Associated Students

The time of year has come for the next Associated Student Government (AS) to be chosen and for new members to be elected for the next year by their student peers. April 25 was the day of inauguration speeches, farewells to members of the quickly-concluding school year, the establishment of new policies and promises.

Caliah Hill, newly-elected AS president, summed up her plans for the coming year as a time to, "Find a hype, something for the school community as a whole, to get behind and run with as a goal for the future." Hill clarified that by a hype she meant motivation, something for the school to acknowledge as needed by the campus and to unite to make it happen.

Hill explained her focus as being based on advocacy for the students through better communication of their thoughts and needs. Hill described her efforts "to include more educational, enriching events for students to walk away feeling empowered, inspired and also well-informed about important issues and statewide efforts/ affairs."

Advocacy, as Hill expressed it, involves evaluating the struggles of communication and connection on campus and developing ways to improve them. "Unfortunately there has never and will never be one standard way of reaching people and getting the point across, however it gives us the opportunity to try new avenues and use our creativity."

The atmosphere of the inauguration was relaxed, classical music playing in the background as waiters moved about the UC ballroom serving tables.

Christine Erickson, Dean of Students, began the AS inauguration with a brief talk on heroism implying tha AS members, ought to inspire other students to heroic acts and leadership. Dr. Hicks continued the theme of heroism by adding his own encouragement to the upcoming AS senators to, "It is time to roll up our sleeves and get busy."

Vincent Carr, President of AS for the 2010-2011 academic year, reflected on the past year with a desire for more student involvement in campus events, and elections as there were 300 out of the 4,800 student population at CSUMB who voted in the recent election.

Carr explained his observation saying it is, "difficult to get students involved due to a large campus divided into many sections." Carr clarified his thoughts that involvement might be improved through more advertisement of school events, both social and academic, more input and implementation of student views and interests, as well as more involvement in the Marina community through service activities and environmental improvement.