Several students who never voted in this spring’s ASUAF election received email confirmations thanking them for their vote late on Friday night.  Four of them reached out to ASUAF Office Manager Anne Williamson and VoteNet, the site that ASUAF hosts their online election on, expressing their concern about voter fraud.

Williamson investigated and found that the four ballots in question had identical first pages.  She expanded her search, and discovered a total of 20 ballots that were exactly the same.  Williamson then called the students with the questionable ballots, 14 of whom responded saying they had never voted.

Williamson followed up with VoteNet to find out the IP addresses the potentially fraudulent ballots had been cast from.  VoteNet responded, saying there were three different IP addresses used.  VoteNet also informed her they flagged five more ballots as questionable, bringing the count of potentially fraudulent ballots up to 25.

All the ballots were identical, with identifying features such as voting for Christian Burns-Shafer as president and Sophia Grzeskowiak‐Amezquita as a write-in for Senate spelled the same way on each ballot, said ASUAF President Mari Freitag.  Freitag also said that the students with questioned ballots were all from two different academic programs.

The presidential race is unaffected, but Sophia Grzeskowiak‐Amezquita no longer has enough votes to keep a Senate seat.  The way the current unofficial results stand, Sarah Walker will take the seventh Senate seat.

The online ballot requires students to submit their student ID numbers and birthday to access the ballot, and there is a page at the end of the ballot that students must read and affirm that they are who they say they are before they hit submit.

“This is using someone else’s information,” Williamson said. “It’s identity theft.”

ASUAF hasn’t dealt with voter fraud of this nature before, but both Freitag and Williamson said they wouldn’t be surprised if it has happened.

Williamson said she heard secondhand stories floating around last year about things like this, which is why ASUAF implemented the confirmation email with VoteNet in case someone was committing voter fraud.  Which is exactly what happened, Williamson said.

ASUAF has narrowed down their search, but they’re following up before any allegations are made.  They are looking for links between the ballots and students who would have access to the information, probably university employees, such as TAs, RAs or employees who have access to BANNER, the software filing system the university uses.  Consequences for the culprit could include academic and employment discipline.

A diverse and influential group of Alaska legislators gather to celebrate 100 years of Alaska legislature and the end of a successful weekend of lecture and discussion on March 23, 2013. Brady Gross/Sun Star

UAF hosted a symposium with three days of lectures and discussions throughout various locations on campus titled, “By the People: 100 Years of Representative Government in Alaska 1913-2013,” March 21 to 23, 2013. In the panel, ”We don’t give a damn how they do it Outside”: Improvisation, Innovation and Experimentation in Alaska, present and past legislators discussed the history of success and struggle seen throughout their involvement in the Alaska State Legislature.

UAF History Professor Dr. Terrence Cole, moderated the panel. The panel consisted of Sen. Victor Fischer, Rep. Terry Gardiner, Rep. Willie Hensley, Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Sen. Gary Stevens and Sen. Arliss Sturgulewski.

The panelists’ experiences spanned decades, from Fischer, who joined the legislature just before the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 1955 to present day legislator Kreiss-Tomkins.The panelists had no problem keeping the pace and interest alive for the two hour panel. Locals, educators, UAF students, past legislators and current politicians were all in attendance at the Elvey Auditorium.

The panel represented a large history of Alaska’s legislature and worked out well with each panelist being able to contribute different experiences while also seeing overlapping themes that have existed since the days of the Alaska Constitutional Convention.

“I should be saying nice things about the legislature right now,” Fischer said. While undertones of unhappiness were present when the state of the current legislature were brought up, Fischer concentrated on his experience with the Alaska Constitutional Convention. “We looked at other countries and territories on how we should do it. We had the advice from other that built a conscious analysis of what the Alaska Constitution should be and not what to do,” Fischer said.

Fischer also spoke about the current state of our legislature. Fischer said that “our lack of understanding in the legislature about the taxing on property (oil) and what we get as Alaskans – our people,”  is increasingly defining our ignorance of what bills are being passed. Fischer reminded the audience that Alaska’s Constitution states, “It is the policy of the State to encourage the settlement of its land and the development of its resources by making them available for maximum use consistent with the public interest.”

Sturgulewski, who represented Anchorage in the Senate from ’75 to ’92, spoke of the excitement and struggle in getting the Alaska Permanent Fund established in 1976. “We (Alaska) were so new still,” Sturgulewski said. Figuring out how to ensure the Permanent Fund was actually permanent and getting enough votes to ensure inflation proofing were key points that Sturgulewski fought for.

Hensley, who served from ’66 to ’74 talked about his role in establishing the beginnings of the proper rights Native Alaskans deserved. Hensley helped establish various programs in health aide standards to the extraordinary 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Kreiss-Tomkins wrapped up the panel discussions with his impressions of currently serving in the legislature. Kreiss-Tomkins spoke of the continued struggle between coastal and rural legislators and how much it matters when legislators “listen.” Kreiss-Tomkins, one of the youngest Alaskan legislator ever elected, said, “I’m hopelessly in love with Southeast Alaska.” Kreiss-Tomkins said that type of sincerity helped him win his seat and hopes that the trend of approachability and public involvement will help create a better Legislature in the future.

Chancellor Brian Rodgers and Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins inquired about staffing and local involvement in the past and present. Other audience members also asked various questions before the panel ended. Past and present legislators in attendance were asked to join the panelists on stage for a group photo to celebrate such great discussion and involvement here at UAF.

(L) Rep. Willie Hensley, the current Visiting Distinguished Professor at UAA, discusses the breadth of programs he helped establish during his time in the Alaska Legislature. March 23, 2013. Brady Gross/Sun Star

A diverse and influential group of Alaska legistlators gather to celebrate 100 years of Alaska legislature and the end of a successful weekend of lecture and discussion on March 23, 2013. Brady Gross/Sun Star

Dr. Terrence Cole, a UAF History Professor, moderated the panel (L-R) that consisted of Rep. Willie Hensley, Sen. Victor Fischer, Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Rep. Terry Gardiner, Sen. Arliss Sturgulewski, and Sen. Gary Stevens. March 23, 2013. Brady Gross/Sun Star

Former representative and Alaska journalist Mike Doogan speaks about corruption in the Alaska State Legislature in the Schaible Auditorium on Thursday, March 21, 2012 with journalism professor Lynne Lott and Alaska journalist Dermot Cole. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

Last Thursday night, three Alaskan journalists addressed a crowd of students and legislators, unafraid take on hot topics and name names in the process. Mike Carey, Dermot Cole and former representative Mike Doogan made up the panel titled “Juneau Journalism: One Hundred years of News the Copper Kings to the ‘Corrupt Bastards’” at Schaible Auditorium on Mar. 21.

UAF History Professor Terrence Cole helped select the three speakers after the legislature created an “Alaskan centennial commission” to celebrate 100 years of the Alaska State Legislature. “These three reporters are our first choice because in some ways they are very different and in other ways very similar,” Terrence Cole said, who had been planning the event with faculty and student volunteers since January.

