La Voz Weekly: What is your major?

Wayne Spalding: I am a business economics and business administration student.

LV: What is your class schedule like?

WS: My classes are well balanced throughout week. I have a Monday and Wednesday class scheduled at almost the same time as my Tuesday and Thursday class.  My morning class is every day except Friday. I have free time after 1 p.m. every day, but my extracurricular activities generally compete with my homework, so it’s not as free as I would want. I have Fridays off entirely, which is great.

LV: What is your official title in the De Anza Associated Student Body Senate?

WS: I started as a Senator, but this quarter I advanced to Vice President of Administration.  I am also the delegate to the SSCCC [Student Senate for California Community Colleges] and regularly attend Region 4 meetings.

LV: What brought you into the Budget and Finance Committee?

WS: I campaigned in last year’s election on two main points, one of which was to ensure that student money would be appropriately managed. I made a promise to the students that I would personally make that happen.

LV: How long have you been involved in the DASB and the Budget and Finance Committee?

WS: I went to a “Meet Your Senate Day” sometime last spring and I promised my friend that I would attend his meeting. 

While I was there, I was extremely impressed with a senator who was explaining Budget and Finance to me and decided to visit those meetings as well. It all seemed interesting, so I started attending the Senate meetings too. I guess the short answer to your question is early spring quarter [2009].

LV: What would you personally like the students or readers to know about the DASB and BF committee?

WS: There are a few dissenting voices, I will admit.

Given the opportunity to speak to the students and listen to their claims, I would tell them that the DASB Senate is not always given the best information to start with, but we have to make decisions on deadlines anyway. 

We do our best and always have the student body’s best interest at heart, even when we have to make tough decisions that do not please everyone. 

The budget concerns that the Budget and Finance committee face are somewhat different. We did start with good information; in fact much better information than is being disseminated by our dissenters. Some of the claims they have made against us come either from ignorance of the system, an innocent mistake on their part, or sometimes obvious self interest leering its ugly head. My best advice to the students is to take us up on our offer to personally explain the details to them. To complain without taking us on that offer is simply disappointing.

LV: What are your future plans for being involved with DASB and BF?

WS: I will serve out my term as vice president of Administration. 

There are many issues our organization faces due solely to its structure. Leading the evolution of our organization is something that I intend to make happen.

Budget and Finance work continues until June as well. After the Senate approves a budget, we make a binder and present it to the Board of Trustees. It is a formal affair and an important duty of BF to fulfill.

I will be here next year as well. I intend to run in this year’s election.  Anyone who runs for president better bring their A game if they hope to have a chance. My plans for next year will have to wait for another interview another day.

LV: Did you anticipate the work load involved? How is it handling the work load?

WS: I expected my extracurricular activities to be harsh on my time, so I chose a class schedule that would be easier than normal. I was surprised to find a major project in two of the three courses. Despite attempting to give leadership opportunities to my group members, I was chosen as the group leader in both. 

It has not been easy juggling two groups, three courses of homework, studying for tests, and my extracurricular projects as well, but making things happen is what I do. I know it sounds crazy, but I really enjoy being busy.

LV: What are your hobbies outside of school and the DASB?

WS: I research. I like to learn and I am constantly asked about my major because I have working knowledge of so many subjects. I am also a fan of Anime. When I am not surfing Wikipedia or watching Anime, I play video games. 

LV: What kind of music do you enjoy? Favorite bands or artists?

WS: I have an embarrassing secret to reveal here. I am addicted to J-pop. 

I enjoy the fast paced beats and the contrast of the vocals too. My favorite group is MiniMoni. Their leader, Mari Yaguchi, is my favorite idol star.

LV: What were you like before De Anza?

WS: I was a very typical student in high school. Immediately after high school, I joined the military. I served five years in the Army active duty. I have always been the kind of person that people relied upon.  Because I accomplished my tasks with care and attention, I tended to be assigned more work than my peers.  I always put the mission first, so my complaints were usually muzzled by my sense of duty. My superiors appreciated that fact, and I received unofficial accolades often.

LV: Here’s an opportunity to say whatever you would like the readers of La Voz to know.

WS: Resist ignorance. Encouraging or supporting others to engage in such activities is thought crime. As a student, my only goal in life is to learn. I need to experience everything academically available and to challenge myself, even if that means a less than perfect grade.  I encourage all students to seek a similar standard for themselves.