Not a single seat remained vacant during the Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver Aug. 24 Senate meeting. Senatorial candidates Brandy Farrow, Gabriel Reed and Lucas Gubala sat among the student and faculty attendees. Senators asked the candidates interview questions that touched on policy-making experience, campus culture and tentative senatorial agenda.
Gabriel Reed, a sophomore computer science major, described his experience grant writing for Engineers Without Borders during his time at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. He laid out his concept of campus culture, saying that he envisioned a campus “open to everyone’s ideas.”
Reed’s qualifications and vision earned him a mention by Senator Elder during the deliberation.
“I also really liked [Reed].” Elder said. “He advocated for a lot of similar stuff, as far as creating a positive, inclusive, warm community.”
However, Elder expressed concern over a lack of policy experience compared to other candidates.
The scope of discussion narrowed as senators announced their first choices.
Gubala, a junior computer science major, co-founded the Clark College Melee Club, an entertainment club focused on gaming. He described this experience as relevant to policy forming and central to his tentative agenda.
“I know what it takes to run a club,” Gubala said. “I know that chain of command and how there can sometimes be a disconnect.”
Gubala, who is also a jazz musician, said music exemplifies an element of culture worth pursuing on campus.
Gubala’s personal touch and composure interested senators Matthew Frohlich and Greg Olson.
“He seemed the most professional, to me, and like he had the most experience,” Frohlich said. “I think he’d have a very unique perspective to bring to the group.”
“I’m with [Frohlich,] actually,” Olson said. “He’s formed and is maintaining a non-profit called ‘Keep Kids Cozy.’ The guy has a lot of upside.”
Other senators seemed less moved by the mentioned qualifications, however. Talk of policy creation and experience dominated more of the conversation than did consideration of any one candidate.
The two items finally converged as Farrow’s qualifications were mentioned.
Farrow, a senior social sciences major, highlighted her experience at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. While attending, Farrow said she obtained a Paralegal Certificate and presented at an American Multicultural Student Leadership Conference.
“I created an event; it was a privilege walk,” Farrow said. “This was huge, because [University of Wisconsin-Superior] was, I think, 95 percent white. Two hundred to 250 people attended.”
Senator Elder applauded this achievement by later adding, “[Privilege] is a very politically divisive word. She was able to get a ton of people to come.”
“We amended our school’s constitution to allow me to move from liaison to senator,” Farrow said. “It was very much advocating for myself. I got to write the bill and have it edited by my peers.”
Conversation of policy amending preceded and followed the Senate’s 7 to 2 vote appointing Farrow as the newest member of the ASWSUV Senate.
Now addressing a larger senate, Senator Matthew Leeper announced that senators would soon make amendment recommendations for assigned sections of the ASWSUV constitutional bylaws. Bylaw interpretation difficulties were central in complaints within the 2018 ASWSUV election invalidated last April. With the special election campaigning beginning Sept. 6, senators have some work ahead of them if bylaw amendments are expected to be approved in time.