Meet the ASUW vice presidential candidate: Building on existing connections

Junior Sam E Al-Khoury, director of community relations for the ASUW, finds satisfaction in a variety of activities he's involved with, from on-campus events to his part-time job downtown.

He is most satisfied when someone he's been working with comes up to him and says, "Hey, you know that event we did, or that meeting we held ... that was awesome. Thanks for making that happen," he said.

Another reason why Al-Khoury enjoys being involved with the ASUW is having people he wouldn't necessarily hang out with come to him for ethical advice.

"It's such a deep and honest gratification," Al-Khoury said. "It's great to be in a position where you're such an important symbol to someone, not because you're rich and powerful or a celebrity, but because we hold each other in a place of high value that it means something to interact with them. It's a really positive experience."

Al-Khoury is running unopposed for the position of ASUW vice president this year, meaning unless there is an unprecedented overwhelming write-in vote, he'll be in office next year. He said he is a little disappointed that he doesn't have any competition.

"I think people are always at their best when there is competition, because it drives you to work hard," Al-Khoury said. "But the position won't mean any less to me because I didn't have an opponent."

The candidate is still working hard to earn votes by tabling and Facebook messaging [HTML_REMOVED] anything to get his name out there, he said.

"If I can inspire people to go out and vote, then I'll still do that," he said.

As vice president, he hopes to build on the connections and networks he's formed this year as director of community relations in order to create a connected and diverse volunteer pool.

The job description says it's up to the vice president to appoint volunteers for the university community, but Al-Khoury has already gone above and beyond the job description.

Take this year, for instance. President Cullen White and he were the driving force behind the Husky Tee and the Husky Pride Fund, a scholarship program to help alleviate the burden of family or job obligations for students who want to get more involved in campus activities.

"I'd really like to help foster new projects that other people have, whether that's any student on campus or those already involved in ASUW," Al-khoury said. "I'd really like to be that resource to people."

It seems Al-Khoury is always striving to help people. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, he's hard at work at Home Depot downtown, mixing paint, cutting lumber and driving a forklift. And, despite having little free time, Al-Khoury will stay half an hour late just to answer a customer's questions.

Working 16 hours a week on top of his extracurricular activities makes Al-Khoury a busy guy.

"Homework often doesn't get done until after midnight," Al-Khoury said. "It obviously takes a toll on personal relationships. It's hard to explain, but when something has to be done, time gets made for it somehow."

Al-Khoury has no grandiose notion of saving the world, he said. He just likes doing what he views as the right thing.

"There's always more to give," he said.

Reach reporter Erin Hicks at news@thedaily.washington.edu.