Why are you running in the ASUO Election?
My name is Robert Baker III (he/him), and I am a second-year PPPM major running with UO Student Power. I grew up in a lower middle-class family in Nebraska. My mom is a high school English teacher and my dad works nights in an Amazon Warehouse. I spent last year working two minimum-wage jobs to pay my rent and tuition. I am a part of the 50% of UO students who struggle financially. I'm running for ASUO to bring that number down. I will use my position on ASUO to expand basic needs programs and ensure that students can access food, housing, healthcare, childcare, and transportation resources when they need them. As a member of UO's Civil Impact Committee, I fought to expand childcare access in Lane County. If elected, I will fiercely resist any cuts to UO's student childcare programs. In 2024, my advocacy helped kill a restrictive anti-trans bill in my home state. I will continue to fight so that LGBTQ+ students, international/immigrant students, and students of color feel safe, welcome, and accepted. By voting for me and UO Student Power, you are voting to protect your rights, support basic needs, and make your voice heard.
One of Senate's responsibilities is to interact with student organizations every week during Senate Hearings and makes decisions on their spending requests. As one of the most front facing parts of ASUO, how do you plan on making these interactions as positive as possible for students?
I promise to keep an open line of communication with the students I represent and who are affected by my decisions as a Senator. Transparency is key to shaping a positive perception of government, and I pledge to be as transparent as possible in what values I stand for and how I vote to allocate funding. Maintaining communication with my constituents allows me to keep up to date with student concerns, voice those concerns in the hearing process, and structure the budget so that those concerns are addressed. I'm running as a member of UO Student Power, an organization that strives to put the student first. If I am as transparent as possible and always remember to put the needs of other students above my own, I feel that I will build a positive rapport with the students I represent on ASUO.
Academic Senators represent students within their major, department, or school. How are you connected to the academic programs you represent? How will you utilize these connections to best represent students?
My whole life revolves around PPPM. We're a small major, but we're very active on campus, and one of the most involved majors when it comes to activism, service, and representation in student leadership. We're also a tight-knit community. We're in the same classes, we attend the same events, and we form deep connections with each other. I'm very involved in PPPM activities, including Civil Impact Committee, a PPPM group which collaborates with local leaders to influence public policy. I also frequent PPPM social events. I love engaging myself in conversation with PPPM peers because we share many of the same interests. One of those is ensuring everyone's basic needs are met. I want to get the PPPM department more involved in basic needs programs, so that our civic-mindedness can be put to use providing food, shelter, transportation, etc. to UO students who need it. I will use my connections in the PPPM department to amplify the expertise of students whose field of study centers around policy and public service. By listening to the expertise of my peers, I can achieve ambitious goals while still staying grounded in what is feasible and realistic to achieve within the bounds of ASUO.