The panel began with each reporter sharing their personal experiences reporting on the Legislature. Carey began the night recalling his father’s outbursts at the “comedians in Juneau,” after reading the paper, and the power the press had to inform and alert its constituency.

Doogan examined the changing ideologies of Alaskans since he began his career in Juneau as a legislative aide. Doogan described the transition as, “a big place where everybody knew each other to a place where nobody knew anybody.”

The audience jeered and encouraged critical analysis of the Legislature while Journalism Professor Lynne Lott squeezed in audience submitted questions. At 8:30p.m. Lott asked the audience if they would like to proceed with impromptu questions, or continue the discussion of corruption in the Legislature. The audience overwhelming supported continuing the discussion, and the panel delved into the mid-2000s VECO Corp. scandal that put elected officials and businessmen in jail for bribery.

Doogan told the story of sneaking into VECO CEO Bill Allen’s Baranoff hotel suite to get a story while reporting on the Legislator.

Dermot Cole, who began his career as at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ student newspaper the Polar Star said there is a need for an ombudsman role in the state government which has traditionally been the responsibility of the Juneau press.

“I just think there ought to be some independent reporter examination of this whole VECO and Bill Allen event which disrupted the state’s politics for several year,” Dermot Cole said.  “The state has basically been silent on the topic and uninvolved, so it shouldn’t just be left to the justice department and it’s what it amounted to a failed investigation to have the final word on that.”

The panelists were interrupted by former Speaker of the House Gail Phillips, who could not let the topic of corruption in the current Legislature become a central point of discussion.

“When you study the history of the Alaska Legislature from the last 100 years you’ll see that there’s massive corruption scandals throughout that history and I wanted to make sure people understood the whole legislature is not corrupt,” Phillips said after the event. “The Legislature itself is a group of 60 people who for the most part are there to do as good as they can for Alaska. 58 of 60 people are there for the right reason and there’s always one or two people.”

Phillips said she could count on one hand, the number of officials who should not have served  because of ethical reasons during her ten years in the House. “I just wanted to make sure people understood tonight the only corruption in the legislature wasn’t what the current people knew about, that’s been going on forever.”

Most of the audience stayed for the full two hours and afterward, many attendees stayed  after to greet old friends from Juneau. Audience members included former Rep. and current Chancellor Brian Rogers and Katie Hurley, who served as chief clerk at the Alaska Constitutional Convention.

“I hope the students really appreciate this because it’s so wonderful to have the time to rub shoulders with people who really made our history,” Terrence Cole said.

Moderator and Associate Professor Lynne Lott of the Journalism Department looks amused as Mike Doogan, Dermot Cole and Mike Carey chuckle about a question asked by the audience. March 21, 2013. Brady Gross/Sun Star.

An audience of journalism students, Fairbanks locals and UAF educators look on as journalism panelists discuss covering Juneau Legislature and its various stages of corruption throughout Alaska's history. March 21, 2013. Brady Gross/Sun Star.

Mike Doogan discusses his experiences as a journalist in Alaska throughout the years as Dermot Cole looks on in agreement on March 21, 2013. Brady Gross/Sun Star

Former representative and Alaska journalist Mike Doogan speaks about corruption in the Alaska State Legislature in the Schaible Auditorium on Thursday, March 21, 2012 with journalism professor Lynne Lott and Alaska journalist Dermot Cole. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

Moderator and UAF journalism professor Lynne Lott smiles as panelists Mike Doogan and Mike Carey share their experiences reporting on the Alaska State Legislature Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the Schaible Auditorium. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

UAF history professor Terrence Cole prepares his intruction at the Schailble Auditorium on Thursday, March 21, 2013 for the panel "Juneau Journalism: One Hundred Years of News, the Copper Kings to the 'Corrupt Bastards.'" Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

Alaska Rep. Bill Stoltze (L) speaks during the Elvey auditorium panel next to Chancellor Brian Rogers (R) on March 23, 2013. Stoltze graduated from UAF with a political science degree. Jason Hersey/Sun Star

Sunday morning’s panel entitled “Serving the Sausage Factory,” featured current and past Alaska state legislators reflecting on long careers and contributions to a government now very different then its first sessions of statehood in 1959. The morning panel at the Elvey Building in the Geophysical Institute housed a moderate crowd, yet receptive crowd.

The six person panel, moderated by UAF Professor and writer Jerry McBeath, included former five term Rep. Terry Gardinar, former five term Rep. Gail Phillips, UAF Chancellor and former two term Rep. Brian Rogers, 18 year legislator and current Alaska Rep. Bill Stoltze, former Fairbanks Representative and Juneau mayor Sally Smith and 13-year-legislator Alaska Sen. Gary Stevens, kept the weekend’s lighthearted commentary going while touching on more serious problems Alaska faces today.

Rogers and Gardinar gave examples of how the Legislature ran differently back in the ’70s. Gardinar, then dubbed one of the “sunshine boys,” advocated for press and public to be present for sessions because most important decisions were made behind closed doors. At 22 years old, Gardinar was shocked to see the head lawyer of Exxon present for a senate meeting.

Rogers received gasps and laughs from the crowd when he told of a buy back bill for Kachemak Bay oil leases getting “hustled” through the senate in ’76. The majority leader waited for a confused moment, then called a quick voice vote. Before many had realized what was happening, the controversial bill had already passed. Then Gov. Jay Hammond signed it into law, however voice voting is no longer allowed, Rogers said.

Smith, who now works as Representative for U.S. Sen. Mark Begich in Southeast Alaska, joked about working at the Golden Nugget Motel in Fairbanks in the early 1970s and editing Bill Egan’s governor campaign speeches during his Thursday night poker games. Smith’s testimony later became more serious, and received the only round of applause during the panel, challenging citizens and legislators to prepare for “how we develop for the future of no money,” and warned of corporate influence in political advertisements. “We’re being bloody brainwashed,” Smith said.

A slowing Alaska economy remained an undertone throughout the weekend. Stoltze said “this is probably going to be one of the most challenging sessions I’ve ever had.” This coming week there is the gas line bill, a bill to truck natural gas to Fairbanks and the capital budget must be decided, he said. Recalling more boom times and reckless spending, he said this session “will be much more disciplined and it will be much more defensible to the public.”

Stevens, who voted against the recent Senate Bill 21 on oil tax reform was questioned by Arliss Sturgulewski, long time former Alaska senator, during the question and answer period. Sturgulewski said there was no “we do this and you do that,” referring to the bill that lowers tax incentives for oil companies without promise of any revenues in return. “In my opinion, it’s a blank check. I’m shocked,” Sturgulewski said.

Audience member Sen. Joe Paskvan remained optimistic along with Stevens about Alaska’s monetary future with oil, siting reference to “the heavy oil and shale oil resources up on the north slope… That will be Alaska’s future,” Paskvan said.

