By Esteban Ramirez
Editor-in-Chief
Two new directors took the oath of office and were inducted to ASI, and the board of directors discussed the staff parking issue in Friday’s weekly meeting.
The new director of arts and humanities is Claudia Sofia Ramirez and the new director of educational events is Brianahi De Leon.
“It’s really important for students to participate to help other students engage with ASI and the school,” said Ramirez. “I’m going to try and connect the students in all of the arts and humanities department. I’m going to visit some professors and see if they have any plans that I can bring to the board and see if we can start doing some things for the next two weeks.”
De Leon said she was very excited to be the new director of educational events.
“It kind of feels like I am part of a new family,” she said. “I want to get more people participating in events and just closer to campus and not just a commute school.”
Faculty and Staff Parking
ASI President Mike Kwon said he and Chief Marty Williamson have been discussing the possibility of faculty/staff designated parking because of the conversion to semesters.
“What they are thinking about is turning lots into faculty/staff parking spaces and reserving at least 10 slots for faculty,” said Kwon during the meeting. “That is dispersed around the campus.”
Kwon added that it is the original that faculty and staff are wanting, however, he said he does not agree with and suggested another option.
“I brought up to Chief that if he can locate three specific areas on the west side of our campus — I said parking lot A, E and H — if he can locate those three spaces and see if we can reserve lots there, I think it will be more efficient because student life is moving to being on (the east) side,” he said.
The board of directors discussed the options, but decided to table it for another meeting. The board needs to make its decision by Feb. 24.
Executive director search
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs James Drnek, who is also chairing the search for the new ASI executive director, said at the meeting that the executive board will be conducting phone interviews and then candidates for the position will visit campus.
“This will be the opportunities for all of ASI, community, Student Affairs, staff and faculty to meet these individuals to give us feedback,” Drnek said.
The position was vacant after Taren Mulhause resigned from the position last February and then Director of Student Union EJ Callahan stepped in to be the interim executive director.
Drnek added that it is their hope to identify someone as the new executive director by July 1.
“We have narrowed (the search) down to a smaller pool of five or six to talk to on the phone,” Drnek said.
New director of housing
During the ASI meeting, Aliyah Lakes was interviewed by the board of directors for the position of director of housing. Lakes will find out if she will join the board at the next meeting.
“As the director of housing, I feel that I can be the voice for the students that live in the dorms because I know that a lot of students don’t really know what is going on in campus or they are to shy to ask,” said Lakes during the meeting. “I feel like I can be that person to get the word out.”
ASI has its weekly meeting every Friday in the ITV Studio Center C from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.