Ledger

Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: Husky Happenings

Bauer hangs out in the MAT with a local pooch

Tommy Bauer, president-elect of the 2008-2009 Associated Students of University of Washington Tacoma, is young but ambitious. As a sophomore in the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences program, his concentration is Political Economy. As next year's ASUWT president, he says he has several goals to accomplish.

"I really feel that we have the opportunity to do a lot next year, and it's just a matter of prioritizing things and getting things done early," Bauer said.
So, who is this person you elected to lead you next year?

This quarter Bauer is taking two classes, and he interns at Sen. Maria Cantwell's (D, Wa.) office. "I also work at the YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County just down the street," he said. In his free time, Bauer enjoys hanging out with friends and working out at the Y. His other free time is "devoted towards studying, so it's not really free time."

As a member of the first freshman class at UWT, Bauer is perhaps a sign of the school's complete transition to a four-year university. He is one of the youngest people to be elected in student government. "Both Cruz [Credle] and I are sophomores, and we have a stake in this university, because we'll be here for four years," Bauer said. "I definitely think that I'm well-known around campus. I wouldn't say it [will be] an easier job, but it'd be a lot less lighter if I was just a total newbie."

Bauer decided to run for ASUWT president in part because of some frustration he felt as he witnessed a lack of activity on campus.

"I'm a student just like every other student here," Bauer said. "I kind of get frustrated that things aren't getting done that I think they should be, services that aren't offered that should be. So what better way to make sure that things are being done than to get yourself involved."

During his interview with the Ledger, Bauer expanded on five issues he'd like to work on next year.

Parking: "I think we can definitely find some resolve one way or another on the parking issue. I think we can work with the city on that; it's just a matter of talking to the right people."

Housing: "That's an uphill battle, always will be. But I think if anything we can make our issue addressed and kick people in the shins. That's a term that I use very often."

Transportation: "FlexPasses, I think we can expand those, I think that's a big issue. We have the Tacoma light (rail). Yes, they expanded hours for us, but also I think we can look at other terms of transportation, too. I mean there are people who take the bus, professors take the bus, students take the bus. I walk, but still. I think we can work that out."

Facility hours: "That's something I've been battling the last year or so. When I was working on the senate, I was getting close, but then I was no longer working in the senate." Bauer was impeached last fall. Facility hours are "an absolute priority. I think it's at the top of the list of things, because you know, this is a campus, and students, we'd like to study on the weekends, especially when things are due Monday. I kind of find that absolutely ridiculous that it's not."

Continuing relationships: "I think one of the main things we really need to focus on is continuing the relationships Wil [Johnson] has built upon. We won't be able to get anything done at all if we don't take things in a more moderate stance. I think we have an aggressive agenda, and I think we definitely need to work with the faculty and staff. If we just go absolute, nothing's going to get done that we want to get done. I think one of the big things is proactive communication, doing things well ahead of time."

Bauer acknowledged that his work isn't just limited to a few big issues. "Those are some of the main things that we want to get done, although we get those done [and] there will just be more things to do," he said.

Bauer will shadow Johnson for the next couple of months to make the transitional process easier than it was last year. "Last year the reins were kind of just thrown in people's face," Bauer said. "They were basically wrapped around [Wil's] leg and he was dragged along for the first month. We want to make that as easy a transition onto the horse as possible."

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