Put into historical perspective once again, former Majority Leader and Speaker of the House, Phillips remembers a more grim budget when oil prices dropped below $8 a barrel during the ’90s. Unanimously, panelists told how the state has relied on revenue from oil, though not all felt the money was properly spent to ensure long term growth.

Alaska Rep. Bill Stoltze (L) speaks during the Elvey auditorium panel next to Chancellor Brian Rogers (R) on March 23, 2013. Stoltze graduated from UAF with a political science degree. Jason Hersey/Sun Star

Willie Hensley speaks to a young and old crowd in the Wood Center multi-level lounge on March 22, 2013. Hensley served in the Alaska Senate in the 60′s and founded much of the Native rights movements in Alaska. Jason Hersey/Sun Star

Former Alaska Senator and long-time Native rights activist Willie Hensley delivered the keynote address of the weekend’s events on Mar. 22. The address focused on the oppression of Alaska Natives since the mid 1700s, while giving a historical perspective of early Alaska statehood, its Legislature and of Alaska Natives’ beginnings in state politics.

Hensley, an Inupiaq from Kotzebue, opened the speech with welcoming words spoken in Inupiaq in the Wood Center to attendees.

Hensley graduated from George Washington University in Washington D.C. with what he joked to be “the most useless degree in America, political science.” But it was a paper on Alaska Native land claims that he wrote for a constitutional law course at UAF in 1966 that changed his life. “It awakened my own sense of justice and also helped affirm my own identity, actually.”

Early in Hensley’s career, he met with Ernest Gruening to discuss Native rights to land claims, a point which he told they never saw eye to eye. This prompted Hensley to pursue politics.

During the address, Hensley compared the Alaska Native culture to that of any other minority culture of the world “whose homelands have been taken, cultures essentially dismembered, languages institutions destroyed and riches secured for governments over which the indigenous people had little or no control, which is a sad fact of life,” Hensley said.

Hensley was elected for the Alaska senate at 25 years-old and in a time when Native rights were very limited. Hensley proposed a bill that said the state should not support organizations that discriminate on the basis of race. The bill stirred uproar around the state, according to Hensley, and was dubbed the “no booze for bigots bill.”

“The beauty of our system is it worked,” Hensley said. Hensley helped initiate a land freeze, which gave time for Alaska natives to lay claim to land in the late 60s. They raised money and expanded the infrastructure for social needs like a Pioneer’s Home in Kotzebue. Pioneer’s Homes were originally established in Alaska as retirement homes from early pioneers.

It was the pipeline days in the 70′s that gave the boost to Alaska which allowed not only Native villages to build village infrastructures, but which the state as a whole based its growth and development.

Hensley helped found NANA Regional Corporation, Alaska Federation of Natives and has served as manager of federal government relations for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

“I think it has been that resilient spirit of our people who persevere in this arctic environment. And who have always placed our hopes on the goodwill and understanding of the pioneers who came and those who came after them. And as I see it, it’s now our common homeland, and that we have to work together to make a safe and prosperous home for all of us and our descendants,” Hensley said.

Arliss Sturgulewski (front right) and a crowd listen to Willie Hensley's keynote address in the Wood Center multi-level lounge on Friday, March 22, 2013. Sturgulewski represented Anchorage as a state senator from 1979-93. Jason Hersey/Sun Star

(L-R) Former Governor Frank Murkowski talks with former Alaska Representatatives Joe Hayes, Gail Phillips, and students after Willie Hensley's keynote address at the Wood Center on Friday, March 22, 2013. Jason Hersey/Sun Star

Willie Hensley speaks to a young and old crowd in the Wood Center multi-level lounge on March 22, 2013. Hensley served in the Alaska Senate in the 60's and founded much of the Native rights movements in Alaska. Jason Hersey/Sun Star

Gun laws, women’s rights and welfare have been at the forefront of American political discussion for the past year. These issues, which some argue are basic human rights, have garnered debate and influenced policy. Gay rights is not an exception, even in Alaska.

Last month, on Friday, Feb. 15, some Republican Caucus members broke into laughter after Juneau Empire reporter Mark Miller asked a question about the possibility of gay civil unions being recognized in Alaska. Miller’s question was based on a February Public Policy Poll. In the poll, only 30 percent of Alaskans voters were against the legal recognition of gay civil unions. The PPP also found that only 40 percent of voters were in favor of the legalization of gay marriage.
The numbers were based on the November state election.

“It shows you where the state of Alaska is centered,” said Eran Eads, a 21-year-old English student and member of the UAF GSA. “And they’re centered so far to the right that even just the idea of same sex couples being a legitimate issue was laughed at.”

After the laughter, House Majority Leader Lance Pruitt said that the issue was not something they had discussed. “What’s important about this caucus is that we’ve focused on the things that have really allowed people to have a great life,” Pruitt said. ”We didn’t have a discussion here about what happens inside your home.”

“At first it was just shock, that they did that, that they were just laughing,”said Kayt Sundwood, Director of the UAF Women’s Center about her initial reaction to the video.

“I felt personally scorned,” Eads said. “It felt like a personal attack.” Eads said he received several emails and Facebook messages after the video was released. “I realized that it really wasn’t about me, and it was really a bigger deal, even bigger than a gay issue, that they would outright laugh at something like that.”

“This is a very political and contentious issue, but I think that most people from any political persuasion can recognize that this event was disrespectful in nature,” said ASUAF President Mari Freitag in an email. “However, since this was a caucus and not a committee, they really have the right to react however they want.” Freitag said that although not a lot of students contacted her about the video, the students that did were very upset.

Pruitt and House Speaker Mike Chenault apologized for the laughter the following Monday in an official statement. “It’s clear from the totality of the response and circumstances the laughter was in reaction to which legislator had to field the difficult question,” Chenault said.

“They’ll turn it any way they want to, when you need to, you’ll try to spin something to make yourself look good,” Eads said. “But basically what they were doing was laughing in the face of the idea of equality.”

Eads felt that the legal recognition of gay civil unions was just the first step. “It’s again saying separate but equal, if you’re a heterosexual you can get married but if you’re homosexual, you can have a civil union,” Eads said. ”It’s sad and backward”

“That’s outrageous because that’s what always happens. It’s like this is no big deal, and it wasn’t even about that,” Sunwood said. Sunwood said that the apology was just “finding a way to make it like its not a big issue and it’s’ not something that’s important to people.”

Eads said that he feels it’s important for students to watch the video because they are the next generation, and their views will affect policies. “I would really hope that people would think about, watch the video and think about it,” Eads said.

UAF’s current nondiscrimination policy, updated by the UA Board of Regents in 2010, protects students from illegal discrimination but not transgender students. “Illegal discrimination against any individual because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, physical or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy or parenthood is prohibited,” according to the policy. The Board of Regents did to include sexual identity, which would cover transgender people.

There are also numerous “safe spaces” on campus for LGBT students, such as the Women’s Center but none of them are backed by the university.

