The 2018 Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Board of Directors Elections, featuring 18 candidates and two opinion polls, ended last week securing the 2018-2019 ASI Board of Directors.
About 600 students (7%) of the student population voted in this year’s election.
Students who voted took part in deciding who will represent them next year in areas such as diversity, environment, student clubs and organizations.
However, for some positions students were given no choice at all, both the positions for ASI President and Vice President (VP) only had one candidate running for each.
This should be of serious concern for students considering the broad powers the ASI President has.
Maria Marquez (senior, Communication Studies), current ASI VP will be the ASI president next year and, Michelle Nungaray (junior, Criminal Justice)current ASI Secretary/Director of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences will be the new ASI VP
ASI is the official voice of the students, yet many students aren’t taking the opportunity to choose their representatives.
Viviana Castro (sophomore, Health Science), didn’t participate in the election.
“I wasn’t sure what ASI was, I saw the posters but I just wasn’t sure what it was,” Castro said.
Samari Chicas (senior, Criminal Justice) also didn’t participate in the election.
“I knew about the ASI elections and I voted last year, I just didn’t have time this year,” Chicas said.
In addition to voting for student leadership positions student had the opportunity to vote for other areas of concern.
Among the top concerns students felt needed to be addressed were parking, academic advising and resources for clubs and organizations.
Students also had the chance to vote on possible food vendors at the new University Student Center, 60% of those who voted want a smoothie option in the new center.
All of the official election results are posted at ASI/USU Admin Suite – Housing 122.