Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Student Government Elections for the 2018-2019 academic year will be held April 18th and 19th.
According to RockTheVote.org, the decisions that local government makes can directly affect a person’s life in ways that the federal government cannot. This is a reason why local elections deserve just as much attention as national elections do.
Students have the power to make their voices heard through voting for their ASI Board of Directors. These are some of the students that are campaigning to represent the rest of the student body for the 2018-2019 school year.
Maria Marquez (senior, Communication Studies) the current ASI Vice president and the only candidate running for ASI President, explained the role of ASI President.
“It is up to the ASI President to gather student voices, whether it is the ASI Board of Directors or any other students from Stan State, it is important as an organization leader to listen to others and know where they are coming from by understanding the different perspectives different students may have,” Marquez said.
Annelisa Cole (freshman, Business) is running for Director of the College of Business this year and wants her classmates to know why it is important for them to vote.
“It is extremely important to vote because these are the people who are going to be your voice while you are at Stan State. We are the people who will listen to you and present your needs to make a change. If you don’t vote, you’re taking a chance that your representative might not have the same goals as you, which wouldn’t be a true representation of you or your peers,” Cole said.
Melissa Gutierrez (junior, Sociology and Communication Studies) one of the candidates for Director of Diversity also wants students to take the opportunity to vote.
“It’s important for students to vote because they have the opportunity to vote for who will be their student voice. When it comes to voting for the new ASI board of directors its a new opportunity for students to vote for someone who they can feel comfortable going to and talk to about any concerns or thoughts they have about certain situations,” Gutierrez said.
Wonuola Olagunju (junior, Biological Sciences) a candidate for Director of Residential Life, said that student votes will have an impact of their future.
“Students should vote because it is apart of their future. Elections are necessary to choose who you feel has better experience in doing a certain task and has your personal interest in mind,” Olagunju said.
Alfredo Vargas (senior, Anthropology) one of the candidates Director, College of Education, Kinesiology & Social Work, also talked about the importance of students making their voices heard.
“Regardless, if students vote for me or not. It is important for students to vote because we all have voices and have to make sure people hear us. With the ASI election, students have to option to change directors and choose new directors for their colleges, ASI president, Vice President, etc.,” Vargas said.
According to Cesar Rumayor, ASI Executive Director, during last year’s election season for ASI Board of Directors, only 10% of the student body voted. In previous years student voter turnout has been as low as 7%.
The elections will be held at 8 a.m.-6 p.m. in South Dining and noon-6 p.m. at the Stockton Center.