By Raven TysonAssistant City Editor

Different as night and day — that’s a phrase that could be usedto describe the two candidates running to be second-in-command ofAssociated Students next year.

Manny Lieras, a member of the Native American Student Alliance, isknown for being on the forefront of the mascot controversy. JuanitaSalas sits on A.S. Council and keeps the group in line via her job aschairwoman of the A.S. Rules Committee.

Both are vying for the role of A.S. executive vice president.Students will vote for next year’s A.S. Council in an election nextweek.

Both Lieras and Salas are active in numerous student and campusorganizations, but that is where the similarities end. Each has adifferent vision and plan if elected to office.

Lieras, a Chicano Studies senior with a minor in American IndianStudies, said he wants to make changes for the betterment of studentsof color.

“The reason I say ‘students of color’ is because I’m a firmbeliever that when students of color benefit, then everyonebenefits,” he said.

Lieras said he wants students to get more involved with thecommunity. While he noted that the campus works closely with CityHeights, he said there are other areas in San Diego that theuniversity could reach out to.

Salas, who currently represents the College of Education on A.S.Council, wants to make A.S. more accessible to students, not only asthe student government of San Diego State, but also as something thatmakes students feel at home. She wants students to know they have avoice on campus and they can make a change.

Salas plans on working closely with the A.S. promotionscoordinator to publicize not only A.S., but also where students canget involved.

Both candidates want to push for a cultural center on campus,which the current A.S. Council is working toward.

“It’s good that A.S. is talking about it, but I think that nextyear in office it could happen,” Lieras said. “If that means it needsto go on a student referendum — so be it. But, I think theuniversity should have to pay for it because even though it’s goingto be a student facility, it’s going to benefit the university.”

Salas, a liberal studies junior with an emphasis in politicalscience, said she’s been working on establishing the center since shewas a freshman.

“The cross-cultural center is going to be an important andimperative part of campus,” she said. “The center would provide acommon thread for all students on campus and not just the culturalorganizations.”

Like all candidates, both feel they are the most qualified for thejob, but for very different reasons.

“I’ve been a student for six years,” Lieras said. “I’ve seenpositive policy changes and I’ve seen negative policy changes.”

Lieras said he likes many of the vice presidents of theuniversity, but a few “need to be reminded they are here to serve thestudents and not serve President Weber.”

Salas also believes she is the most experienced candidate. Shesaid she is the only one who has been in the “trenches” championingstudent issues. Voters will see the difference between an experiencedcandidate and an inexperienced candidate, she said.

“I’ve been on A.S. Council since my freshman year,” she said.”I’ve been very involved with boards and committees.”

The candidate’s views also differ when it comes to sharedgovernance on campus.

In Lieras’ opinion, shared governance is lacking. He feels thereare two separate groups on campus: the university and students, whicheach have their own politics. University politics, he said, shouldcome from student suggestions.

Lieras said A.S. should continue to push the resolution of “noconfidence” they passed in Provost Nancy Marlin last month and stickwith it.

“Once you push something like that, you really have to go with itand push and push until Nancy Marlin is replaced,” he said.

Salas, on the other hand, said shared governance needs more work,but wouldn’t “go to the extreme” of saying there is no sharedgovernance at the university.

“I don’t know if it’s time, but I would like to have another seatin the University Senate,” she said. “As far as pushing more sharedgovernance, having a little bit more of a voice in the UniversitySenate (would be beneficial).