By Alex Graf
Managing Editor
Today (Thursday March 21) is the last day of the four-day election cycle for Asociated Students Inc., the student government on campus. Usually, those elections deal only with choosing candidates for a .mportant leadership position; but this year, voters had the choice to possibly change the way ASI is financed
C=d.
The ballot measure students are considering approving is a Higher Education Price Index, which ASI Program Coordinator Stephen Janes described as “ A cost of living adjustment that ASI could use to fund more programs, events, scholarships, giveaways and more.”
Basically, the HEPI, if approved by students, would measure the inflation of costs associated with “educational supplies, utilities and university employee wages” every two years. From there, ASI would incrementally increase their student fee relative to the HEPI Inflation rate. The ASI fee has been stagnant for over 20 years, so a fee increase may be well overdue, but students will ultimately decide if the benefits are worth the added cost when they vote this week.
Student candidates are running for a number of positions including ASI President, Vice Presidential positions, Director of Student Services, and representatives for the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and the College of Health and Human Services.
While most of the races for ASI leadership are uncontested, the position of President and Director of Student Services will be competitive. In elections where the average rate of voter turnout is between 17 and 10 percent, students can cast their ballots knowing their vote can have a significant impact on the results.
President, incumbent Christian Jackson will seek reelection and is challenged by Daylin Joseph who currently serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Jackson is running on his experience and the connections he has made as the incumbent ASI President and Daylin Joseph is touting both her experience with ASI a student leader and the feminine perspective she brings to the table, pointing out CSUDH ASI has not had a female president in 10 years.
As for Director of Student Services, freshman Emiliano Arellano is up against Itzel Marin, a junior who currently serves as the representative for the College of Arts and Humanities.
In anticipation of the election, ASI has held two candidate forums and a debate in order to give students a chance to get to know the candidates for whom they’ll be voting. One of the most asked about issues at the Mar. 12 debate was services for students that ASI can provide.
“I personally believe ASI should start providing feminine hygiene products inside of our office,” Joseph said. “All the time we see free condoms around campus. I think the Women’s Resource Center is the only other center on campus that offers that and I think it’s time that ASI starts that as well.” Joseph said.
Jackson suggested providing students with blue books to use for exams.
“I know some people liked the blue books when we gave them out during the last finals week and students requested those on a more frequent basis,” Jackson said. “I’m looking into the possibility of making more of a continual allocation throughout the year when you guys can come in and pick up blue books.” For more information about each of the candidates running for ASI leadership, you can go to http://www.asicsudh.com/vote.
