Seats up for grabs in elections

While the election was last week for most Californians, students at SF State still have a chance to cast their vote for change during this week's election for three vacant spots on the Student Center Governing Board.

The Board, which oversees the student center on everything from keeping it clean to choosing its food vendors, has 16 members -- eight administrators and eight students. Of those eight students, five are elected to serve two-year terms by the student body.

Six candidates are running for the three spots being vacated by Eurania Lopez, Franz Gwiazdon and Tharon Weighill. The six are Samantha Sanchez, Cecilia Garcia, Mario Flores, Timothy Wang, Heather Powell and Sharon Hom. They all claim to have some definite ideas about changing the center to better fit the needs of the students.

Sanchez, Garcia and Flores are running under the newly formed "Students for an Accessible Center" slate. All three candidates agree they want to get students more involved in the center.

"I want students to know that they have a voice, they have the power," said Sanchez, a junior majoring in creative writing. "In the past I've heard students complain about the vendors, but what I want them to know is that they have the power to change them."

Garcia, a junior majoring in international relations, said one advantage she has is that she knows the campus well because she has lived and worked here the past three years.

"I've been a resident assistant for three years and have worked with various organizations," Garcia said. "Having done this has given me experience in judging people's needs. I know the campus community well."

Flores, a senior La Raza studies major, said he's glad the student center building is being expanded, and that he will try to make the extra rooms more accessible to students and clubs who want to meet in them.

"This is a progressive and very active campus, and in the past groups and clubs have had to cancel meetings or go meet somewhere else because there were no rooms available for them in the student union," Flores said. "Hopefully, this expansion and renovation of the student center building will increase the availability of space for activities and meetings."

Timothy Wang, who is running as an independent, criticized past SCGB members for not doing enough for students and not addressing the issues.

"There are leaking tubes in the student union, the bookstore is too crowded and MACcess is not being used because it's too expensive," said Wang, a junior international business major. "No SCGB members have addressed this."

Wang believes SCGB members should take things into their own hands more often.

"I always hear them criticizing Pete Wilson instead of going to his office and attempting to talk to him," Wang said. "They have to talk to people at the city and state levels who can do something about students' concerns. They have to do a lot of extra work, not just collect a paycheck."

Heather Powell, a sophomore undeclared major, is also running as an independent, and is endorsed by Student Struggle.

She was also concerned about room availability for students and clubs in the student center.

"Right now, as it is, clubs have to reserve a room too far in advance," Powell said. "Things come up, and it's silly that there's no rooms available on short notice."

Powell wants to bring more activities, concerts and open microphones to the student center to get more people involved.

Sharon S. Hom, a finance, banking and real estate major is also running as an independent, wants to "provide representation for the community, provide quality services, organization offices, accessibility for disabled students, good food, a pleasant atmosphere and a clean environment for student and administration."

[ Golden Gater Online November 14, 1995 ]

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