By Rosemary Peters
About 100 students poured into Mago Hunt rehearsal hall Tuesday to get information about next week's ASUP election.
Among other things, they learned that this year's student government races are essentially a case of ASUP insiders versus outsiders, who tout their lack of ASUP experience as an advantage.
The "sizzle" of the night came when candidates for president and vice president made their speeches.
On one side: presidential candidate Colin Dorwart and his vice presidential running mate Katie Scally. Both are juniors and have been ASUP senators for three years.
On the other side: presidential candidate Suzann Corrado and her vice presidential running mate, Emily Rizzo. Like their opponents, they are juniors. However, they have less ASUP experience, which they hope will work in their favor.
"Neither of us is rooted in old ASUP traditions," Rizzo said, referring to herself and Corrado. "We have a new outlook, new initiatives and a new attitude."
Corrado suggested this fresh perspective would improve the relationship between ASUP and the student body.
"If elected, I promise to put into place a student-run and student-centric community," Corrado said.
Corrado's and Rizzo's platform is based on three principles: social, economic and environmental accountability.
According to Rizzo and Corrado, their first goal is to mend what they see as the tarnished relationship between ASUP and the student body.
"I want to be an outlet for people to come to. I want to be the leader that people can look up too," Corrado said. "I want to put myself out there and be at Espresso UP and be on KDUP and talk to The Beacon."
In their speeches, both Corrado and Rizzo echoed the sentiment that every dollar ASUP spends should have a purpose.
"I can tell you that ASUP really, really needs to eliminate waste," Rizzo said. "And the first thing ASUP needs to do next year is increase efficiency."
In contrast to Corrado and Rizzo, the other presidential and vice presidential candidates emphasized the value of their extensive student government experience at UP, reminding the crowd of their decorated ASUP resumes.
"I am the most experienced and most qualified," Dorwart said. "I've seen how things worked well, and I have seen how things don't work."
Scally, his running mate, listed some of their accomplishments during their three years as senators.
Specifically, she mentioned that they co-sponsored several resolutions including the sexual misconduct policy, the introduction of the Fireside Chat with University President, Fr. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., and the pending bell tower resolution.
They also spearheaded efforts to install the new crosswalk lights in front of the main entrance to the school.
Along with their experience, Dorwart and Scally both expressed a strong desire to foster school pride and a deeper school community by getting freshmen involved in school activities from the get-go.
"We want to be more visible on the service plunge and such for freshmen," Scally said.
In addition, they said they want to better use current resources to reach their constituents.
"We want to start talking with The Beacon and have a regular show on KDUP," Scally said. "We will be more visible in the Pilot House, The Cove and St. Mary's."
Dorwart and Scally are also concerned with the issue of sustainability in both environmental and economic forms.
Acknowledging that ASUP is responsible for doling out funds for clubs, Dorwart said that and he and Scally want to make sure money is spent appropriately.
"Through our broad range of involvement, I think that we can say we represent the entire campus very well," Dorwart said. "I love this university and I am invested in its growth."
Similar to the race for president and vice president, the contests for ASUP secretary and treasurer also pit ASUP veterans against relative newcomers to student government.
Junior Hillary Burelle, an ASUP senator running for secretary, was unable to attend the candidates' forum and appeared on a video recording instead.
"I feel like my talents are suited in the position for secretary," Burrelle said in the video. "I am involved in a broad range of activities and thus able to connect with a lot of students."
Burrelle wants to see more students involved in ASUP.
Her ideas for better reaching the student body include getting more students involved in deciding how to spend the capital improvement fund money, informing students about what happens at academic senate and creating a more readable and accessible calendar.
Junior Emma Isakson, Burrelle's opponent, is new to ASUP. She made a point of stating that her lack of ASUP experience does not reflect upon her ability to hold the position of secretary.
"I care about the UP community, and I care about the students and the quality of students' experiences," Isakson said. "I do not have experience in ASUP, but this works to my advantage because I know what it is like to be on the outside."
The candidates for ASUP treasurer, juniors Brendan Garlinghouse and Ben Thompson, share many similarities, from majoring in finance to holding jobs and internships in real companies, where they handle bookkeeping, accounting and large sums of money on a daily basis.
However, it was in the differences that each candidate marketed himself.
According to Thompson, he has held an ASUP senator position in the past and he is currently on the ASUP finance management board, which decides how to allocate club spending.
He also runs his own coin business.
"School and UP are my first priority," Thompson said. "I would reduce my hours and leave my job if necessary."
Garlinghouse, who admitted to lacking ASUP experience, stressed that he has the passion to be treasurer. He also reminded the crowd that holding an ASUP position in the past is not a requirement to run for office.
"If elected my time would be fully devoted to being a student and your treasurer," Garlinghouse said to the audience during the town-hall style questioning part of the evening.
Garlinghouse also said it was his personal goal to make the campus more credit and debit card friendly and to keep clubs financially responsible.
Sophomore Hillary White, who is a co-chair of films for the Campus Program Board, is running unopposed for director of CPB.
She addressed the crowd via video because she was in Boston attending a conference of the National Association of Campus Activities.
"I want to be CPB director because I think CPB events do a great job of bringing the community together," White said.
