VP of university relations candidates push transit, parking and data-driven advocacy

Candidates for vice president of university relations told moderators they intend to leverage internships, administrative contacts and legislative experience to improve campus transportation and student access.

Pei Ichimura and other candidates described expanding the Uride shuttle and adding more shuttle stops and city-level parking options for students who are on campus less frequently. "We are proposing ... a pool for unused meal swipes to be kept and then distributed to students that are in need," one candidate said when discussing broader collaboration with campus services; several candidates also proposed expanding Uber/Lyft‑style programs currently available to staff and faculty to students.

Several tickets emphasized using surveys and data to present clear evidence to administrators and to push for changes. Eddie Yokoyama said his ticket would collect student data and provide it to administration to show why proposed changes—such as revised parking structures or expanded transit—are needed. Candidates also referenced HB 261 when discussing the legal constraints and careful language required for some service centers; they said they would follow the law while seeking ways to restore or expand services.

All candidates supported coordinating with the university's administration and faculty to get student priorities into planning and budgeting. Proposals were framed as advocacy through evidence rather than unilateral decisions.

Provenance: Topic appears in candidates' answers beginning with the Vice President of University Relations segment and continuing through follow‑up questions.