By Jeff Sklar
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wednesday Feb. 20, 2002
Sallas pushes for comfort on campus
Wailele Sallas is an ASUA outsider - but he values that perspective.
Sallas, a journalism senior, said he would bring a fresh voice to the office of executive vice president - a voice he said hasn't been heard by the current student government.
And although Sallas admits he hasn't been involved with any campus activities, he said that his diverse background gives him an insight into student issues.
"I'm a mutt," said Sallas, who hails from Hawaii. "That helps diversify my nature."
Sallas said that he, along with presidential candidate Aaron Black, wants to put a misting system in the Student Union Memorial Center and get more green grass around campus.
Those comfort issues, he said, are central to keeping students happy at a time when budget cuts and brain drain dominate the university landscape.
Sallas said he recognizes the importance of those financial issues but that no one would attend the university if it were not a comfortable place to go to school.
Still, he said that as pay discrepancies cost the university faculty members, students should play an increasing role in evaluating teachers - and that course evaluations should be a factor in teacher pay.
"A lot of teachers are overpaid, and a lot are underpaid," Sallas said.
Sallas said dealing with the budget cuts will likely be one of the biggest challenges the Associated Students of the University of Arizona will face next year, and he sees the student government as an advocate for the best interests of its constituency.
"ASUA was founded to speak for the students," he said. "You never know if you have a say, but at least you can get your presence heard."
He also stressed safety as a major issue - especially in light of several near-campus sexual assaults last semester - and wants to push for better lighting and increased SafeRide coverage.
"That will help me bring down a lot of problems around campus," he said.
He hopes that expanding SafeRide so it picks up students from bars will cut down on the number of drunk drivers around the university.
"The bars are so close to campus, a lot of people think they can make it home," he said.
