ASG presidential election profiles wrap up

The suited duo of Brett Slaughter and Kyle Schwartz look to utilize a three-prong plan to lead next year’s student body as Associated Student Government (ASG) president and vice president.

Slaughter, a second-year political science/pre-law major planning to head for the University of Oregon after MHCC, graduated from Sandy High School in 2009, and Schwartz, a 2004 Sandy High graduate, plan to use common sense, dedication and unity to bring fairness to students.

The duo wants students utilize every opportunity available at MHCC, including participating in events on campus; that ASG increases its dedication to students; and that all students come together to learn from and to support one another.

Slaughter said part of the common sense plan is that many opportunities the school provides are missed by students, such as the online textbook exchange and all the events staged by ASG and Student Activities Board for students’ enjoyment.

Slaughter cited the poor financial returns from textbook buyback as an issue. “It is a slap in the face for education and that’s just not acceptable,” he said, adding it’s important for teachers and students to emphasize and make use of the exchange.

Slaughter said in order to improve student involvement, campus events need to planned and advertised early on. He said he would make sure the Executive Cabinet of ASG “is on the same page and willing to communicate with people.

Slaughter said while the general requirements for ASG president call for about 20 hours a week, he would like to put more time and effort put into turning ASG from a job into a lifestyle, noting that extra time would produce greater results.

Slaughter said unity is important for students because, “a lot of learning comes from each other, where we talk with different people who have lived completely different lives than us, who have completely different backgrounds from us.”

Slaughter continued, “I have strengths and weaknesses, but we (ASG and the students) cannot do this alone. We have to be unified… Being president, it’s just a title, it’s nothing more. It just means that I have the responsibility to help create that unity.”

Slaughter has prior leadership experience through his shadowing of the Sandy city council as well as his two-year church mission in Arizona. While on his mission, Slaughter and his colleagues would ride their bikes around and try to help people; they once helped to convince a suicidal woman they met to not commit suicide.

Asked why he chose Schwartz to be his running mate, Slaughter said, “He is very patient with me, and very patient in general.” He called Schwartz “very calming” and “very centered.”