ASUA senators announced at yesterday’s meeting they will bus 120 students to ASU, the site of the third and final debate for the upcoming presidential election, for an ASU-sponsored debate party.

Students will watch the debate at Arizona State University’s Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe.

Three buses, sponsored by the Arizona Students Association and the Associated Students of the University of Arizona will meet at Old Main Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and the trip is free, said Sara Birnbaum, executive vice president for ASUA.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage in a presidential election,” Birnbaum said.

The presidential debate begins at 6 p.m. in ASU’s Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium.

ASU’s student government is putting on a series of student-centered events beginning at 3 p.m. that will include music and promotional giveaways, Birnbaum said.

Although attendees won’t sit in the actual debate, they will be able to interact with peers and discuss political issues, she said.

Birnbaum said the trip is part of ASUA’s mission to promote civic engagement and political motivation for students.

Students interested in attending must e-mail ASUA Senator Pita Salido at mgsalido@email.arizona.edu with their name, e-mail address and number of tickets they want. The deadline to sign up is Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Republicans are instructed to wear red shirts, Democrats to wear blue shirts and independent or non-partisan to wear white shirts.

Patel to head up Students Association

ASUA hired a director for the International Students Association, an ASUA program, to assist foreign students in adjusting to life at the UA.

Jordan Miller, the administrative vice president of ASUA, said Afshan Patel, a former Wildcat columnist, was hired because of the UA’s need for international students to get accustomed not only to campus, but to American culture.

“She will be integrating them more with the students and make them feel like a bigger part of campus,” Miller said.

Patel will put together programming, organize dinners and hold 10 office hours a week for international students, Miller explained.

“She is so professional and organized for the job,” said Miller.

Miller said there are about 3,000 international students on campus.

Senators to attend state town hall

Senators approved funds to send two ASUA senators to a state town hall Oct. 31 - Nov. 3 to represent students with input on state issues.

Each year, members of the Arizona State Legislature and Arizona residents attend the town hall to discuss concerns throughout the state.

Attendees issue reports about the problems and their suggestions for solutions.

ASUA Sen. Steven Eddy said student input is beneficial because it gives student perspectives on state issues.

“There is always student engagement at these events,” Eddy said. “Essentially, it benefits the entire state.”

Last year, the topic of discussion was Arizona’s aging population, and this year the topic will be water usage, he said.

New budget discussed

Senators discussed a rough draft of their budget, which included proposed expenditures that would leave ASUA with a balance of $6,300.

Expenditures include funding for senators to attend the state town hall, an election party on Nov. 2 at Belushi’s and an award for an outstanding athlete, said Matthew Carr, ASUA senator.

The election party will be open to students on the night of the presidential election, and students can watch the results on television, said Ashley Rose Eden, ASUA senator.

ASUA will select an athlete with outstanding involvement in on-campus activities and plans to present that person with a plaque, Carr said.