Pack's Fresquez and Chacon: New Political Ticket

New student president, VP don't fit the mold of former office holders at CSU-Pueblo.

CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/JOHN JAQUES President David Fresquez (left) and Vice President Allan Chacon are novice campus politicians, but say they bring new ideas and enthusiasm to Colorado State University-Pueblo's Associated Student Government.

By GAYLE PEREZ
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Colorado State University-Pueblo's David Fresquez and Allan Chacon are not your typical student government leaders.

The new student body president and vice president are more comfortable kicking a soccer ball than conducting a board meeting.

They're more adept at writing a business plan than developing and following a meeting agenda.

"Allan or I, neither one of us have been in student government before," said Fresquez, the new president. "This is new for us but the way I look at it, we're also bringing new ideas and new enthusiasm to student government."

Where the two business management majors/soccer players lack political experience, they make up for in excitement, pride and old-fashioned honesty. During a break between two-a-day soccer practices on Tuesday, Fresquez and Chacon chatted about their goals and aspirations, ideas and new roles as non-traditional leaders of CSU-Pueblo's student government.

"No, we're not the typical political science, student-government leaders," said Chacon. "But we're here to switch it up a little bit, add some character to student government."

"And we're already doing that," chimed in Fresquez. "We're making a difference."

As CSU-Pueblo prepares to kick off the new academic year Monday in what President Joe Garcia has deemed a time of "breaking new ground," the Fresquez-Chacon ticket fits the mold perfectly.

The seniors are everything that the stereotypical Associated Student Government leaders aren't.

They're not political science majors but rather both majoring in business.

They're athletes, both playing soccer for the ThunderWolves; and Hispanic males, which is one of the most underrepresented populations on campus.

Both men also are non-resident students. Fresquez, 21, is from Santa Fe, N.M., while Chacon, 24, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, but later moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., which he now calls home.

"We know we're not typical but that's one of the things that we're stressing, we're just like the students that we represent," said Fresquez, a midfielder on the soccer team. "We are fresh faces in student government and we bring a fresh start."

Fresquez and Chacon said one of their first tasks is to educate other students about ASG.

Both admit that prior to running for the seats in the spring election, neither knew anything about CSU-Pueblo's student govern- ment.

"Since we didn't know about it, we assume there are a lot of students who don't know about it either," said Chacon, who transferred to CSU-Pueblo last year from Paradise Valley Community College in Arizona. "Our goal is to educate the students about ASG and how we are here for them. We want it to be recognized by all students, not just the political science majors."

Fresquez added, "We want to put student government on the map. Our goal this upcoming year is to have the best, most competitive election ever in the history of CSU-Pueblo. We want people to get involved."

Fresquez and Chacon said they spent the summer learning how to run meetings and attended other meetings with faculty, staff, administrators and students, all in an effort to create more awareness and a presence of student government campuswide.

They said they will pay particular attention to student athletes, who in the past have felt disconnected from student government.

"We want them to know that ASG is there for them as well," said Fresquez, who came to CSU-Pueblo four years ago to play soccer.

Chacon concurred adding that he hopes to fulfill the motto of ASG, which is "To make a difference."

"I want all students to realize how much power students really have and to get them to hold onto that power," he said. "I want them to know as students, we can make a difference."

Fresquez said he and Chacon also hope to serve as role models for the Hispanic students, while also promoting the university as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

"This fits right into one of my goals and aspirations which is to put myself in a position to help Hispanic youth," he said. "I see myself in a lot of the faces of the Hispanic students who have it hard. My goal is to be a voice for them."

Most of all, the new leaders said they want to play a major role in building on all the new excitement being generated on campus this year.

"We're excited," said Fresquez. "Everything is brand new this year and Allan and I fit right into that. The way we look at it is the school is turning the corner and becoming a major force in Colorado and we want to be a part of that."