Anyone who was in Main Dining at the time of this year’s Student Open Forum on Oct. 16 witnessed the official side of Associated Student Incorporated (ASI) Directors: a united front answering questions press conference style. But on Oct. 17 under a red tent serving free nachos, the same representatives showed the more casual side to ASI.
“We are trying our best right now with visibility, like us reaching out to students now, because if students are not coming to us we are going to go to them,” Mariam Salameh, ASI President, said.
Day one began with the primary issues raised during the elections. ASI Board of Directors opened up the forum by addressing matters such as parking permit prices, library hours and upcoming changes in the registration process. Written questions submitted by students were answered at the forum.
Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Ron Noble addressed the two-step registration plan and upcoming changes.
Noble clarified that while the first round of registration will be raised to allow a full schedule of 12 units, the second round will most likely be lowered from an 18 to a 17 unit cap.
ASI Vice President Marvin Hooker addressed the issues with parking costs, clarifying that a student committee developed a plan in 2007 that called for the raising of parking permits each year throughout 2014.
“We had a meeting with the vice president of business and finance, the chief of police and somebody from facilities,” Hooker said.
“So I had that opportunity to ask them was there a plan for a structure because that is something that we as students kind of thought, that there was a structure to be built. The chief of police and the person from facilities, they were here whenever the decisions were made. So they told us that it was a discussion but it was not a decision.”
ASI President Mariam Salameh focused on upcoming extended hours in the library to be implemented in the spring.
“We like extending library hours, but now we have to show why the library should open earlier,” Salameh said.
“Now we need to show high demand of students that need [the library] earlier, because you know how classes start at 8 am, there is no services for students that early before class, so we are wanting to hopefully advocate this year to opening it early. So we are thinking like 7 [a.m.] for students, at least.”
Day two provided more elaboration on any topics or questions students wanted, with the same ASI members handing out free nachos instead of speaking into microphones.
Student questions focused on issues such as where the Warrior Wagon went and if there could be more access to food sources closer to main buildings such as Demergasso-Bava and Bizzini Halls.
The key response to these questions was a need for student advocacy.
“I would advise students to actually get involved, be informed on campus and come to our meetings,” Salameh said. “We talk about stuff like library services, parking fees, any student issues that may affect them.”
ASI meets every Tuesday at 5 pm in the Warrior Conference Room on the second floor of the USU.
Every other Tuesday ASI invites guest speakers to negotiate current issues to which students are free to attend and voice their thoughts.