ASUA presidential candidate faces tough road

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat "I'm not running because I have my own ideas. The way I see it, I'm just a broker." Greg Kugler finance junior, ASUA presidential candidate

"Realistically, I have about a 2 (percent) to 3 percent chance of winning," said Kugler, a finance junior. "I'm a 100 percent outsider."

He has no prior experience in student organizations. He has no backing by any campus clubs. Most Associated Students officials don't have the slightest idea who he is.

And Kugler is facing off against two longtime student officials, University Activities Board President Caitlein Ryan and ASUA Executive Vice President Cisco Aguilar.

But Kugler doesn't care about any of these setbacks. He's focused on changing ASUA.

"I'm running out of anger toward ASUA," said Kugler, a finance junior. "We need someone to start over. I'm the new deal."

If elected, Kugler said he wants to give students better seats at University of Arizona basketball games, put a bar in the Memorial Student Union and provide free condoms in all fraternities, sororities and residence halls.

"(The condoms) can save more lives than any police person," he said.

Kugler said he would sign a contract with a condom manufacturer that would put the profolaftics on ASUA's tab.

Taking a somewhat unpopular viewpoint, Kugler said he agrees with the UA administration on several major issues, including child-care funding and student fees that will pay for construction of a new Memorial Student Union.

However, Kugler said he would like to make the Union fees voluntary, allowing students to receive a refund if desired.

He also agrees with UA President Peter Likins' rejection of a dramatic increase in student child-care subsidies. He added that the UA has the responsibility to provide support to student parents, but the funding should come from private organizations outside the UA.

The ASUA Senate passed a resolution last month demanding a $138,000 increase in student child-care funding -Êmoney that would have come from the UA's budget.

"They (ASUA Senate) were asking for way too much," he said. "The university has a responsibility to it, (but) it could be done a lot cheaper."

Kugler said he also wants to see an overhaul of the university's academic advising system and new deadlines that will allow students to drop or add classes later than the current cut-off dates.

Kugler, whose involvement at UA has been limited to the Financial Management Association and the Undergraduate Society of Criminal Justice Studies, said his lack of experience in ASUA is beneficial to students.

"I'm not running because I have my own ideas," he said. "The way I see it, I'm just a broker."

In creating his platform, Kugler said he spoke to more than 500 UA students about their concerns.

"I'm just an average person who opens up the (Arizona Daily) Wildcat every morning and does not like what he sees," he added.

But "average" isn't an easy thing to be in the ASUA system, Kugler said.

ASUA Elections Commissioner Anthony Hill said presidential candidates are "traditionally" well-recognized members of organizations.

"(Being an independent) makes it more difficult," Hill said. "But just because people get endorsements, they're not worth the paper they're written on."

Still, Kugler said his candidacy may be inspirational to other students.

"People are starting to realize the position is open to anyone," he said. "It's a new opportunity to regain (ASUA's) image."

Hill said new blood is important to ASUA elections.

"I have always been in favor (of independents)," he said. "We have a lot of ASUA politicians...who think they're God's gift to the student body."