By
Editorial Staff
May 12, 2008
_Editorial note: These endorsements do not constitute the views of the entire Daily staff and are only the opinion of The Daily’s ASUW election editorial board, consisting of the editor in chief, opinion editor and managing editor. They are based on a series of one-on-one interviews and phone conversations conducted last week with as many candidates as possible. The information presented here were provided by the candidates themselves, and are summarized for space. _
While The Daily’s editorial board believes that controlling the rising cost of in-state tuition, along with transportation issues such as the I-520 bridge replacement project are important, the paramount issue affecting on-campus students and commuters alike right now is safety.
Overall, Tim Mensing impressed us the most, with his Greek block watch program and his sincerity and professionalism. We believe that he will be effective at leading efforts to combat crime in the U-District and that he will spearhead efforts to keep students safe.
We were also impressed with Anttimo Bennet’s experience in helping select the next UWPD chief and his attitude of servant leadership. We feel he would make a strong alternative choice.
Both candidates offer practical plans to make the ASUW presidency more transparent and accountable, and both have expressed an interest in reaching out to students in this crucial election year.
In regards to the other ASUW Board of Directors positions, we believe the candidates we endorsed bring a balance of experience in student government, fresh ideas and enthusiasm. They can also work well together, which is an important consideration for a group of student leaders. All of those we endorsed were proactive in responding quickly and thoroughly to our questions.
Please take our endorsements into consideration, along with your own research and experiences, and make sure to vote before 11:59 p.m. Wednesday at vote.asuw.org.
##President
**Name: Timothy Mensing**
“I’m working right now on issues that matter to students: student advocacy, safety and community. I have the experience, concrete plans and goals to build success in these and all areas for this year and the next.”
Web site: visionuw.org
Affiliation: VisionUW
Qualifications:
RHSA representative and senator
Philanthropy chair at Theta Xi
Two-year ASUW senator
##Vice President
**Name: Jonathan Spatacean**
“I am the best person for this job because I have something new to bring to the association. I bring in fresh ideas, the ability to think outside of ASUW norms, to help change an association that is having a difficult time connecting to students.”
Web site: dawglife.org
Affiliation: DawgLife
Qualifications:
Endorsed by Commuters Issues Committee
Philanthropy chair for off-campus house in the 17th Ave House
Community Relations
Name: Lauren Cutting
“I believe that I am the best candidate for this position because I am passionate about our university and its students, and I am therefore sensitive to the issues and concerns of individuals, campuswide.”
Web site: dawglife.org
Affiliation: DawgLife
Qualifications:
Advertising representative for The Daily
Diversity Efforts
Name: Drew Ann Blincow
“I believe that the key to being an effective leader is to listen first and then take action. Only after hearing the issues, concerns and ambitions of the people you are cooperating with are you able to create a plan for change that will benefit everyone.”
Web site: DEFinitiveUW.org
Affiliation: DEFinitiveUW
Qualifications:
ASUW senator
Publicity and Outreach Committee Chair for the ASUW
Faculty, Administrative, Academic Affairs
Name: Phuong Nguyen
“I understand the importance of proactively reaching out to the various RSOs, departments and groups to recruit the best candidates for the 14 faculty councils representing the voices of students on campus.”
Web site: DEFinitiveUW.org
Affiliation: DEFinitiveUW
Qualifications:
Direct experience working with faculty, administrators and students for ASUW as Executive Assistant to the Vice President/Personnel Director
Operations
Name: Andrew Shubin
“I am running for the Director of Operations because I am extremely interested in this position and I know I have the passion and the experience to do a great job.”
Web site: DEFinitiveUW.org
Affiliation: DEFinitiveUW
Qualifications:
Member of the ASUW Judicial Committee
Pi Kappa Alpha secretary and internal vice president
Member of the 2007 Interfraternity Council executive council
Organizational Relations
Name: Natalie Bankson
“My background in design and accounting and my volunteer work in ASUW over the past two years qualify me for the position of Director of Organizational Relations, publicizing and supporting the four ASUW entities.”
Web site: DEFinitiveUW.org
Affiliation: DEFinitiveUW
Qualifications:
Commuter senator, ASUW Senate
Vice President, Commuter Issues Caucus
Member, ASUW Finance and Budget Committee
Programming
Name: Mike Snowden
“I am the best candidate because aside from just putting on sweet concerts, I will also bring the passion of the UW student community, back to campus.”
Web site: DEFinitiveUW.org
Affiliation: DEFinitiveUW
Qualifications:
Director of Programming for the Residence Hall Student Association.
UW Alumni Marketing Intern
11 Comments
#1 Ryan McElroy
on May 12, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I applaud the Daily's first three picks, but the rest feel like a cop-out to the status quo. Did the Daily even really take time to think about any of the "lower 5" positions?
The biggest oversight I feel is the failure to endorse Jason Padvorac for Director of FAAA.
