City College students will vote this week for next school year’s Associated Student Government representatives. In hopes to drive voter turnout, a website was established, and students can vote online beginning Tuesday at 7am and running through midnight Wednesday.

Topping the ballot are two candidates for AS president, Carolina Moreno and Jennifer Nguyen. Moreno currently serves as vice president to Daniel R. Caldera. Nguyen is also involved in ASG right now as the Government Affairs Officer.

“If elected, I’m supposed to be the voice of City College, so I would love to hear what other voices are talking about,” Nguyen said as she concluded her stump speech.

Moreno made her case by laying out her experience. In the past three years, she’s transcended from club representative to Inter Club Council Vice President, and is now poised to move from second to first executive chair this upcoming year.

During last Thursday’s election forum, Academic Success Center Counselor, Tandy Ward, fittingly called on Caldera to kick off the questioning. The current student trustee began by asking each candidate what he or she would bring to the table, and Moreno expressed her desire to engender even more student involvement in ASG.

“The student government is like any other government, you know, if you don’t vote and you don’t get involved, you don’t have a right to complain.” She continued passionately, “That is what I would bring to the table; encouragement, motivation. Get involved. It’s a lot of fun.”

Current senate president and vice-presidential candidate Michael Roderick illustrated the duties of AS representatives not only on campus but also in the community. He believes his experience representing City College at the District Governance Council meetings, in addition to participating in legislative visits and student advocacy groups, qualifies him to be our voice at the district and state levels.

The annual decisions made by the ASG pervade many aspects of student life. Current representatives attended March in March last year, an event held in Sacramento to promote the rights of California’s community college students. Among the issues discussed was Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed 90-unit cap on state-subsidized credits, moving them from $46 to $190 once the limit is exceeded.

“We got fifty letters from students on campus saying they don’t want a 90-unit cap,” proudly stated Roderick. Then, during their visit to the state capitol, he and other AS representatives, along with members of student organizations, sat down with members and aides of the California General Assembly and state Senate. One week after presenting their points, they were pleased to learn the governor’s proposal was struck down in the Senate subcommittee.

The ASG works closely with student clubs to assist with fund raising, and also helps foot the bill for many projects. In recent years, the Film Society hosted the very first City College Film Festival, which was a success according to Moreno. Interestingly, she went on to add that ASG also allocates funds towards scholarships for eligible students.

Nguyen was eager to express the advantages she sees from student work programs in the community. Back in January, she and other ASG members contributed to the Martin Luther King Jr. parade, and where it was hard work, Nguyen admitted, “It was very fun and that actually connects everybody as a community.”

Running unopposed and the current Treasurer, Fiona Wilson, stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility, stating that even though a surplus may exist, that does not mean it should be spent. Wilson has been doing a bang-up job keeping the books, according to Student Affairs Senior Secretary Gail Rodriguez.

“We’re more involved with the school,” Wilson explained. “Our senators are getting out there. Our public events coordinator is getting out there, and they’re able to bring in more money for us.”

The ASG meets regularly and students are encouraged to join. Budgets are openly discussed at every meeting, and attendees have the opportunity to brainstorm events.

Students can cast their vote by visiting www.sdcity.edu this Tuesday and Wednesday.