Stronger ties with student governance and his love for his alma mater were discussed by University alumnus and candidate for the position of senior vice president of Academic Affairs and provost, Paul Zingg.

At the student open forum held Tuesday, Zingg talked about his cultivation of the strong ties that exist between the administration and the student government association of California Polytechnic State University, where Zingg has been provost and vice president of Academic Affairs since 1995.

With the help of the student government association and the student body, Zingg said he instituted two tuition fee increases to create a $250 million endowment for California Polytechnic — as the state of California faced a 40 percent budget deficit.

Zingg said he sees the same cooperation coming to the University by cultivating the ties between the administration and SGA.

“I love what I do, and it is because everyday I’m involved with students,” Zingg said.

Latham Saddler, president of SGA, said he was “really impressed that Zingg was able to unite the student body at California Polytechnic.”

The University is close to being mentioned in the top 20-25 research universities in the country, Zingg said, and he would like to help make that step.

“I appreciate the University’s strengths,” Zingg said, “and I know that I have a track record of bringing universities to the next level.”

Dressed in red and black, Zingg stressed his deep love for the University and the South.

“It’s more than the sweet tea that draws me to the South, it is that the best days are ahead for this University,” Zingg said.