By Daniel Scarpinato
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday Feb. 21, 2002
Black calls for fresh perspective
Aaron Black believes he has what it takes to reach out to students who normally don't vote in ASUA elections.
Black, a political science junior who is running for the position of Associated Students of the University of Arizona president, is currently fund-raising chair for the rugby team.
Along with his running mate, Wailele Sallas, who is also running for executive vice president, Black said he brings a new perspective to the race.
"We've never been involved in ASUA," he said. "A lot of the people running have experience - we don't. And I think that is an advantage."
Black said he is interested in pushing "student comfort issues" - like green grass on the UA Mall and a misting system around the Student Union Memorial Center. He said those moves will get ASUA's name out to students - as he believes few people feel in touch with it.
"People see ASUA as the student government they had in high school," he said. "It's actually much more than that."
Black said his background in club sports will give him an advantage in dealing with club issues.
"We're going to focus a lot on clubs," he said. "And we're ready to learn the system."
Black wants to funnel more money to clubs but realizes that will be a challenge in the face of university-wide budget cuts, which will inevitably affect next year's ASUA budget.
He's ready to face that challenge by seeking corporate sponsorship, which he will also use to create a more attractive campus climate.
As president, Black said he would campaign to protect students from budget cuts.
He said he is running for president because he wants to make the school a better place and give back to the university what it has given him.
He said that as an "outsider," he will be able to open ASUA up to students who might be unaware of the services and benefits it provides.
"This is something I feel obligated to do," Black said. "I'm just the average student."
A member of the rugby team for the past three years, Black came to UA from Phoenix and graduated from Brophy College Preparatory.
"We're trying to appeal to a new group of people," he said. "We have nothing to lose."