“The fact that anybody’s laughing about something which is such an important matter, that affects people’s lives so much–that upsets people,” Sunwood said.

Sometimes I think the state of American education is too often shaped by politics, money and conflicting ideals. The University of Alaska is not exempt from these factors. The UA Board of Regents requested approximately $1.5 million for academic advising as a part of the UA operating budget for the 2014 fiscal year. Alaska Governor Sean Parnell didn’t approve any of that. Despite this budget cut, there’s still hope.

Whatever Parnell cuts in the budget, the Legislature has the power to put back. So last weekend from Feb. 8 to Feb. 13, I went to Juneau with 39 other UA students  for the 28th annual Student Legislative Conference. The four-day annual conference takes place at the beginning of each Legislative session, which lasts 90 days. This year, the Coalition of Student Leaders chose academic advising, a part of the High Demand Program Requests, as their advocacy topic this year. This section of the operating budget would cost around $1.5 million.

This year will mark the second year in a row that Parnell has cut the $1.5 million for academic advising out of the budget. Last year, the budget was cut to create a dialogue between students and the Lfegislature. There was no reason given for the budget cut this year.

ASUAF members Mari Freitag, Dillon Ball, Bryant Hopkins, Ayla O’Scannell, Fred Brown and Rebekah Schmidt represented UAF, as well as students Courtney Enright, Brenda Hannah and myself. Students also came from UAA, UAS and the MatSu campuses. Students were chosen by their respective student governments.

Hopkins said that the CSL chose academic advising because it is an issue that affects the entire university system. “The University system has been extremely vocal in urging students to complete their degrees in a timely manner and the students understand that this can be accomplished with adequate advising,” Hopkins said in an email.

“The state budgets this year are likely going to be difficult, and we decided that our time would be best spent advocating for something that all students will benefit from,” Freitag said in an email.

Although I’ve been very fortunate to have good advisers, I’ve had a lot of friends who haven’t been as fortunate. Good academic advising  can improve the university system in many ways. “Having a strong academic advising can raise graduation rates and help students finish in four years, in turn this creates a stronger university. That is why the Coalition made advising a priority and it effects every campus significantly,” Schmidt said in an email.

The first two days were filled with 8-hour training sessions. On the first day of training, CSL Keynote Speaker Rep. Kathy Munoz spoke to us about the description of leadership. We then had round table discussions with Rep. John Coghill, Rep. Tammy Wilson, UAF Alumni Association Director Joe Hayes and a few legislative staffers. On the second day, the National Association of Student Grants and Loans Treasurer Stephanie Butler spoke to us about the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Later that day, legislative staffer Jesse Keal talked to us about meeting legislators and how politics work in Juneau. The speakers educated us about some of the important things currently taking place in the university and also prepared us for our meetings with legislators. After our training, we spent the next two days meeting with legislators.

While in Juneau, I was able to meet with Sen. Click Bishop, Sen. Pete Kelly and Rep. Steve Thompson. We spoke with them about our advocacy trip, why we were requesting funding for academic advising and how advising has affected us. All of the legislators and staffers I spoke to were really supportive of the university, and although I don’t know how much of an influence we will have on the budget, but I’d like to think we definitely made an impact by sharing our stories.

“I still think the trip was successful. The legislators always appreciate seeing students and hearing our stories,” Freitag said.

I think perhaps the biggest thing I realized was that legislators are people too. Bishop gave us cool blue and gold Alaska state pins. Rep. Scott Kawasaki friended us on Facebook and let us use his office as a place to stash our jackets and to get free Red Bull. Staffers showed us pictures of their families and we even ate ice cream with some of the legislators we weren’t able to meet with.

I think students often feel that they have little influence on what goes in the university system. We can’t decide on the university budget, tuition increases or even the quality our academic advising. We accept our losses and call it politics. I’ve learned last weekend that it’s not that simple. Despite what some people may believe, students can make a difference. Politicians are public officials that we elect. They are in the capital to represent our issues, our views and our future.

Updated Feb. 19, 11:56 a.m.: In the original version of this story we confused UA President Pat Gamble with Govenor Sean Parnell. We apologize for errors, they have since been fixed.

Four candidates vying to represent a large swath of Fairbanks in the state legislature squared off for a debate Friday. The candidate forum was the first in a series of three being hosted by ASUAF at the Schaible Auditorium. Candidates answered successive questions posed by a moderator for nearly an hour and fifteen minutes. The forum covered topics ranging from student aid to energy costs to the role of government. Afterwards, constituents had an opportunity to speak with candidates face-to-face.

Sen. Joe Thomas, Sen. John Coghill, Rep. Tammie Wilson and Rep. Bob Miller via Audio conference participated in a debate on Friday. The debate was over energy, budget, education and other topics that concern Alaskans. Sept. 17, 2012. Allen Obermiller/Sun Star

UAF student Ashleigh Strange moderated the debate. Strange asked seven pre-written questions and read several which were submitted by audience. Each candidate was given one minute to state his or her position on a particular issue before the moderator declared the next person’s turn.

The debate featured Republican Rep. Tammie Wilson of North Pole and Democratic Rep. Bob Miller of Fairbanks, running for state House, together with Republican Sen. John Coghill Jr. and Democratic Sen. Joe Thomas, both of Fairbanks, who are running for state Senate.

Due to redistricting, nearly all members of the state House and Senate are up for re-election this year. The one exception is Democratic Sen. Dennis Egan of Juneau, whose district was only slightly altered. The new map is forcing some current Senators and Representatives to run against one another to remain in power.

Incumbents Reps. Wilson and Miller are competing for the newly-minted House District 2. Comprising a large swath of the Fairbanks area, District 2 will include Farmers Loop, Fox, Pleasant Valley and Two Rivers along with portions of Badger, College, Goldstream and Steele Creek.

Incumbent Sens. Coghill and Thomas are running to represent Senate District A. Containing House District 2, District A will also represent Eielson Air Force Base, Moose Creek, North Pole, Salcha and the entirety of Badger.

During introductions, Coghill spoke of his military service in Vietnam. Thomas used the opportunity to emphasize his close affiliation with UAF, having served on the Board of Regents.

“The University has always been near and dear to my heart,” Thomas said.

Wilson’s introductory remarks were about her story of being a mother of four and falling in love with Alaska.

Miller, who participated via teleconferencing, talked about his work in the telecommunications industry. His motivation to run for office is “how much of a corporate colony Alaska continues to be.” He argued that Alaska’s resources should only be developed in a manner consistent with state interests.

In total,  five of the questions directly concerned UAF. The candidates were asked if they would support the $200 million plan to replace the UAF Atkinson Heat and Power Plant. Miller and Thomas said they support the plan, while Wilson advocated for an even larger plant that would provide heat for the Fairbanks area. Coghill, while generally supportive of the plan, expressed some reservations related to the scale of the project and the amount of political capital that passing it would require.

