Following last semester’s constant friction between Adam Haverstock’s opinion on funding for cultural events and his outspoken views on what he considered “frivolous requests,” Haverstock is preparing for his position as next year’s Associated Students president.

Haverstock said he decided to run for A.S. president because there are many things he would like to change about the current A.S. government. He said he plans on doing so by addressing some of his own concerns, and making sure he hears the concerns of the students.

One of his primary concerns is that A.S. needs to have an effective government, specifically an effectively functioning Senate.

“There is a problem now, because no one runs for the Senate, and there is a high turnover, ” he said.

In an echo of former A.S. senator Igor Kagan’s April 12 opinion article in the Daily Sundial, Haverstock sees increasing the pay of senators as crucial to attracting candidates. Currently, senators get paid $70 a semester, and Haverstock wants to change that amount to $100 every other week. He hopes this incentive will also allow students to spend more time doing their job, without the burden of an off-campus job.

Haverstock said he also wants to improve the government by eliminating the sub-directors of A.S.

“The current job of a sub-director is what a senator should be doing,” Haverstock said.

David Crandall, general manager of Associated Students, said that Haverstock is not so much eliminating the position or function of a sub-director, but rather he is trying to boost the functions of the senators.

“He is trying to consolidate the job function of the senator, and give them an opportunity to do more leadership,” Crandall said.

Still, Haverstock was clear when he used the word “eliminate” when referencing sub-directors. He said he does not see a reason for them.

He would also like to implement standing rules for the members of the Senate. These rules will require the senators to show up to their meetings. They will also be required to make classroom presentations, and attend campus events, including sports events.

He said he hopes this will encourage the senators to be more involved with the other students. This way, they will be more accessible, and will seek out the students, instead of the other way around.

Psychology major Henry Yu said he didn’t vote because he does not know what is going on at school.

“I have the commuter’s disease,” he said.

Yu said he is more focused on finishing school and graduating.

By involving himself with apathetic students on campus, Haverstock said he hopes to get students interested in what is going on around them.

Melanie Gallegos, a health science major, agrees that the president and senators need to make their presence known. She said most students do not even know who their president is.

Another idea Haverstock said he has is to change the source of athletic funding from A.S. to the University Corporation and CSUN’s administration.

He said currently A.S. does not benefit from the funds it provides to athletics. He would rather see those funds allocated to clubs and organizations on campus.

“There is always (a) need for more money to clubs and organizations,” he said.

Gallegos said she voted for Haverstock because of that reason.

“I heard that he will help clubs and organizations,” she said.

She said that she personally witnessed how hard Haverstock worked for this election, and she expects him to be a good president.

“As long as he does what he said he will do,” everything will be fine, she said.

“Haverstock has a very positive manner with other people,” Crandall said.

Crandall should know. He has been general manager of A.S for six and a half years, and has seen many presidents come and go.

“(Haverstock) is out there shaking hands, and (is) very action-oriented,” Crandall said.

Haverstock said he plans to make all of the changes he promised – all without ever having to wear a tie.

“I am much more casual,” he said.

Haverstock said that some of his advisers recommend he dress up when meeting with administrators, but he maintains that he is still a student, and not an administrator.

“Like a regular student on campus, I wear shorts and a T-shirt,” Haverstock said.