Carlos Ledon
Carlos Ledon
Carlos Ledon may be considered a traitor to his Southern Nevada roots. But the president of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada—the University of Nevada, Reno, undergraduate student government—says he feels right at home in Reno. “I could live here the rest of my life,” says the 23-year-old Ledon. But the next four months are the primary concern for the Las Vegas native right now, as his reign as president ends in late April.
So, why did you want to become [ASUN] president?
I wanted to be involved. I had some experience in the Greek system and wanted to see something different. I became a senator [in the ASUN], and I loved it. I had a good time doing it and being involved on [the] fiscal [allocations board]. I had more ideas that I never got to do as a senator. This was the best position to do the things I wanted to do.
What do you want to do before the end of your term?
The stuff I’ve wanted to do has all piled up. The real world kind of takes place. The coffee house [the new Wolf Perk in the Jot Travis Student Union] was one of the things I wanted to see. I wanted to make sure the students are getting a larger amount of tuition put back into students. Students are tired of more fees. You had the tech fee [an increase of $4 per credit] last year. And the health center fee is coming up. We’re working on something to make sure it’s not too ridiculous. Any kind of increase needs to be responsible and in line.
Why did you come to UNR?
I wanted to do chemical engineering. I looked at programs all over. I couldn’t pay for them. Every place I applied to could have offered me scholarships. The locations I couldn’t afford. And I wanted to stay near my family.
What do you do when you’re not being president?
Hang out with my fiancee. Watch movies and relax. Everything else I do is just run around here and run around there. If I had to choose, it would have been a different year. Being a senior has made it difficult. But that’s been one of the good accomplishments. But there have been a lot of late nights.
What have been the most rewarding experiences in college for you?
One of them has been doing this. The interaction with people in the community, Board of Regents, campus leaders. My fraternity. Being the youngest president ever. Lambda Chi has been here 72 years now. Out of all those years, there have only been three back-to-back presidents [from one fraternity], myself included. Being named student employee of the year for work in the Disability Resource Center and senator of the year in the same year.
What was the disabilities center like?
You meet a lot of diverse people in the center. It crosses all races, genders, diverse personalities. Working with students with disabilities taught me a lot of patience.
How will the ASUN confront life without [retired UNR President Joe] Crowley?
I think Crowley has done a good job in transition for Dr. [Steve] McFarlane. I think there has always been shared governance on this campus. I think [McFarlane] will do the same, and I don’t think any problems will arise. Part of what has been strong about the administration is they embrace shared governance.