does not yet know much about the proposal but plans to learn more about it. Thomas Jefferson’s integrity inspires Nuehring, he said, while Mikkelsen looks up to Abraham Lincoln because he surrounded himself with opposition to find new solutions to problems. “He did not surround himself with a bunch of
yes-men,” Mikkelsen said. As far as activity planning is
- See DEBATE, page 4
E–Week brings in Apollo 13 speaker In the Enginerd portion, By CATHERINE MEIDELL & Whyte appeared on the stage MEGAN BAINUM news editor, assistant new editor dressed as Princess Leia from Erin Whyte took first place in the Miss Engineering Pageant, Thursday, as Engineering Week nears its end. Emily Chipman, the Engineering council president, said the changes implemented to the week amplified its overall success. Whyte, a senior in civil engineering, said she exemplifies the typical female engineer, but considers herself more loud than most. She is involved in the Val R. Christensen Service Center as well as with the engineering school. “All I really want is world peace … and to graduate,” she said. Similarly to previous years, the Miss Engineering pageant is composed of three competitive categories: Enginerd, Brains and Beauty and New Intern. In the competition, 12 female engineering students flaunted their inner nerd, formal attire and business attire and answered questions from a panel of judges. The panel of judges was composed of faculty and staff from the engineering school.
Star Wars, and her competitors came out wearing attire ranging from an “engineer toolbelt” to pencils shoved into their hair. The winner of this section was Katie Glaittli, a freshman majoring in biological engineering. “The biggest problem engineers have is balance,” said competitor McKenzie Smith during the New Intern portion of the pageant. “There is sleep, it is rare among us, and talking to our families that we still need to make time for.” All participating students answered questions drawn from a hat and in the end, the judges chose Tasha Stembridge, a junior in mechanical engineering, to win this portion. Chipman, who organized Engineering Week, was awarded winner of Brains and Beauty. Complementing the Miss Engineering pageant was the Nerdy Man Competition, and Riley Bradshaw, a junior majoring in civil engineering, and Spencer Palmer, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering,
- See PAGEANT, page 3
Inside This Issue
RESULTS OF THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS were announced Wednesday and the winners continued to campaign for the final vote that will be counted Friday. Candidates were allowed to set up A-frames around campus to promote themselves and their platform. BENJAMIN WOOD photo
2011 ASUSU Primary results Executive Council 2011 Primary Results
By KAYLA HALL staff writer
Candidates for the 2011 ASUSU elections totaled more than they ever have before Lacey Nagao, ASUSU PR director said on Wednesday before announcing the primary winners Wednesday. ASUSU Presidential candidate Ben Williams came up short in the primary elections with 773 votes, while finalists for ASUSU president, Keenan Nuehring and Erik Mikkelsen passed through the primaries with 1137 and 1167 votes, respectively. Williams said, “Of course I would have liked to have gotten it (a seat in the finals). But, these guys have a lot of work ahead of them, and I don’t envy them for that. ASUSU executive vice president candidate and current Government Relations Council chair, Kirsten Frank, was originally uncontested
- See VOTES, page 4
2/25/11 Five Browns bring their family talent to Utah State. Page 5
President: •Erik Mikkelsen 1167 •Keenan Nuehring 1137 Academic Senate •Tanner Wright 1641 •Carly Vanerhorst 1055 Athletics VP •Ryan Baylis 1985 •Michael Woodfield 775 Diversity VP •Brooke Evans 960
Utah State beats New Mexico State 72–61 to move to 9–4 in WAC play. Page 8
•Jordan Allred 586 Programming VP •Jackson Cozzens 1044 •Zach Larsen 901 Service VP •Maddie Busteed 1207 •Tasha Jorgensen 864 Student Advocate •Rob Jepson 977 •Jason Russell 950
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