Director of Sustainability: Jose Garcia
Q: Tell us about you. What year are you in? What is your major? What clubs and organizations are you a part of on and off campus?
A: I’m a Junior majoring in public policy and administration. I’m currently the ASI Director of Facilities and Commercial Services and plan to join the newly chartered Public Policy and Administration Student Association this coming week.
Q: What are your plans for CSUB if you are elected? What changes would you like to make? How would you work to leave it better than you found it? Where do you see CSUB headed for the next year in terms of student life?
A: My plans for CSUB are to have more recycling bins available for students and faculty throughout the campus. We currently have an ample supply just sitting in the ASI office. I would also like to help promote the Edible Garden along with CSUB’s sustainability coordinator, Jennifer Sanchez. Next year I see a much more vibrant campus life as the new executive members such as Mariela Gomez, Precious Nwaoha and Anthony Briseno are all about bringing fun and excitement to students. I look forward to it.
Q: What made you take an interest in student government? Do you have any previous experience in student government? What concerns you about the CSUB student government?
A: Initially, the issue of not enough advertisement towards events around campus is what caused me to join student government. I started out with the R.E.P.S. program, which is now called L.E.A.D. under ASI. It’s a sort of stepping stone to ease a transition into student government and leadership. I then got appointed to my current position after a narrow loss during last year’s election. What concerns me sometimes is that there is not enough student involvement towards important issues such as tuition increases. I was one of seven ASI members to go to Sacramento and advocate against it. Seven of us are good, but seven thousand of us would have been spectacular.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for the job?
A: To put it simply, I have the experience, integrity, commitment and knowledge to get the most out of this position for the students. I also know the faculty, such as Pat Jacobs from Facilities and Jennifer Sanchez from the President’s Office, to get things moving right off the bat.
Q: Do you have any talents or interesting hobbies you engage in outside of school?
A: I love to play board games with friends whenever I get the chance. I must have played over 20 different board games this past year.
Q: Anything else you would like to add about yourself?
A: I’m an honest person, and I tell people that even if I lose the election, I will still try to be part of student government in some way. I mean that because the thing that drives me to be the best student leader and advocate I can be is helping my fellow students. So keep an eye out for me. I’ll be around.
