Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 2, 1998

Admin. vice presidential candidates

Jason Hand

Jason Hand, this year's corporate chairman for Spring Fling, said he wants to promote student programs and services more aggressively.

He said more than half of ASUA program directors told him they believe their programs are not well known

"They're there, they need to be used by the students," he said. "All the people I've talked to don't know they're there."

He said he wants increase awareness through Residence Life and during freshman orientation. He said he wants to hold ASUA-sponsored break-out sessions that will inform students of UA programs and opportunities to become involved on campus.

"I want to start at the grassroots and work my way up," he said. "It'll be something we can build on from year to year."

Although politics is unrelated to Hand's mechanical engineering major, the junior said he always has loved student government.

"For some reason, I can't pin it down to one thing," he said. "I absolutely love the involvement, and working with such interesting people."

This year's Spring Fling organizers are determined to reverse the carnival's recent few-year trend of losing money, working with a stripped-down budget that has about $20,000 in reserve, he said.

The country's largest student-run carnival will focus on the local community as its primary business target and has initiated an Ambassadors program, visiting various high schools to offer students positions helping put Spring Fling together, he said.

A children's expo, with science projects and a petting zoo, is one way Spring Fling will attract family patrons, he added.

While he did not help formulate this plan, Hand said he is confident it will turn things around for Spring Fling and hopes to continue the philosophy if he is elected to administrative vice president.

"It'll be a very good turn-around for us," he said, "It looks to be very successful, a change for the better."

Ryan Rosensteel

Ryan Rosensteel said he has immersed himself in ASUA as a club advocate this year to gain a deeper understanding and familiarity with the needs of UA programs and services he hopes to oversee as administrative vice president.

"A lot of the candidates are just searching for answers to field questions and look prepared, whereas I am trying to search for answers to understand," he said.

Rosensteel, a molecular and cellular biology and political science sophomore, said his search for a deeper understanding was prompted by a loss last year in his run for Senate.

"Last year I ran for Senate on a lot of issues I wasn't informed about, on a lot of issues I thought were popular," he said. "It took until this year for me to understand what students need and want."

Rosensteel said from his work this year with the Associated Students, he has come to know the directors of each of the programs and services and their needs.

"There's a big difference between knowing all the directors on a first name basis," he said. "That's going to show who's the most effective - you have to understand and know rather than learning on the job."

By talking with program directors, Rosensteel said he has learned they want more promotion so more students use their services.

He said ASUA services like Bear Down Camp bring students into the campus community.

"A lot of student retention is in promoting programs and services," Rosensteel said.

He said he would like to increase funding for the Escort Service - a program that he said has made campus safer.

Rosensteel said because of a bylaw change, UA programs and services assistant directors will not succeed to the director positions as in previous years. The new administrative vice president, he said, has to be aware of this change and be prepared to make intelligent appointments.

"You can't rely on the spoils system," Rosensteel said. "The success of the programs and services depends on the directors."

He said he cares deeply about the administrative vice president job. Rosensteel said his previous ASUA experience will help him do the job right.

"I've learned about the issues all year long," he said. "This is what I feel sets me apart from the other candidates."