ASMSU President and Vice President

The following responses were submitted by the two teams running for election as ASMSU President and Vice President. Each candidate for president and vice president was given the opportunity to respond individually.

Jacob Zink (President) and Melissa Ramirez (Vice President)

Tara Applegate (President) and Jack Cambria (Vice President)

Why are you running to be on the ASMSU executive team?

Jack and Tara: MSU has provided endless opportunities for personal growth, career development and the creation of community. We cherish the memories we’ve made so far here, and have been inspired by countless student leaders. We will enrich the student experience through student-centered engagement and service based collaboration across Our University. Amplifying Your Voice, we will better the already outstanding MSU Bozeman community.

Jacob Zink: Bobcat Nation is built on integrity, care and compassion. Over the last year, we have lost touch with our roots, and our mission is to bring about tangible change today that fosters healthy growth tomorrow!

Melissa Ramirez: Running for a student body executive team is not a resume booster but instead allows individuals to actively participate in shaping the student community and advocating for student’s needs and interests. Being a part of the executive team should not be a job taken lightly, as they are students representing other students that have put their trust in those positions. Moreover, serving as a student body executive team member also provides the chance to work closely with other student leaders, faculty, and administrators, to help foster a community for ALL Bobcats!

What relevant experience equips you to be a part of the executive team?

Jack and Tara: We both have worked in multiple positions across campus the past three years. Jack has served as a Director on the ASMSU Events Team, member of the One O’Clock Jazz Band, Dr. Mary Cloninger’s research group, an Ambassador for the Honors College, phlebotomist at Bozeman Deaconess Health, a student assistant in the MSU Cadaver Labs and the President and Founder of the Pre-healthcare Inclusiveness Project at MSU. Tara has served as the Public Relations Director for ASMSU, Vice President of Panhellenic, Marketing Director for RHA, a JAM mentor in JABS, a marketing intern for Bobcat athletics and has served on Pi Beta Phi’s leadership team. Our diverse experience has provided us with leadership skills and relationships that will transfer into the executive positions.

Jacob Zink: My whole life, I have dedicated myself to serving others. In high school, I spent my weekends volunteering through my involvement in scouting which eventually led to my achieving the rank of Eagle. At MSU, I have involved myself in several organizations, including the Residence Hall Association (RHA) as a senator, Sigma Nu Fraternity as Community Service & Philanthropy Chair and Risk Reduction Chair, the Interfraternal Council (IFC) as Vice President of Communication and ASMSU as a current senator representing the College of Business. Through these experiences and others, I plan to continue to serve my community!

Melissa Ramirez: Being a leader in my community was a lesson I learned from a very young age, within my own experiences as a first-generation American, advocating for my people in Latin communities was a skill instilled in me. I took that a step further by joining organizations such as the FFA and 4H in high school which gave me lessons on community focus and leadership through the lens of accessible agricultural education. This led me to MSU organizations in which I have found a home in; First Generation Students Association, Office of Admissions Orientation Program, Fuerza Latinx, Political Science Society, and ASMSU. Every Bobcat deserves to have the opportunity to establish their home and community at MSU. Having seen so many different parts of leadership has taught me the needed skills of leadership; compassion, action, and grace. Community experience equips me for this position of ASMSU VP partnered with my passion for service leadership, which includes empathy and a dedication to supporting others.

What are your highest priorities as president and vice president?

Jack and Tara: We hope to strengthen areas of:

1. Health and Wellness – specifically mental health advocacy and access to recreation

2. Safety – campus lighting, parties, and sexual violence prevention

3. Student Fee Allocation – collaboration, transparency, and allocation to service-centered programs

Jacob Zink and Melissa Ramirez: Over the next year, our mission is to improve the Bobcat experience through a culture of care. In the classroom, we will advocate for inclusive and equitable access to textbook materials that mean cheaper textbooks for ALL students for students by the first day of class. Outside of the classroom, we will kick-off a student-run SafeRide Home program that gives students an Uber-like, no-questions-asked safe ride home from anywhere near campus to the student's home free of cost! Additionally, we will provide support to our student clubs and organizations by ensuring equitable funding opportunities and club support that puts students in the driver's seat for tackling critical issues facing our campus.

What ideas do you have to address these priorities?

Jack and Tara:

Health and Wellness: We hope to increase health and wellness on campus through greater accessibility, promotion, and programming towards mental and physical health opportunities. We will address mental health and wellness through promotional campaigns for CPS, Listening Sessions with peer mentors, re-framing Let's Talk, and Mental Health Awareness programming. We will address physical health and wellness through engaging student athletic clubs on campus, working to provide graduate use of the gym and health services, and providing greater access to recreation on and off campus.

