Celina Oseguera
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As soon as the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) presidential candidates could, they dispatched their election teams to plaster signs and flyers around the campus for the upcoming ASI presidential election.
The names of the three candidates — Joi Sullivan, Connor Paquin and Jake Rogers — were plastered across campus, accompanied by vibrant colors and punchy slogans.
What some may not have realized is that none of the three candidates are part of Cal Poly’s greek life community.
When Panhellenic President and business administration junior Danielle Durante heard no one from greek life was running for ASI presidency, she was disappointed.
But after learning about the three candidates, that feeling subsided.
“Initially, I was a little disappointed that none of the greek students wanted to run,” Durante said. “But I really think that the candidates that are running are qualified.”
Former Interfraternity Council (IFC) President and business administration junior Domenic Hjerpe had similar sentiments when he heard who was running.
“I believe all the candidates are strong,” Hjerpe said.
Though they did say all the candidates seemed qualified, greek life leaders said it would take some work to represent the greek community as a non-greek student.
“As far as the next president, I think it’s extremely important for them to understand what’s going on in the (greek) organizations and the administration,” Durante said.
Rogers, an agricultural business junior, admitted getting familiar with how greek organizations work would not be easy, but would be necessary if he were to become ASI president.
“It could be a bit of an obstacle,” Rogers said. “You can’t fully understand greek life if you aren’t in greek life.”
But Rogers said he has a plan to open up the ASI-greek relationship if he were to become president. A part of this plan is to meet with greek organizations once a month.
Sullivan had the same idea. The political science senior said she would meet with the greek community regularly, whether that’s on a weekly or monthly basis, to listen to their concerns.
For Sullivan, listening to the greek community would be vital if she were to become president.
“My goal is to have my door open at all times,” she said.
Paquin, a civil engineering junior, did not feel he was going into the ASI-greek relationship empty-handed. He said he already knew many of the greek community’s issues and was working to help.
“I understand the things they go through and the issues they’ve been dealing with,” he said.
Paquin has helped by spearheading an ASI greek party registration resolution. The resolution will be presented to the Board of Directors next week.
Sullivan said she would also address party registration during presidency.
“I don’t think it’s the administration’s job to be their parent,” Sullivan said about the Cal Poly administration’s involvement with greek life parties.
Rogers also mentioned his plans for greek life if he were to become president.
One thing he wanted to focus on was possibly installing a greek row — a street or area containing only greek homes — if the community approved.
According to Durante and current ASI President and agricultural business senior Jason Colombini, only three of the 13 presidential candidates from the last five ASI presidential elections were involved with greek organizations. Two of the last five ASI presidents were a part of greek life, including Colombini.
United Sorority and Fraternity Council President Edward Yanez said he would like to see more greek involvement in the ASI elections.
“I would like to see somebody from greek life running in the future, just to get our voices heard easier,” Yanez said.