Why are you running in the ASUO Elections?

Hello! My name is Zoe Jenkins-Hiscox (she/her) and I’m from New Jersey. I’m a current freshman at UO and I’m majoring in Biology and minoring in Global Health and Bioengineering. Currently, I sit on the Academic Committee in Senate Seat 24 as the First-Year Representative, meaning I help to amplify the voices of all freshmen here at UO. I’m running for ASUO because I want to continue the work I feel I’ve only had the chance to scratch the surface with: I love student government and civic engagement. ASUO is the perfect place to uplift the voices of my peers. Specifically, I appreciate the community within ASUO. Everyone running alongside me has a passion for making campus a better place. I believe student government is about a candidate’s drive to improve student experiences on campus. This is what motivates me and why I am running for Senate Seat 12.

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 started serving in ASUO at the end of the fall term and it took me a while to truly grasp how the organization works and how student organizations interact with the Senate. What I did quickly learn was how confusing the surplus/financial process was for student organizations. It seemed like every student organization that walked into Senate had a different idea of what was expected. I quickly learned that it was the Senate’s lack of communication and transparency with student organizations. Next year, I want to ensure that the Senate creates a more welcoming environment for student organizations with far clearer criteria when going through the financial process. Student organizations are coming into Senate during their own time, taking the time to advocate for their organization. It is our job as Senate to ensure that student organizations feel valued and appreciated, not intimidated and scared. The bottom line is that we’re their peers: we’re not above them in any way. I plan to play an active role in improving this experience next year, utilizing the involvement I have from serving in the Senate this year.

How are you connected to the academic programs you represent? How will you utilize these connections to best represent students?

Currently, I’m majoring in Biology, but I’m minoring in Global Health and Bioengineering. I think my curiosity makes me unique for the Senate Seat 12 role. I have so many interests in science and the humanities: I think I can be a valuable tool for students in my seat to both foster and explore new opportunities. I’m running to represent a combination of STEM students, including Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, etc. I am also running to represent students more interested in the humanities side of science, like Environmental Studies. As someone that finds interest in hard science and social applications, I think I will be the best resource for my peers. Senate Seat 12 includes majors I am passionate about, and I promise to uplift these areas of studies as much as possible. Whether this is simply through talking to students in my classes and getting a better understanding of what student government can do for them or its planning events that aid my constituents' overall experience, I care about each individual I represent and will actively work to improve their time as a student at UO.