This year, 50 students applied to serve on the student Senate for the De Anza College 2010 – 2011 school year.

All week, candidates will be campaigning, going classroom to classroom and attending club meetings, hoping to earn the vote of De Anza students for election week, which begins May 9.

Students will vote for the positions of president and executive vice president and for 30 senators to fill the seats for the senate next year.

This week, La Voz spoke with two senators about their intended contributions to the De Anza community, should they be elected.

LV: What experience do you have that you feel has prepared you for Senate president?

WS: Over the past year, I have been a DASB senator and last quarter I advanced to vice president of Administration. Being the vice chair prepared me to take that position, just as being a VP is preparing me to be the president next year. 

Presidential candidate Wayne Robert Spalding is a current senator for the DASB, serving as the VP of Administration. In his current position Spalding is responsible for overseeing the senate codes and bylaws.

Further, I have five years of active duty (and one and a half on reserve) military experience to draw from as a leader.

LV: What will you accomplish in your first quarter?

WS: Each week needs to have a focus, whether it be an event, presentation, or marketing campaign for a student service.  

LV: How do you feel your communication with the Senate and student body will work?  

WS: I will spend most of my time out of the senate office greeting students in classrooms and across campus … But this time acting as a source of support rather than just a [club] member.

LV: What will you do differently that you didn’t do last year?

WS: The coalition (Triple S or just SSS) that I am in is a group of dedicated students who want to bring professional and competent leadership to our student government.  We come from a fully diverse background across Asia and Europe, as well as U.S. natives.

Presidential candidate Ze Kenny Li has been involved in several clubs and events on campus and in creating the student-run grassroots organization DARE.

LV: What do you have to offer De Anza College students?

ZL: I did not became the one of main organizers of the Jan. 20 Walk-In: Fight the cuts, One Heart One Family benefit concert, March 4 San Francisco Rally and Lunar Festival by sheer luck.

LV How do you feel your communication with the senate and student body will work?  

ZL: We will utilize the summer time to foster stronger leadership while outreaching to students. By Fall [we] will be able to reach out to students and get them to be more involved in improving our community.

LV: Can you tell us about your coalition?

ZL: S.T.A.N.D. stands for Striving Towards A New Direction. This coalition includes executive vice presidential candidate Neesha Tambe, 22 senators and myself. This group firmly believes we must create a culture that will bridge the gap between student government, students, faculty, staff, administrators and community.

No other presidential candidates were available for comment. Look for further interviews in upcoming issues. For the full length Q&A above, visit www.lavozdeanza.com.