Why are you running in the ASUO Elections?

My name is Jess Fisher, I use she/her pronouns, and I am a second-year student here at UO majoring in Political Science and PPPM. I am currently serving as ASUO Senate Seat 11, and am a steering committee member for the UO Young Democratic Socialists. I’m running for PFC Seat 3 to represent other working class and marginalized students at the University of Oregon. As a first generation student, the daughter of an immigrant, a union member through Starbucks Workers United, I intimately understand the systemic barriers that prevent students like me from being able to achieve a higher education. Student Workers and Graduate Employees deserve to be able to earn enough to attend the university that they are employed by. POC students deserve to have spaces to meet and congregate with other people of the same culture. Students deserve to have the right to free speech as guaranteed under the constitution and not fear repression or deportation. Students deserve to have a university that will stand up against authoritarian crackdowns on higher education imposed by the federal government. This is what I will fight for as a senator.

As one of the most front facing parts of ASUO, how do you plan on making these interactions as positive as possible for students?

Even as a senator, I am a student first, and I see serving on this committee as a way to help my peers feel heard and meet their needs, especially at times when the university administration fails to do so. I plan on holding town hall meetings to discuss pertinent issues such as labor rights, basic needs, multiculturalism, student services, and whatever else students want to say, allowing them to speak on what they need and discuss solutions. I also want to encourage more long-term collaborations and partnerships between student organizations and ASUO.

Is there a particular ASUO funded service or organization (or multiple) that you are passionate about and hope to work with? Why?

I am eager to collaborate with the cultural organizations that are the backbone of the UO community. As a student organization leader, I understand the frustrations that can arise from the budget process, and I am committed to making it more accessible and transparent for ASUO-funded organizations. I will also work to ensure that more student organizations are recognized and have access to the funding and resources that are rightfully theirs at UO. Student organizations are not just a part of this campus, they are its heart, especially during times of political instability. These spaces are vital to the student experience and the well-being of our students, and I am proud to be a part of this vibrant community.