“Anytime $100 million or more lands in this university, there’s gonna be also a bargaining thing for the rest of Alaska,” Coghill said.

The candidates were generally supportive of providing incentives for Alaskan students to remain in-state for their postsecondary education and to return to the state if they choose to study elsewhere. However, Wilson and Coghill declined to endorse HB 272, which would provide residents with low-interest student loans. Thomson spoke in support of the bill at length, while Miller supported it by just saying ”hell yes.”

One of the strongest disagreements regarded merit-based and need-based scholarships. The Alaska Performance Scholarship program, conceived as a scholarship for high-achievers, currently devotes one-third of its funding to low-income students. Thomson agrees with the 2-to-1 ratio. Coghill disagreed, saying he instead favors raising standards and a devoting a larger proportion of funding to merit-based scholarships. Wilson agreed with Coghill and insisted that devote our focus to improving elementary education. Miller didn’t state a preference for any variety of scholarship or funding ratio. Instead, we should do whatever is necessary to “allow the maximum number of Alaskan students to actually get into the University,” Miller said.

The next forum hosted by ASUAF will take place on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Schaible Auditorium. Senate District C candidates Click Bishop and Anne Sudkamp will debate alongside House District 5 candidates Pete Higgins and David Watts. The third forum, taking place on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m, will feature Senate District B candidates Sen. Joe Paskvan and Pete Kelly and House District 4 candidates David Pruhs and Scott Kawasaki.

Blake Burley sits at the ASUAF elections table in the Wood Center, Wednesday April 25. Amelia Cooper/ Sun Star

The following information is the unofficial ASUAF Spring 2012 election results.

Each senate or student running for a student seat ran unopposed. Runners-up with incomplete names were not included in the results below.

President and Vice President

Mari Freitag and Dillon Ball

ASUAF Concert Board

Rosemary Paz

Runner-up: Eli Barry-Garland

Senate Seat A

Will Collingwood

Senate Seat B

Bryant Hopkins

Senate Seat C

Charles Allison

Runner-up: Eli Barry-Garland

Senate Seat D

Virginia Miner

Senate Seat E

Michael Golub

Senate Seat F

Ayla O’Scannell

Senate Seat G

Heidi Shepard

Runners-up: Chelsea Holt and John Seiler

Seat Seat H

Nathanael O’Connor

Senate Seat I

Sarah Walker

Senate Seat J

Michael Magnan

The following questions appeared on the 2012 ASUAF general election ballot:

• Do you use the new filtered water fountains located in the Wood Center and MBS complex?

Total votes: 250

Yes, several times week – 28 percent

No, I do not use water fountains – 28 percent

Yes, once a day – 23 percent

Yes, once a week – 20 percent

• Do you agree the sidewalks on campus are too dangerous due to ice and snow and should be changed more regularly?

Total votes: 251

Strongly agree- 33 percent

Agree  – 24 percent

Neutral – 22 percent

Disagree – 13 percent

Strongly disagree – 8 percent

• Do you feel there should be an ASUAF summer committee?

Total votes: 233

No- 54 percent

Yes- 46 percent

• Do you participate in a club on campus?

Total votes: 246

Yes – 61 percent

No – 39 percent

• Are you aware of the Ad Hoc Committee and club funding process?

Total votes: 241

No – 55 percent

Yes – 45 percent

• How strongly do you feel that ASUAF should have an advisor?

Total votes: 245

Strongly agree – 32 percent

Agree – 29 percent

Neutral – 25 percent

Disagree – 6 percent

Strongly disagree – 8 percent

• How active do you think ASUAF is on campus regarding hosting student events?

Total votes: 261

Somewhat active – 30 percent

Not active – 22 percent

Neutral – 19 percent

Active – 16 percent

Very active – 13 percent

• How well do you think ASUAF works on outreach to the student population?

Total votes: 241

Poor – 37 percent

Fair – 24 percent

Neutral – 21 percent

Good – 14 percent

Excellent – 5 percent

• How would you feel about allowing an award to go to individuals who perform a service to their school and uphold all their duties as an ASUAF senator?

Total votes: 241

I support this – 48 percent

Neutral – 28 percent

I do not support this – 24 percent

• Do you agree that ASUAF does its job representing the needs of their fellow student associates?

Total votes: 240

Neutral – 34 percent

Agree – 28 percent

Disagree – 17 percent

Strongly disagree – 15 percent

Strongly agree – 5 percent

• Shall the following amendments be made to the ASUAF bylaws in order to change the number of ASUAF Senate seats from 20 to 14?
• Bylaw 200.6.1 be amended to read “Seats on the Senate are divided into two classes, Fall and Spring.” effective January 1st, 2012
• Bylaw 200.6.4 be amended to “Seven seats are Fall seats, labeled Seat H through N,.” effective January 1st, 2013
• Bylaw 200.6.3 be amended to “Seven seats are Spring Seats, labeled Seat A through Seat G.” effective September 1st, 2013
• 204.3 (“Ten seats on the Senate shall be considered Fall seats”) and 204.4 (“Ten seats on the Senate shall be considered Spring Seats”) of the elections manual be stricken
• An additional bylaw be added: “Seven senators will be elected in each general election.” following 204.1 in the Elections Manual

Total votes: 232

Yes: 72.4 percent

No: 27.6 percent

It’s springtime. The sun is out, the semester is almost over and ASUAF’s Spring Election is almost here.

Eight people are running for senate. There are six additional vacant seats, not counting the current senators who are running. Everyone is running unopposed. All vacant seats are open to write-in campaigns. The elections will be held from Wednesday, April 25 to Friday, April 27. There are many places for students to vote on campus. This includes the Wood Center, the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland complex, the Community and Technical College and online, at www.asuaf.org.

Five of the eight students running for the Fall 2012ASUAF Senate submitted the following biographies.

Will Collingwood. Photo by Amelia Cooper/Sun Star

Name: Will Collingwood
Age: 30
Major: Mining engineering
Minor: n/a
Senate Seat: A
Why do you feel you are qualified to run? I feel that I can bring a unique perspective to student government since I have been an undergraduate student, a graduate student, and have worked a full time job in the, so called, “real world.”  I live on campus, eat at the Tilly, and I am active in a number of campus organizations, so I believe that I have the proper frame of reference to identify with most of the students at UAF.
Goals: I want to look into the possibility of putting ASUAF’s legacy money into an investment fund.  This is exactly what the business students at UAF have already done with their Student Investment Fund (SIF).  They have realized substantial gains through prudent investment of these funds.  Although this may not sound like a compelling issue, responsible investment of ASUAF funds could allow for some exciting projects in the future.
Name one thing that you like most about ASUAF?  ASUAF is one of the best platforms for voicing the opinions and concerns of the student body.  In my experience, administrators and faculty do take ASUAF’s viewpoint very seriously.
Do you feel there are some things that ASUAF needs to continue to work on?  If so, as a senator, how will you help improve that? Historically, ASUAF hasn’t done a very good job with publicity.  What is ASUAF?  What does ASUAF do?  How can I get involved?  These are all questions that we need to do a better job of answering.  I think the best approach to this problem is to provide more information about ASUAF during freshman and graduate student orientations.  Students should have enough knowledge about ASUAF to have a voice in their student government.
What is one thing that people don’t know about you? Sometimes, I spontaneously combust.  I try to keep a fire extinguisher around at all times.
Favorite quote: “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.  Specialization is for insects.” – Robert A. Heinlein

