UAB president aims for ASUA top spot

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat Theater arts junior and University Activities Board President Caitlein Ryan shows off her homemade election T-shirt in her office at UAB. Ryan is running against Cisco Aguilar for ASUA president.

The theater arts junior said although she has never been a member of the Associated Students, she has what it takes to make a positive change.

"I've done a lot of work with ASUA," Ryan said. "I know how ASUA works."

She said her lack of direct involvement in the student government is a positive aspect of her candidacy.

"I don't think (ASUA presidential candidate) Cisco (Aguilar) has what it takes to change ASUA," Ryan said. "They (ASUA members) have been a part of the problem."

Ryan, who serves as UAB president and as a member of several campus committees, said she is running because ASUA "has become a very exclusive club rather than a representative government."

Ryan's platform largely focuses on the idea of collaboration between major campus organizations in order to raise UA's student retention rates. She also advocates better communication between students and ASUA.

Where It's At Polling stations are open today and tomorrow from 9-6. Stations are located at the Student Recreation Center, Park Student Union, Harvill Building and the Old Chemistry Building. Students need their CatCards to cast a vote.

"There are so many students on this campus who are so angry at ASUA," Ryan said.

She also said, if elected, that she will urge Tucson city officials to install a left-turn arrow at the intersection of East Speedway Boulevard and North Park Avenue.

Ryan will also work to improve communication between UA Parking and Transportation officials and students. She added that she would urge parking department employees to establish a scholarship fund or other incentives for students.

"It's my belief that if you're a part of an educational institution, you should be directly impacting students' education," she said.

Ryan said she sees tuition hikes, construction and academic advising as three major issues impacting students during upcoming semesters.

She said that if she is elected, she will keep students involved in protesting tuition indexes.

"If we get up in everybody's face, we can get what we want," she said.

Ryan said she plans to keep students informed on campus construction issues, and would take steps to improve academic advising.

There are plans in the works to create professional advisers rather than using professors, Ryan said.

If Ryan loses to Aguilar when election results are announced tomorrow night, she said she will have learned one thing from her campaign.

"It would have taught me that it's easier for people to deal with someone they're unhappy with than something new," she said. "It's really convenient to speak about change when you're running for office."