Why are you running in the ASUO Elections?
Hello! My name is Noah Weis (he/him), and I’m a third-year Computer Science major and Sociology minor from El Segundo, California. As a student leader who’s been working closely with ASUO, I’ve seen a need to make the ASUO financial system more transparent and comprehensive. I also understand students’ wish for an increase in hands-on learning opportunities. With your vote for Senate seat 13, I will work to simplify the ASUO financial process for all students organizations, and create real learning opportunities that prepare all students for their careers beyond college.
As one of the most front facing parts of ASUO, how do you plan on making these interactions as positive as possible for students?
ASUO Senate hearings are nerve-racking for student organizations—I’ve experienced it twice myself. Hours of preparation go into crafting clear spending requests, yet these proposals are often met with pushback, or even rejection, due to a lack of transparency regarding ASUO priorities before the hearing. Senators have financial and strategic goals that, if openly communicated, would enable student organizations to better align their proposals with shared objectives, such as fostering campus unity or connecting students to local industry. As an ASUO Senator, I will prioritize transparency by clearly communicating these financial and strategic goals to all UO students, ultimately creating more positive and collaborative interactions between the ASUO Senate and student organizations.
How are you connected to the academic programs you represent? How will you utilize these connections to best represent students?
As a Learning Assistant in the Computer Science department and Founder of QuackHacks, UO's largest student-run hackathon, my connections to our academic programs run deep. Weekly tutoring sessions and collaboration with professors, teaching assistants, and fellow students provide me with direct insights into students' academic needs, particularly around hands-on learning. Recognizing the strong desire among students for practical, career-focused experiences, I founded QuackHacks to offer real-world learning opportunities. Leading a team of 24 dedicated students, I've built meaningful relationships with faculty, staff, and a diverse student body within our department. These connections uniquely position me to effectively advocate for more experiential learning opportunities, including internships, project-based courses, and industry partnerships. As your ASUO Senator, I will leverage these relationships and insights to actively support initiatives that genuinely prepare students for successful careers beyond college, making our department more inclusive, dynamic, and student-driven.