Name: Virginia Miner
Age: 22
Major: Political Science
Minor: n/a
Senate Seat: D

Why do you feel you are qualified to run? I feel qualified to run because I am very involved in the UAF community (I play intramural sports, am a member of Circle K International—which is a community service based club—am a resident assistant for Bartlett Hall, and will be a student ambassador for the 2012-2013 academic year).  I served on the fall 2012 elections board for ASUAF. I feel that my excellent work ethic (when I broke my ankle last April, I showed up to work the next day!) and passion for helping others can be channeled effortlessly into the work of an ASUAF senator.

Goals:  I would like to get more students involved in ASUAF.

Name one thing that you like most about ASUAF? I really like that ASUAF is so active in improving the quality of student life.

Do you feel there are some things that ASUAF needs to continue to work on? If so, as a senator, how will you help improve that?  ASUAF needs to improve upon its publicity. If students are to get involved and passionate about ASUAF, they need to be more aware of what ASUAF can do for them.

What is one thing that people don’t know about you? My ultimate fear is coming face-to-face with a Grolar bear (a polar bear, grizzly bear hybrid) found in the Canadian Arctic.

Favorite quote:  “Battle not with the monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”-Nietzsche

Photo provided by Nate O'Connor

Name: Nathanael O’Connor
Age: 23
Major: Philosophy
Minor: Linguistics
Senate Seat: H

Why do you feel you are qualified to run?

I’ve been a senator for one semester already, and because of this, I have a good understanding of the nuances and process of the senate and what it can accomplish on campus.

Goals: Student outreach, specifically students’ opinions of issues that they wish to see improvements in.

Name one thing that you like most about ASUAF?

All the different people you get to meet and talk to.

Do you feel there are some things that ASUAF needs to continue to work on? If so, as a senator, how will you help improve that?

ASUAF needs to drastically improve its student outreach and interaction.  This fall I would like to table weekly in high traffic areas of campus in order to engage students and learn about issues that concern them, so that the senate can address these problems.  I think open houses and regular polling will also provide important feedback for us to act on.

One thing people don’t know about you: n/a

Favorite quote: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.“ – Aristotle

O’Connor is currently an ASUAF senator.

Ayla O'Scannell. Photo by Amelia Cooper/Sun Star

Name: Ayla O’Scannell
Age: 20
Major: Political Science
Minor: French

Senate Seat: F

Why do you feel you are qualified to run?

As a political science student, it is interesting to see the what I have learned in the classroom be applied to our campus community and I believe that the knowledge I have gained so far at UAF can be be an asset to ASUAF.

Goals: I personally wish to see more student involvement in the campus life. There are many opportunities that are not taken advantage of, whether that be clubs, activities, or ASUAF. I hope that through my own involvement I will be able to encourage others to seek out similar opportunities.

Name one thing that you like most about UAF: The campus community. It includes not only the students, but also  the professors and other staff.

Do you feel there are some things that ASUAF needs to continue to work on? If so, as a Senator, how will you help improve that? I think that ASUAF should work on improving its public image; there are many students who do not even know what ASUAF stands for, let alone where it is located or that it exists to improve their campus experience. Outreach is the best way to combat this issue, and this ranges from setting up student forums, to events, and to activities for students.

What is one thing that people don’t know about you?

I’m the middle child with four siblings.

Favorite quote:“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

O’Scannell is currently an ASUAF senator.

Sara Walker. Photo by Amelia Cooper/Sun Star

Name: Sarah Walker
Age: 19
Major: Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development (Two degrees)
Minor: Yup’ik
Senate Seat:  I

Why do you feel you are qualified to run? I am involved with many UAF organizations and activities.

Goals:   Provide an Alaska Native voice, because it seems like there haven’t been many “minorities” on the senate.

Name one thing that you like most about ASUAF?  It’s basically student-run.

Do you feel there are some things that ASUAF needs to continue to work on? If so, as a senator, how will you help improve that? Various student voices and public outreach; I can help improve that because…I’m a great leader.

What is one thing that people don’t know about you? There’s many things people don’t know about me…can’t choose just one thing.

Favorite quote: Make it happen.

Current senator Michael Golub declined to fill out the interview form. Current senator Bryant Hopkins and student Michael Magnan did not respond to requests for interviews.

President and Vice President

Mari Freitag and Dillon Ball are running to keep their current seats. Freitag is the current President and Ball is the current Vice President. They are running unopposed.

Concert Board

Rosemary Paz is running to be a member of Concert Board. Paz is the ASUAF Public Relations Director. 

The following questions will appear on the 2012 ASUAF general election ballot: 

• Do you use the new filtered water fountains located in the Wood Center and MBS complex?
• Do you agree the sidewalks on campus are too dangerous due to ice and snow and should be changed more regularly?
• Do you approve of the effectiveness of ASUAF’s summer committee?
• Do you participate in a club on campus? If so are you aware of the Ad Hoc Committee and club council funding process?
• How strongly do you feel that ASUAF should have an advisor?
• How active do you think ASUAF is on campus regarding hosting student events?
• How well do you think ASUAF works on outreach to the student population?
• How would you feel about allowing an award to go to individuals who perform a service to their school and uphold all their duties as an ASUAF senator?
• Do you agree that ASUAF does its job representing the needs of their fellow student associates?

Shall the following amendments be made to the ASUAF bylaws in order to change the number of ASUAF Senate seats from 20 to 14?

• Bylaw 200.6.1 be amended to read “Seats on the Senate are divided into two classes, Fall and Spring.” effective January 1st, 2012
• Bylaw 200.6.4 be amended to “Seven seats are Fall seats, labeled Seat H through N,.” effective January 1st, 2013
• Bylaw 200.6.3 be amended to “Seven seats are Spring Seats, labeled Seat A through Seat G.” effective September 1st, 2013
• 204.3 (“Ten seats on the Senate shall be considered Fall seats”) and 204.4 (“Ten seats on the Senate shall be considered Spring Seats”) of the elections manual be stricken
• An additional bylaw be added: “Seven senators will be elected in each general election.” following 204.1 in the Elections Manual

On Nov. 29 and 30, the UAF student government held fall semester elections. Voting stations were available at numerous locations around campus, as well as online.

During the course of the election, issues with the online voting system became apparent. The first major difference between past student elections and this fall lay in the choice of host. This semester, online voting for the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF) student government was hosted on Survey Monkey. In the past, elections have been held directly on the ASUAF website.