Jason eximplifies the VisionUW motto of "Ambitious Goals, Specific Plans" -- He dreams big but takes the small, coordinated steps one at a time to get there. As Sameer K. Kanal put it:
"This year's Director of FAAA asked the candidates how they would make the relationship between Senate and the BoD more collaborative... Phuong was ... somewhat vague... But Jason hit this question out of the park. He cited the specific section of the ASUW By-Laws mandating that this position follow through on Senate Resolutions, and then said that he would make time not only for the mandated attendance at Senate, but for Committee Meetings as well."
We don't need vague hand-waving We need people who will show up and do the work required to make the UW a better school. Jason is the best candidate to do this job. Jason Padvorac is the Vision behind the visionUW and deserves your consideration and vote.
#2 Patrick
on May 12, 2008 at 11:39 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I am shocked that the Daily did not endorse Sabrina Fields for Director of Diversity Efforts. How your election editorial board can ignore the fact that she is endorsed by every single current ASUW diversity commissioner is beyond me.
#3 a
on May 12, 2008 at 8:48 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Aside from seconding the previous comments, I'm shocked at your nomination for FAA and Programming. While I'm sure Phuong could accomplish the job, when she can't speak confidently at a forum for 40 people, how can we expect her to positively represent students in front of the administration? Also, Mike Snowden clearly does not take the job seriously and just holding a previous programming director position does not mean that he did it sucessfully or competently.
And do I even need to mention the ridiculousness of not endorsing Sabrina Fields for Diversity Efforts? Not only is she active currently within the community she would be representing, but is also committed to incorporating all kinds of diversity: sexual, gender, socio-economic, and ability status.
But it's ok- the Daily is a joke this year anyway so I truly doubt that anybody will take their endorsments seriously.
#4 dt
on May 12, 2008 at 11:12 p.m.(Mercer Island, WA | Unverified Name)
Did you guys not read the first sentence? These are the opinions of THREE PEOPLE, not The Daily in its entirety. Sheesh.
#5 Fan
on May 13, 2008 at 12:04 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I wrote in my vote for Jake Locker for 2nd place for all positions. Go Dawgs!
#6 Siv
on May 13, 2008 at 3:52 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I never cease to find it interesting that people who think The Daily is "a joke" read it so often and comment so frequently on our articles. If you truly find the paper so ridiculous, why bother?
#7 ng
on May 13, 2008 at 5:49 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Siv: Just because you hold a monopoly on campus news doesn't mean you're good at it. People read and comment because, despite the poor quality, it's all we have. You should appreciate that people are trying to stay engaged despite this thin, weak endorsement article.
And should you really be getting involved in a back-and-forth in your own comment threads, anyway? I've never seen that at the PI, Times, Stranger, etc. Your reporting should stand for itself, you shouldn't have to come out and 'defend' it by blaming your readers.
#8 a
on May 13, 2008 at 6:46 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I wholeheartedly support the Daily's endorsement of Phuong Nguyen for Director of FAA. She is clearly the most knowledgeable and passionate candidate.
May I remind you that Jason didn't event know the correct title of the Director of FAA position? He made it clear at the RHSA/IFC/Panhellenic forum that his knowledge of the position is clearly lacking. Yes, he's a nice guy, but he just won't cut it in such an important position.
#9 ASUW veteran
on May 14, 2008 at midnight(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
At the RHSA/Panhellenic/IFC forum Jason asked a clarifying question if it was officially FAA or FAAA because the constitution and history/trends contradict each other. He was showing his ability to be conversational whereas Phuong couldn't get out a coherent sentence
#10 Jason Padvorac
on May 15, 2008 at noon(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
First, thanks to everyone who cared enough about this election to comment!
Second, be nice! It is perfectly acceptable and desirable to debate the merits of the candidates, but only if there is substance. For example, saying that "Phuong couldn't get out a coherent sentence" is neither true nor helpful. During the forums she cogently discussed several ideas that I hadn't thought of.
Matt Kilmer, Holland Avery, Phuong and I have been talking about working together next year regardless of who gets elected. Each of us is running because we honestly want to serve the UW student body, and we will be doing so next year -- together -- with or without an official position.
While I appreciate the enthusiastic support for myself (and respect that given to Phuong), let's not allow negativity to damage these budding friendships.
Third, I was disappointed to not receive the endorsement but harbor no hard feelings towards the three editors who made the decision -- I ran into one of them yesterday and we had a good, friendly conversation.
And although I disagree with the endorsement (obviously, since I didn’t' get it :), it was not a joke. Sameer (who was quoted above), said that while he supported me, Phuong also had excellent ideas and he would be happy to see her elected.
<http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note...>
Now that campaigning is finally over we can all relax for a day or two. Aahhhhhhh... :)
#11 Jason Padvorac
on May 15, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Oops -- I posted the wrong link. The correct note is at <http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note...>.
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