Editor’s note: This is the second of five profiles on the slates running for Government of the Student Body president and vice president. The profiles will run through this week.

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Rob Wiese and Matt McLaren say they have the experience and skills to lead next year’s Government of the Student Body.

Wiese, 22, is a senior in agriculture studies from Bennet. McLaren, 21, is a junior in agriculture business from Farragut.

Wiese and McLaren are hoping to become next year’s GSB president and vice president, respectively.

Because Wiese served as Inter-Residence Hall Association (IRHA) president for the past two years, he said his job duties as GSB president would be somewhat similar since both organizations allocate funds for student groups.

Wiese and McLaren said student involvement is the solution to many of GSB’s problems. “If GSB doesn’t get other organizations and students involved, it will fail,” Wiese said.

By working to be a proactive slate, Wiese and McLaren said, they will be talking to students and getting things done.

“Students need to see GSB as an organization that serves them, and they don’t right now,” McLaren said.

Two-way communication is an important factor in keeping GSB running smoothly and productively, Wiese and McLaren said. “I think the reason why GSB looks bad most of the time is because they think they know what’s going on but they actually don’t,” McLaren said.

Wiese and McLaren said they plan to create a director of minority relations on the GSB cabinet who would act as a liaison to minority students.

Their cabinet would consist of diversified members including a greek member, minority students, residence hall students and other students, Wiese said.

Wiese and McLaren were critical of GSB’s handling of this year’s tuition hikes. They said they plan to work with Iowa State President Martin Jischke, the state Board of Regents and the Governor’s Office before planning tuition costs.

“We plan to deal with [tuition] in a proactive way by being on top of it all year round so it’s not a big surprise to students when it comes up,” he said.

Wiese and McLaren said teacher evaluations are also a concern. For the evaluations to work, Wiese and McLaren said, GSB needs to work with the Faculty Senate.

Both said they would like to continue working with the Iowa State and Ames community in doing projects such as the student book exchange and beautifying the Lake Laverne area. They said they also plan to get students and organization involved in supporting more community projects.

“The campus needs a strong GSB and administration to push the campus together,” Wiese said. “It’s not going to be easy, and we know it’s not going to be easy. We have the experience and we have the ideas to pull this campus together. This is a turning point for GSB. It can either go up or down.”

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Rob Wiese is a senior in agricultural studies from Bennett. Matt McLaren is a junior in agricultural business from Farragut..

Where They Stand

* Diversity

– Create a director of

minority relations on cabinet

– Deal with all issues

proactively

* Tuition

– Develop relationship with the governor

– Keep students informed

* Teacher Evaluations

– Form a joint committee with Faculty Senate

* Public Relations

– Develop relationship with campus media services

– Have a weekly show on KURE 88.5

– Have weekly luncheons in the Memorial Union

* Projects

– Work with the city council