The choice to host the election on Survey Monkey was due to timing and the lack of a web administrator, said Anne Williamson, office manager for ASUAF.

“We didn’t have anybody who had access to the [ASUAF] site,” she said, adding that the site is not supported by Office of Information Technology (OIT).

In the past, OIT helped ASUAF oversee the online voting, ASUAF Vice President Dillon Ball said. OIT was not available to help this semester, he said.

“It was not the most appropriate forum,” Williamson said of Survey Monkey, but added that the time crunch was “down to the wire.” Williamson is familiar with Survey Monkey and purchased an upgraded subscription to the site in order ensure a secure connection for voters, she said.

Additionally, a single voter could potentially vote multiple times. In order to have their votes count, students must enter their student ID number followed by their birthday. However, when voting on the Survey Monkey site, all a student needed was an eight digit number that started with “3” and a false birthday.

There was also the potential to vote multiple times when using paper ballots, Williamson said. There was no real-time verification. “Nothing at the booth to verify, we do it all after,” she said.

“There were a lot of bogus ballots [this semester],” Williamson said. In handling the issue of multiple voters, the ASUAF elections board voted to count only the last vote a student made.

In order to verify a ballot, Williamson crosschecks the student ID number listed with those on a list of active UAF students provided by the Polar Express office. Williamson is the only individual at ASUAF who is allowed to verify the ID numbers.

Online voting also had a delayed start. Online polls are supposed to open at 12:01 a.m., according to the ASUAF Elections Manual. In reality, online voting was not made available until 12:15 a.m. While the polls were open 15 minutes later then they should have been, they were kept open an additional 15 minutes. “Nobody voted between 12:00 and 12:15 (on the last night),” Williamson said.

“It was definitely a learning experience for next year’s Elections Board,” Williamson said. “Next year’s [election] will definitely be better.”

On Nov. 20, the UAF student government voted to disband club council and replace it with a committee. The new committee will provide clubs with funding, student president Mari Freitag said.

The committee will continue to act as a bridge between UAF’s student organizations and the Associated Student of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF), the student government, Freitag said.

“It’s pulling teeth trying to get people to sit on committees,” said Josh Hovis, the Leadership, Involvement, Volunteer Experience (LIVE) assistant coordinator for student organizations. Hovis helped organize the UAF Quidditch Club last year and experienced his own share of issues while on the council.

Most clubs only send representatives to council meetings in order to secure funding, Hovis said.

“The finance committee is the only committee people were interested in being on,” he added. The finance committee oversaw the distribution of funds to the student clubs on campus. This semester, 47 clubs received $16,500.

The council was a time sink and burdened with too much procedure, Freitag said. She added that club representatives didn’t understand the council’s rules of procedure and it was difficult to explain it to them. Freitag was vice president last year and served as the council’s chair.

“The most appropriate way to fix the problem was to create a smaller committee,” she said.

The new committee will be composed of at least 13 members: eight club representatives, the student vice president, a member selected by the LIVE Office and three non-voting members. The non-voting members include the student president, the AUSAF office manager and the senate chair.

While the bill addresses the selection process for committee members, the wording is vague.

“The other eight voting members of the committee shall be selected by Club representatives by the first week of October,” Senate Bill (SB) 177-018 reads, adding that the selection shall be coordinated by the student vice president and the LIVE office. The bill does not include criteria for membership, nor does it dictate how the members will be selected or the duration of their terms. The bill says if members are not selected by the second week of October, the senate will have the power to appoint committee members.

Instead of council meetings, clubs will send a representative to a training session prior to receiving funds. The only topic at the training explicitly stated in the legislation will be on the appropriate uses of the funding clubs receive. Clubs are expected to send representatives to the training sessions every semester. The student government does not offer official training for its executive branch or senators.

“I’m excited to see the implementation of fresh ideas for UAF students,” president of the UAF Film Club  Kalesha Pearson, wrote in an email. The council’s existence allowed clubs to network amongst themselves and student government representatives, Pearson wrote.

“From what I understand the new method will allow student organizations to continue [to network] and obtain funds in a responsible manner,” she wrote. Pearson has attended club council meetings for the past three semesters.

“I think it’s a violation of student rights,” said Jay Leonard, a former student vice president and recent UAF graduate. The council provided students with an avenue for having their voice heard directly by the student government, he said. “Even though [the avenue] was underused, it existed,” he added.

The networking and community aspect was an important function the council provided, Leonard said. “Unless they found some avenue to replace that [aspect] then I think its going to be a great loss to the UAF community as a whole,” he said. Leonard was a student representative for the Socratic Society and served on the council’s rules committee during the Spring 2011 semester.

For Leonard, dissolving the council sounds like a cop-out. “’This is tough so we’re just going to get rid of it.’ That’s what this feels like,” Leonard said. He added that ten voting members were not enough to represent the diversity of clubs on campus.

“There were issues with the council and it was difficult, but once people were there they found value, Leonard said. “But, it was a challenge getting people there for anything more the money,” he said.

The dissolution would not take students’ voices away, Freitag said. “It was all about trying to fix something that I found was inefficient and essentially broken,” Freitag said. “It’s making all of their lives easier.”

The following biographies were submitted by four (of seven) students running for the Fall 2011 seats on the ASUAF senate. There are a total of 10 vacant senate seats. There are also two individuals running for one vacancy on the Concert Board.

Christian Burns-Shafer. Photo by Jeremia Schrock.

Name: Christian Burns-Shafer
Age: 19
Major: Mathematics
Class Standing: Freshman
Position Running For: Senator
Reason for Running: To take advantage of my abilities with discussion and debate by participating in an organization that helps out the students of my university. Go UAF!
Goals: To respond to all student suggestions and interests. To create a better environment for students to (1) graduate quicker, (2) receive quality advising, and (3) be involved with the UAF community.
Motto: Flexibility. Virtue. Love. Diligence.
Hobbies: Economics, Piano, MMA, Debate, Writing, Graphic Art, Social Networking.

Robert Kinnard. Photo by Jeremia Schrock.

Name: Robert Kinnard III
Age:21
Major: Justice
Class Standing: Senior
Position: Senator
Reason for Running: I am running to be a service to the Associated Students of Alaska Fairbanks. I believe it’s imperative to have representation that listens to the concerns of students and acting in the best interest of the students. I enjoy being a service to the students and helping students in anyway possible.
Goals: I believe ASUAF needs an paid advisor to hold the students accountable and create a sense of awareness of what students who represent the University.
Role Model/Motto: n/a
Hobbies: I spend my free with family and friends that is the best hobby above all things. I love volunteer work though because it is very important to give back.

Fred Brown. Photo courtesy of Fred Brown.

Name: Fred Brown
Age: 20
Major: Journalism
Class Standing: Sophomore
Position: Senator
Reason for Running: I want to help bridge the gap of disconnect between the students and their government.
Goals: My main goal is to be a sound voice for the student body based on fact and not speculation.
Role Model/Motto: My personal motto would be a question, “what would the students want?”
Hobbies: I am an avid sports fan and enjoy writing.

