Anjali Dalal-Whelan / News Editor

With the end of spring semester around the corner, there are two candidates vying to be the president of USD’s Associate Student Government (ASG) for the 2024-2025 school year.

ASG presidential candidate Morgan Pheng is currently a junior at USD. She is the cheer captain, the marketing chair for the BullPit and an active member of The Filipino Ugnayan Student Organization (FUSO). Pheng has been involved in ASG for two years, first serving as at-large senator and on the Executive Board this year as the Public Relations Chair. 

ASG presidential candidate Jolie Beegle is also a junior at USD. She is the treasurer of the Pre Veterinary club and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Beegle has been an ASG senator for two years, and this year serves as the Academics Committee Chair. 

On Friday April 12, ASG hosted a debate for the two candidates where they discussed their views on key issues that affect the USD community. 

Initiatives 

The candidates discussed key initiatives they would attempt to create as ASG president. 

Pheng explained that she wanted to create a garden on campus to help students who don’t have cars or access to grocery stores. She also plans on expanding the food pantry. 

Another initiative Pheng hopes to accomplish is banning the social media app Fizz.  At the debate, Pheng explained her reasoning behind this potential initiative. 

“Fizz is probably one of the most harmful social media platforms today, especially in our generation. So I think implementing an anti-bullying campaign and having those talks with administrators… pushing to advocate for taking down Fizz, or doing something about it within the administration and providing resources for students that are being affected by Fizz and what is being said [on the platform].” 

Beegle spoke about improving USD’s career readiness programs, increasing school spirit and looking at the inner workings of ASG. 

“I want to meet with each committee that we have once or twice a semester to really make sure that we are getting stuff done and being proactive,” Beegle said. 

School Spirit

Both candidates listed increasing school spirit as one of their main objectives if elected. 

Pheng described it as “disheartening” that many USD students don’t come to games and listed ideas to improve school spirit, such as giveaways, pep rallies and tabling to increase game attendance. 

Beegle said that ASG needs to do more to connect the campus community in athletics in other areas. She said ASG should be more present on campus to show school spirit and pride in USD. 

Diversity and inclusion

Pheng lists diversity and amplifying underrepresented voices as one of her main values. She described how her identity affected her beliefs. 

 “With being a part of FUSO and being a marginalized student here on campus, I myself have first-hand experience with admin not supporting students in diversity and inclusion,” Pheng said.

Following the debate, The USD Vista emailed USD Public Relations to comment on Pheng’s statement about administration’s support for student diversity. USD Associate Director of Media Relations Cameran Zech responded to the statement on behalf of USD. 

“One of USD’s core values is recognizing the dignity that each and every one of us deserves. That means fostering an environment where diversity is celebrated — diversity of ideas, languages, cultures and people.”

To advance diversity as president, Pheng said she would attend the United Front Leadership Council meetings and implement a students of color conference to bring students together from different backgrounds and organizations. 

Beegle explained that although she can’t fully understand the experience of every group on campus, she wants to promote diversity and inclusion by listening to students and taking their ideas and feedback into consideration.  

“I want to meet with clubs and organizations to learn about everyone’s background specifically and ask what they want to see changed,” Beegle explained. “I can never know the experience directly unless someone is asking me about my very own experience, so in that way I have to get down to the nitty-gritty and get to know every one of the students here.”  

Non-tenure track union

Both candidates expressed support for the College of Arts and Sciences’ non-tenure track professors’ unionization effort. 

Communication from ASG

Pheng and Beegle both said that they want to increase ASG’s communication with students. Beegle said she would create an email from the ASG president to students, which Pheng countered saying she would create videos on social media, to reach a wider audience. 

Pheng said that as president she would try to find avenues to communicate with the student body on Instagram and TikTok, as well as by meeting with constituents.

Beegle also shared her ideas on how to increase communication.

 “One of the most disappointing things to me about being involved in ASG is realizing we do so many things that no one knows anything about, and we fund so many groups and no one knows about it,” Beegle said. “Being able to tell people ASG is a resource and helping them recognize that we are there. Like I said, having senate on the patio sometimes. Having some Q and A sessions with people walking to class I think that’s really crucial to gathering opinions.”

A full recording of the debate is available on ASG’s Instagram @usd_asg. Toreros can make their voices heard by casting their ballots for the presidential election and other ASG positions this Monday and Tuesday. Elections are being held online on the MySanDiego portal. Voting opens April 15 at 12 a.m. and closes April 16 at 11:59 p.m.

The two candidates running for ASG president shared their ideas at a debate on Friday.  Anjali Dalal-Whlean/The USD Vista