A Look Ahead and a Glance Behind

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Summer Wildcat Tara Taylor

We are not the first to ponder such a thought, and will definitely not be the last. Anyway, welcome home Wildcats. I hope you all had summer experiences worthwhile enough to re-live.

But as summer turns into the school year, things swing into action. There are important issues facing us and I will share my thoughts on them. But I know I have a problem listening to and trusting the message of someone I really know nothing about, so before we talk issues, let me tell you who I am.

This May I was inducted as the UA's student body president. Big deal, huh? No, not really. What it means is this: I am the woman who harassed you each day, begging for your vote as you scurried to class.

I am the same one whose terrible picture was plastered on the front page of the Daily Wildcat (and isn't one time one too many?), and I am the one with the alliterative name that you will quickly grow weary of hearing.

I apologize for these things, but hope you can look past the ways I have been an annoyance and utilize me as your student servant. I would not have a job if it were not for each of you.

I am a native Southern Californian who hails from a small town called Apple Valley. Apple Valley is not well known for many things, as the only apples you can now find there are at the local grocery store - but it is where I spent my formative years, and it holds a special place in my heart.

Apple Valley is really no longer "home," as my parents recently relocated to a city outside of Anaheim, Calif., called Corona. I consider this to be progress, since I started out in a city named for fruit and now live in a place named after beer.

I guess the Taylor family is moving up in the world.

My dad works for Lucky Markets and my mom for Mervyn's. As a lower-middle-class kid, my parents taught me the importance of working your hardest for everything you have. I value that lesson they taught me.

I complain about my beat-up old car that doesn't have AC, but when you put things in perspective- I am pretty darn lucky.

My younger brother, Rhett, is 19 years old and attends community college. I love my brother dearly and know he is forced to endure a lot with a sister as crazy as me.

After all, how do you think it would feel to have the most bothersome UA recruiter of all time as your sister?

I must admit I'm getting better, I only pipe the music of "Bear Down" into his apartment once a semester (kidding, kind of).

I am a 21-year-old whose eternal aspiration has been to become the first woman U.S. president. My plan has evolved into something much smaller scale - like governor. We'll see what happens.

You have heard enough about my yawn-inspiring life, so let's talk business. As you may know, there are a number of capital projects taking place on campus (hence, the Cherry Avenue inconvenience) that are going to enhance the innovation and beauty of our campus.

The Student Union renovation issue has not been laid to rest - it is, in fact, just beginning. Students are going to be a part of every decision that is made - from funding to the color of the drapes - and I have faith that you will help me convey your opinions on what should be done to make our Union better for all of us.

It is no secret that I have made my opposition to a student fee at this time very clear, as it is simply not a good business venture for students. The administration has been very understanding, knowing we cannot pay for something that is not tangible, and I vow to stick by this decision.

We are also taking a closer look on the improvement of academic advising to make the system more user-friendly for all students.

A more effective way of preserving student privacy has been another of my focuses throughout the summer, in hopes to eliminate any possibility of another CatCard debacle.

My focus has been - and will continue to be - on things to better facilitate the needs of the most important people on campus: the students. I am truly honored to serve you and hope that we share a year of laughs, good grades, positive change- and a championship in a few of our sports would not be so bad. Best of luck, Wildcats.

The 1998-99 Associated Students president, Tara Taylor is a political science and public management senior.