Rusty Young. Photo courtesy of Rusty Young.

Name: Rusty Young
Age: 18
Major: Linguistics
Class Standing: n/a
Position: Senator
Reason for Running: I am running because I think it is important to be involved with the goings on around me.
Goals:  The most specific thing I want to work on this next semester is the issue of the water quality. Other than that, I just want to do what I can to make being a student here as easy as possible.
Role Model/Motto: I have always admired Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein.  I look up to them as examples of people who used common sense and knowledge to solve problems.
Hobbies:  I like photography and being outdoors as much as possible. I enjoy keeping myself informed about current events and world politics.

Brian Rogers, Chancellor of the University of Alaska - Fairbanks (UAF), gestures during a June 4 meeting with the Coalition of Student Leaders. Seated next to him are (L-R) presidents Dara Friday (Bethel) and Shauna Thornton (Kenai).

On June 4-5, the Coalition of Student Leaders (CSL) convened at the University of Alaska – Fairbanks (UAF) to discuss student concerns. Representatives attended the summit from all three major universities, several of the University of Alaska (UA) systems satellite campuses and from the community-at-large.

Peter Finn, CSL speaker, began the summit with a recap of the coalitions accomplishments over the year. According to Finn, the coalition helped negotiate a student pay raise and petitioned the legislature to increase need-based scholarship. The organization also took part in what Finn labeled “an epic tuition battle with the Board of Regents (BOR).”

The coalition was also involved with petitioning the board to amend their non-discrimination policy.  The Board did so in February. “That was a big victory,” Finn said.

Finn’s term as speaker came to an end during the summit and he extolled the organization to improve relations between student groups and the regents. “Relations between the regents and student groups hasn’t been that great in the past,” he said. Finn also presented former student regent Ashton Compton with an award for her work on the BOR.

Nicholas Pennington (right), president of the Kodiak College Student Association, talks to Chancellor Brian Rogers (left) and Sonia Lodhi, a student representative from the University of Alaska - Southeast, during a June 4 meeting with the Coalition of Student Leaders. Jeremia Schrock/Sun Star

The coalition also selected Nicholas Pennington, the president of the Kodiak College Student Association, as their new speaker. Last year, Pennington reformed Kodiak’s student government. It had not met since 2008.

Shauna Thornton, president of the Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), updated the coalition on the prolonged budget battle facing the campus. In an effort to balance the Kenai Borough budget, Mayor David Carey is pushing to cut approximately $650,000 in funding to KPC. According to the Peninsula Clarion, that number represents 5 percent of the college’s budget.

Thornton said that students at KPC were working together to ensure that the budget was not cut.

Joining the coalition were university and state officials. UA President Patrick Gamble, Chancellor Brian Rogers and Alumni Director Joe Hayes joined Reps. David Guttenberg ( D-District 8 ) and Bob Miller ( D-District 7 ) for a dialogue with the coalition.

“It’s a whole different world out there today,” Gamble said, compared to his time in college. He added that his biggest concern during school was to make sure he didn’t schedule a lab on a Friday.

Rep. Guttenberg applauded the coalition on their yearly advocacy trip to Juneau. “One of the biggest things is when students come down,” he said. Guttenberg also pushed the coalition to do more, encouraging them to go directly to a legislator’s office if need be. “Get in their face,” he said.

The coalitions primary goal over the next year is to encourage better student advising and more mentorship. “It’s a bit of a beast when you’re trying to manage your way through it [the advising process],” said Ryan Buchholdt, president of the Union of Students of the University of Alaska – Anchorage (USUAA).

“The students want it, Chancellor Rogers really wants it and President Gamble also acknowledged that it should be addressed,” Freitag said.

The following article was compiled from information gathered before, during and after the June 1-3 Board of Regents (BOR) meeting.

Student government budgets approved

University of Alaska (UA) President Patrick Gamble speaks during a June 4 meeting with the Coalition of Student Leaders. Seated to his left is Associated Students of the University Alaska - Fairbanks (ASUAF) President and Student Regent Mari Freitag. Jeremia Schrock/Sun Star

The BOR approved the budgets of all the student governments within the UA system. The Associated Students of the University of Alaska – Fairbanks (ASUAF) budget for FY 11-12 will be just over $532,000. The Regent vote was unanimous at 10-0 in favor.

UAF dining and residence hall RFP approved

The Regents unanimously approved a request for proposal (RFP) for UAF to look into expanding it’s dining and housing options for students. The RFP covers a possible dining addition to the Wood Center, a repurposing of the Lola Tilly Commons and the construction of new dorms for students. According to Chancellor Brian Rogers, “the facilities we have for housing are quite dated.” Rogers intends to have the new dorm facilities available by 2019.

During a discussion with the Facilities and Land Management Committee, the chancellor mentioned to those present what UA President Patrick Gamble had told him during a tour of the Lola Tilly last year. The president remarked that he recognized much of the equipment being used by dining services as equipment he had seen used over 30 years ago in the military.

UAA revamps health programs

The BOR unanimously approved a reorganization of the health programs at the University of Alaska – Anchorage (UAA). The College of Health and Social Welfare was renamed the College of Health.

The WWAMI program was moved out of the College of Arts and Sciences and into the newly named college. According to the WWAMI website, the program “ is a collaborative medical school among universities in five northwestern states” – Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.

The Division of Allied Health was also moved from its original college (the College of Career and Technical Education) to the College of Health. The division will be renamed the School of Allied Health.

UAF to see new power plant

Also unanimously approved by the regents was a plan to maintain and eventually replace the Atkinson Heat and Power Plant. The plant, built in 1964, provides heat, light and water to the UAF campus. Maintaining the plant while a permit and financing are secured for a new facility will cost an estimated $40 million over the next five to seven years.

The current plant, labeled the “house of horrors” by Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Scott Bell, will eventually be replaced by a new facility. The new facility is estimated to cost between $140 million to $180 million. According to Chancellor Rogers, if UAF can construct the new facility within the next seven years, the campus may be able to avoid spending the entire $40 million allotted for maintenance. Both the improvements and an addition would be completed by 2017.

UAA gets expanded sports arena

The board authorized UAA to begin developing a 5,600-seat sports arena. The project will not exceed $109 million. The vote was 9-1 in favor of the arena, with Regent Kirk Wickersham voting against it.

Part of the projects funding comes from the legislature’s Capital Budget ($34 million according to the Juneau Empire) that Governor Parnell has yet to sign.

Juneau and Kenai to get new halls

The board unanimously approved $16 million for a student-housing complex at Kenai Peninsula College.

The board also approved an addition to Banfield Hall, a student housing facility located on the University of Alaska – Southeast (UAS) campus. The addition will cost approximately $8.5 million and is subject to FY12 legislative appropriation and the governor’s approval of the Capital Budget.