USG presidential candidates ready to battle

Three candidates for the Undergraduate Student Government’s presidency are prepared to make a final push as the election sits a week and a half away.

USG Vice President Vincent Hardy is competing with senators Dana Agusto and Priciliano Fabian to replace Chiquita Watts as president. The election is set to take place April 20 and 21.

Agusto, who represents the College of Education and Human Services, said if she were to become president, her main goal would be to reduce fee increases.

“Students and administration alike agree that cost is an issue for students,” Agusto said. “I think we should address it and come up with some solutions. We can’t ignore the fact that many students are struggling to afford an education.”

Agusto said lowering fee increases would need to be her first priority, because many students cannot afford to go to the university.

Fabian, who also represents the College of Education and Human Services, said his main goal would be to fix internal problems with USG.

“I feel we need to become more structured in how we handle business so that we can look and be taken seriously,” Fabian said. “I feel that there should be a better open-door policy implemented.”

Fabian also said he would like to make USG more diverse and he would like to make funding for Registered Student Organizations more favorable to the RSOs.

Hardy said his goal as president would be to listen to what the students want, not tell them what they need.

“Instead of listing off a bunch of tasks, I’ve decided to go around listening to students and see what it is they want,” Hardy said. “If you listen, you’ll find out what it is that will make the student experience here better.”

Hardy said he thinks he can understand the needs of the students and do what’s best for them.

Agusto said her running mate, Jillian Hopgood, would be willing to work for what’s best for the students.

“I like to call her a social activist because she is definitely one to fight for people,” Agusto said. “When she gets a call, she goes full force.”

Hopgood, a junior from Mt. Vernon studying psychology, is a transfer student in her first year at SIUC.

Fabian said his running mate, Ashley Epps, compliments his personality and what he stands for.

“I feel that we will be able to generate ideas and solutions to problems on campus,” Fabian said. “With her as my running mate nothing will knock us down.”

Epps is the chairperson for the USG finance committee.

Hardy said his running mate Julian Rios interacts well with the student body.

“He’s very in tuned with student’s wants,” Hardy said. “He’s one of those people that can strike up a conversation with anybody.”

Rios is the president of Omega Delta Phi.

Agusto said she thinks she would represent the students at SIUC better than the other two candidates.

“My goals are to accurately represent the students,” Agusto said. “I just want to be the students’ voice in meetings with the administration.”

Fabian said he thinks he would be the strongest candidate for the students.

“I’m strong and proactive in every situation that I’m put into,” Fabian said. “I feel that I have the resources necessary in order to be ready that first day after elections that I step into that office.”

Hardy said his ability to communicate with students makes him the strongest presidential candidate.

“That’s what your job is,” Hardy said. “Communication is very important whether it’s verbal, on paper or through your actions. You have to know how to get a message across.”

Stile Smith can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268