The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Brandon Iwamoto Political science majors Taylor Smoot, left, and Quinn Girrens are president and vice president, respectively, of the Associated Students of CSU. Smoot and Girrens made campaign promises that would increase the number of RamRide cars, increase the number of bike racks on campus and establish an on-campus Homecoming concert, to name a few.

Calling it "rare" that leaders in his organization act on each of their campaign promises, student government president Taylor Smoot said Monday that his administration will be one of the few to do so by the time he leaves office June 1.

But critics of his presidency suggest his office fell short of some of the expectations his campaign platform undertook.

The status of Smoot's goals, which he called "audacious," currently shape up like this:

Create a tuition accountability forum that "informs students of tuition expenditures and rising costs" -- not implemented. Smoot says it will be by March 11, when student leaders will present student opinion on budget issues to CSU administration

Increase the number of vehicles for Ram Ride, a student-fee-funded ride service that operates on weekends to alleviate drunk driving -- implemented

Increase the number of bike racks on campus -- implemented

Bring more bus frequency to the Lory Student Center station -- not implemented

Extend library hours -- implemented last year

Bring free wireless Internet to every area of campus -- not implemented

Improve minority recruitment to bolster diversity on campus -- Smoot says time is being invested in working with advocacy groups to increase diversity

Promote CSU's "Green University" status by supporting recycling and energy conservation initiatives -- implemented by increasing number of on-campus recycling sites

Bring in a controversial $90,000 concert by Lupe Fiasco and Three 6 Mafia for Homecoming celebrations, $70,000 of which came from student fees -- implemented and

Spend $50,000 in student fees on bringing The Onion, a satirical news publication to newsstands at CSU -- not implemented after fees were refused in student fee package.

Continued...

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