Patrick TrautfieldEditor’s note: This is the second installment of a three-part profile on the ASI candidates.
Agribusiness senior Brandon Souza wants to bring out the “palooza” spirit in his campaign for Associated Students Inc. president.
He feels that ASI should act based on student ideas.
“Student input is my No. 1 priority,” Souza said. “I’ve always been out to make people feel comfortable.”
As part of his campaign platform, Souza noted that he wanted to build on the successes of previous ASI presidents. In fact, he has a family connection to this legacy.
“My father was part of the class of 1971,” Souza said. “Actually, he was part of the movement of students that passed the funding to build this University Union. He was an integral part, and I’m glad that I’m able to carry on the legacy.”
Souza said that Cal Poly has given a lot to him during his student career, and now he wants to give some of that back to the campus.
“I believe I know Cal Poly students,” he said. “Leadership is an action, not a position.”
Included on his agenda are a graduation evaluation system, student safety, campus sustainability and issues related to ASI facilities. He elaborated on how campus security can be improved.
“I want to make sure that those blue emergency lights are seen everywhere on campus,” Souza said. “There has to be adequate lighting as well.”
As Cal Poly continues to accept more students, the current graduation evaluation system would have more work to process out others. Souza said that he wants to ensure students would graduate on time and be able to cut through the confusion.
“I think that there should be a system where students can log on and have an electronic flow chart relative to their major, their concentration and their minors,” Souza said.
“I’d like to see that university wide.”
Souza also believes that Campus Dining plays an important part of student life at Cal Poly. He offered to look at new options for the future of campus food.
“While I have no control over Campus Dining, I hope to be as ASI president an integral part in seeing some improved menus on campus,” Souza said. “A lot of our students are into health and fitness.”
If elected, Souza also wants to improve the van escort service provided by the University Police Department. He said that he wants to continue the program next year.
As a person born and raised in the Central Valley, Souza felt that he had a passion in leadership. He has been a council member at the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and has participated in the Dale Carnegie Fellowship Program.
He also wants to ensure that ASI spends its funds in a proper manner. He said that he would know what to do with it because he was an ASI Board of Directors member in his junior year.
He promised to “hit the ground running” if chosen as ASI president.
“Vote for those who would best serve them,” Souza said. “Vote for who is going to do the best job for you.”