Newly elected president, Ben Wetzel, and vice president, Jaynie Welsh, sat down with the Branding Iron to answer questions about their upcoming year in office and visions they have for the 105th administration.
BI: Did you ever imagine yourselves running for ASUW President and Vice President? When did you start thinking about running?
Wetzel: I actually did not in anyway. The Freshman Senate always meets Sara Axelson over in Old Main every Christmas and does cookies and hot chocolate. After that meeting, it was her, Advisor Snyder, and myself standing around and talking. She said, “I have a feeling I’m talking with a future ASUW president.” I laughed and said no, absolutely not and walked out chuckling to myself saying there’s no way that’s going to happen. I started having conversations about it and more people kept recommending it. In September of last year, studying organic chemistry in the library, I finally asked Jaynie would you be interested in running and she said “yeah, our senior year.” I said, “No, this year. Let’s go for it.”
Welsh: I am a huge goal setter. When I am doing big transition in my life, I set goals for what I want to accomplish throughout. It is like my bucket list. This was on my bucket list: ASUW Vice-President, have a higher leadership position in ASUW, to make the most impact that I can.
BI: What do you wish to accomplish in the next year? What is your vision?
Wetzel: We have got three different main things that we want to work on. Growing the general community of UW and trying to relate more with Laramie, there is a lot of great people in the area who we are underutilizing or do not have a relationship. Trying to work with the businesses downtown, working with the City of Laramie to try and represent students in local politics. Secondly, retention as a whole on two fronts of student involvement, getting more students at large (SAL) serving on committees, getting students to realize the vast amount of resources they have at their disposal to get involved. Along with that, is more of the wellness and the safety, to ensure we are working with the UW No More campaign, the Welfare Coordinator, the Dean of Students office, the Wellness Center and trying to expand on the resources and networks that students have to take care of themselves mentally and physically on campus and to feel safe here. We are really hitting on and making sure that UW is somewhere involvement wise, safety wise, health wise where they feel like they’re at home and becomes the place they want to be at.
Welsh: I preside over the senate. In the past, it is pretty well known that ASUW is not the most welcoming, open, friendly body. It is scary, it is kind of cutthroat and it is very easy for students to kind of get caught up in that legislative process. One of my main goals for this year is for ASUW to be more friendly, be more welcoming and open to students. That starts here in our office. We want to have more events in the ASUW office this year because if students are here, they are more likely to come back.
BI: Is there anything specific that you would like to see accomplished before the end of the Fall 2017 semester?
Wetzel: Finalizing and making sure we have the UW 10-year Comprehensive Housing plan done and that we are moving forward with resident halls reconstruction. Internally, looking at executive branch restructuring. Looking at a lot of internal efficiencies and where can we redistribute some of our jobs so we can have people more focused on refined issues.
Welsh: I would like to be in a position where our senators are having effective outreach to students. Get them on the ground more and have more interaction with students.
BI: What lessons have you learned from past administrations and how will this guide how you govern?
Wetzel: Number one, try the best you can to keep out of too many projects. Be realistic with what the executive branch can accomplish in one year. You are better off to pick one single initiative and get it done, then start seven and not finish any of them. Secondarily, from watching administrations in past, no branch can operate on their own. Every branch need to work the best they can to be cohesive and to communicate.
Welsh: Looking back at the past two vice-presidencies, both have been very different in their leadership styles and how they approach that. It translates to how the senate functions. Something I have learned is to conduct myself in the way I want ASUW to be represented to students and always be cognizant of that.
BI: Outside of ASUW, what are you involved in?
Wetzel: I am a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and a molecular biology major. I am a member of Cardinal Key Honorary Society. I am a volunteer with Park County search and rescue and an EMT for Powel EMS.
Welsh: I am also a member of Cardinal Key. I do a lot of volunteer work downtown with the Laramie clinic. Being pre-med, it is something that is near and dear to my heart. It is a lot of fun. Volunteering is the basis of who I am as a person, just getting out and benefiting other people. I am super involved with Cowboys Against Cancer in my hometown.
