The following endorsement was written by supporters of the Ducks Like You campaign.

Many of you may be confused as to why Ducks Like You is still out there talking to you about the ASUO elections. Since no campaign received more than 50 percent during the primary election, a second week of elections will determine winners where everyone will have the chance to vote again. We should all take a critical look for round two and decide on the best candidate(s).

On campus, Beatriz Gutierrez is the co-director of the university’s Multicultural Center. The MCC is one of the biggest programs that organizes events for the UO and greater community on a weekly basis. With a student staff of about 12, it is her responsibility to demonstrate strong leadership skills to ensure that work is being done in the safest of environments. Off campus, she is the co-chair of a statewide board, the Oregon Students of Color Coalition. The OSCC organizes around issues of higher education that students face in the entire state of Oregon. She was a leader in the effort that placed a cap on tuition for this and next year. Beatriz far exceeds budget experience — her effortless leadership will not only bridge campus communities, but will also redefine what it means to be an ASUO leader.

Tran Dinh, Ducks Like You’s first VP candidate, is an international student from Vietnam. She has helped bridge the international and domestic community by serving as executive on the Vietnamese Student Association. In addition, she is involved with the MCC as an outreach coordinator and works at the ASUO Women’s Center as the visual coordinator. She has been instrumental in the planning of the Out/Loud Queer Music Festival, Take Back the Night and the northwest’s very first ADPIA conference to be held here at the University of Oregon. Her notable leadership experience and skills embody what an ASUO leader should be.

Patrick Kindred, Ducks Like You’s second VP candidate, has an impressive leadership background as well. He is one of the founders of the UO chapter of AΦA fraternity. As a former foster child himself, Patrick authored a bill in the Oregon Legislature creating greater protections for the state’s foster children. He is part of the OFYC legislation team, a curriculum specialist for Pipeline 2 Higher Learning and an Oregon representative of Foster Youth Action Network. Patrick’s passion, strong work ethic and vision for a better UO and greater Oregon community will take ASUO where it needs to be.

Mighty Oregon’s presidential candidate, Taylor Allison is currently on ASUO senate serving as PFC (Program Finance Committee) Chair, as well as a member of Pi Phi. It is PFC’s responsibility to lead the budgeting process for all ASUO recognized programs on campus. According to her platform she claims she will promote program growth, yet she failed to actually do this during this academic year’s budget process, and consistently did the opposite. Although the budget process is more complicated this year, given the 3.5 percent cap, ASUO needs people that understand the other side.

All of the DLY candidates — Beatriz, Tran and Patrick — have been on the opposite side of the table from Allison, defending the programs they care for so deeply, expounding the merits of programs and the community that they foster. DLY candidates are students with strong leadership skills that understand how to make creative, exciting, tough, yet real decisions. They are already making history as the very first all students of color running executive team and first women of color presidential candidate. We need REAL students, not politicians. 

Respectfully,

Ashley Needham, Safe Ride Volunteer Coordinator

Juan Rivera, UO Active Minds President

Eden ONeil, Hall Government Programming Coordinator

Kevin Dobyns, Safe Ride Co-Director of Finance

Quang Truong, MCC Co-Director

Alivia M. Feliciano, ASUO Senator, Seat 13

Monquize Dusseau, UO Ambassador

Katie Dunn, ASUO Women’s Center Events Coordinator

Elizabeth Luh, MCC Chair of the Board of Directors

Hailey Chamberlain, Safe Ride Volunteer Coordinator

Ian Rinehart, ASUO Men’s Center Intern

Editors Note: If you would like to submit a guest viewpoint or letter to the editor, email Emerald opinion editor Andrea Harvey at andreah@dailyemerald.com. Please keep guest viewpoints under 750 words, and letters to the editor under 500 words.