Safety: Safety is the top priority for us. It is key to students' success on campus and in the community. To address on campus safety we will increase campus lighting specifically with Blue lights that have been proven to decrease violence on campus. We will center our efforts to the prevention of sexual violence through programming and collaboration with the Voice Center, SASA, OIE, and OHA. Working with current ASMSU senator Katie Delker we hope to update the current sexual violence prevention education on campus. Our aim is to integrate the education into the seminar courses all students must take. In light of recent threats, we recognize the importance of timely and effective communication. We hope to continue to foster relationships with organizations on campus so we can best support them in their times of need.

Transparent Student Fee Allocation: We plan to organize fees into 3 categories: health, maintenance and activities. We want students to understand the resources they have access to, and pay for via student fees. In addition we hope to make club funding more accessible by implementing a service based funding model. Our goal is to reward students and clubs that already do community service by removing the red tape and automatically rewarding money based off of reported service hours. Transparent fees lead to increased confidence in our university.

Jacob Zink: Promises are easy, action is measurable! Through our work as senators, we have had the opportunity to break ground on every issue and project we aim to tackle. We plan to continue that momentum of action into the new year and give the Bobcat community tangible results.

Melissa Ramirez: It is very easy to promise things, we believe that action speaks way louder than words. The moment that Zink and I decided to run for ASMSU Execs was the day we took action. The priorities we hold are already being worked on with credible action items being produced every day. Something we have learned from our at-large student body is that action gets it done, as representative leaders, we must reflect this behavior in our own lives of leadership. Zink and I have passed ASMSU legislation, are working with school-wide groups and have been a part of the allocation of funds to new student programs, clubs and organizations. All this to institutionalize the Culture of Care. Community needs action and action should start now.

Jack and Tara: On your campaign social media, you wrote that one of the areas you’d like to change is student fee transparency. Why do you think this is important and what plans do you have to make that happen?

Jack and Tara: As students we pay large sums of money to attend college. Students are able to go into MyInfo and view the fees, but currently the way it’s organized is hard to understand. We plan to organize fees into 3 categories: health, maintenance, and activities. We want students to understand the resources they have access to, and pay for via student fees. Student clubs and organizations should feel like ASMSU is advocating for their success and the success of all students. We hope to make club funding more accessible by implementing a service based funding model. Our goal is to reward students and clubs that already do community service by removing the red tape and automatically rewarding money based off of reported service hours. We want our clubs and organizations to feel empowered to continue to engage fellow students. Transparent fees lead to increased confidence and engagement at our university.

Jacob and Melissa: On your campaign social media, you wrote that you want to help students explore, engage, and become active parts of ASMSU. Why do you think this is important and what plans do you have to make that happen?

Jacob Zink: ASMSU exists to amplify the student voice on campus, offer important programs and services and engage students in a way that improves their collegiate experience! This mission can only be made possible through students like you! ASMSU offers so many opportunities to get involved from our art gallery to student political action, there is a place for every Bobcat to get involved and make our campus a better place. We plan to make this happen by regularly engaging with our clubs and organizations personally as our clubs are the backbone of our campus and hold so many unique and innovative ideas, perspectives and opportunities that are all important to tackling the challenges of tomorrow!

Melissa Ramirez: ASMSU is a student organization built by students for students. It is a part of our tradition, and we have to hold that as a priority. For that to happen, ASMSU must open the doors to ALL student input and put into action items. Students need to trust that their student representatives are doing what best serves all members of the Bobcat community. That means making ASMSU itself more accessible, open to growth and transparent with all constituents. Zink and I were able to co-sponsor a Bill that got passed for a project we had been working on with Senator Taryn Van Steeland, this bill made publishing our budget to the student body in more accessible and transparent manners for ASMSU funds. That way students know what they are paying for and why! We are excited to see this continue into the long-term action for ASMSU.

In a tweet, why should MSU students vote for you?

Jack and Tara: We are Jack and Tara. Transforming OUR University through YOUR voice. Our involvement and experiences at MSU motivate us to promote a campus of health, wellness, and safety through informed student fee allocation. Make MSU better for you, Vote JT!

Jacob Zink: Ready for real action on campus? Vote Zink and Mel for ASMSU Exec! We are committed to fostering a culture of care through action, community and love! Vote for a brighter future and make your voices heard! #ZinkAndMel

Melissa Ramirez: Community is the foundation of Bobcat Nation. Together we can make a difference, a better tomorrow starts today, Bobcats! Join us for a brighter future with Zink and Mel! It’ll be a guaranteed slay. Vote April 25 & 26! #zinkandmel