ASUA Senate approves student regent choices

Gov. Jane D. Hull will select the next voting student member in the Arizona Board of Regents this month.

Ryan Rosensteel, Associated Students administrative vice president, Marco Lopez, former International Students Association president, and former Arizona Students Association Director Christine Thompson are vying for the spot.

Northern Arizona University student Jennifer Reichelt served as student regent this year, and will leave the job in June. The three state schools rotate annually in selecting a student.

The finalists were chosen from a pool of 13 applicants, said ASUA President Tara Taylor. They endured two rounds of interviews - first with a university committee and later with a state panel.

"They're all very strong but different candidates, which I'm really excited about," Taylor said.

Rosensteel, who has served as a student regent task force and Chain Gang honorary member, said he wants to bring the Regents closer to university students.

"More focus groups need to be formed on campus," said Rosensteel, a molecular and cellular biology junior. "I've grown up in the educational system in Arizona. I really feel like I'm in touch with the legislation."

Thompson's resumé boasts a "long history" with ASA, serving as the university's director and Arizona's executive director within the past three years.

"I thought, with my background, I could serve University of Arizona Students," said Thompson, a first-year UA law student. "I'm excited about going to the governor's office."

Lopez, who founded ISA and served as a congressional aide for Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Tucson, said he would like to advocate better communication between all three Arizona universities.

"There's some really major things we need to address," said Lopez, an interdisciplinary studies junior. "We need someone who can go in there...and get some real things done."

Taylor said the interviews will take place sometime during spring break, and Hull will likely announce her decision soon after.

In other business, senators approved $137.50 to install a new ASUA suggestion box.

ASUA Sen. Ferdie Echiverri proposed the new receptacle, which will be located more centrally. He also said ASUA will restore the seven other suggestion boxes that exist on campus.

"One thing we need to do is put it where students can see it," Echiverri said. "The box is big and it's red and you can shove whatever you want in it."

Taylor said she is concerned about the box's cost, and asked Echiverri to investigate the cost of moving and repainting one of the existing units.

With the exception of absent Sens. Janet Rico, Ty Trujillo and Maria Rodriguez, the panel unanimously approved the measure.