“I am most excited about the opportunity with this year’s senate to improve the quality of life at DU,” said Aaron Schwarzberg, this year’s AUSA Senate president. The junior political science major with a minor in human communications, from West Palm Beach, FL, has many high expectations for his presidency and the Senate.
“Right now we are looking at things that will affect all things on campus from resident hall dining to academic rigor to the diversity of the student body,” said Schwarzberg. Diversity on campus or the lack thereof was an important issue of last year’s election.
One way that Schwarzberg plans to address the issue through the creation of a new executive board seat called the Chair of Campus Climate. This person will meet with Center for Multi-Cultural Excellence, the AUSA Diversity Committee and the broad range of organizations on campus to help ensure equal and fair treatment for all. The person will report to senate in order to help them address any issues. Schwarzberg acknowledges that increasing diversity on campus is important while still honoring the diversity that does exist on campus.
“It is important to make sure people know about and attend events like the Festival of Nations that show many kinds of diversity,” remarked Schwarzberg. Another issue that is on his mind was the decrease in the overall ranking of DU. On one hand national recognition is important but on the other hand focusing on bettering DU as an unique place is more important.
One of the things that he is most excited about is his Senate, specifically because of the “new blood” this year.
“I am thoroughly impressed with everyone that was elected and have full confidence that they will represent their constituents and exceed expectations,” enthused Schwarzberg. “I am also thrilled to have the opportunity to work with my Vice-President Megan Cartier. She is a great leader.”
Schwarzberg has had his eye on the presidency since his freshman year and he has has gained leadership skills from serving as freshmen senator and chairman of the Diversity Committee, sophomore senator and chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee, on the provost search committee and is president of Zeta Beta Tau. He also credits the two previous AUSA Senate presidents as teaching him about leadership.
“Max [Goldberg] taught me that as a leader it is important to listen and from Brian [Kelley] that it is important to fight for what students want,” said Schwarzberg. And even though he is a junior he feels prepared to lead.
“I will be more accountable because I will be here next year,” said Schwarzberg.
He loves not only DU, where he has gained great friendships and the opportunity to interact with interesting people, but also Denver at large. He loves the town with the combination of the great nightlife and fantastic skiing and snowboarding. The only thing that he does not love is being so far away from his close-knit family.
His family includes his parents, Steve, a lawyer, Debbie who owns a nurse training company, his older brother Abie and sister-in-law Tali, older brother Josh and sister-in-law Lisa, younger brother David, an ever increasing number of nieces and nephews and his beloved grandmother Gege. Gege offered this advice when he won the election, “Always be loyal to the students.”
Another slightly more recent addition to his family is his girlfriend Carla who in his words is, “amazing, beautiful, and incredibly supportive.”
As for his eventual life after DU, the only thing he is sure of is law school and he hasn’t ruled out a future in politics, because he wants the opportunity to affect change in different communities.
