Your voice and vote count to determine the next leaders of the California State University, Bakersfield campus in the upcoming Associated Students Inc. elections on May 14.
This week has launched the election process for California State University Bakersfield’s new ASI board. The applications are in and now the campaigning will start.
This will be Election Coordinator and Assistant Director of Campus Programming, Emily Poole’s first time organizing and leading the ASI elections. During the ASI information session in the Student Union Blue Room on Tuesday she said, “‘I’ is for incorporated. The ‘I’ is a supported organization, a supporting entity of the university.”
The Current ASI members that are running are, for President, Savannah Andrews, the current Vice President of Programming, and Derek Stotler, the current Executive Vice President. For Executive Vice President, Vanessa Cofield, the current Director of Arts and Humanities, and Mike Kwon, the current Housing Director. Vice President of External Affairs the current Arts and Humanities Director Ricardo Perez is running. The Vice President of Finance position Gessel Romo, the current Social Science and Education Director is running. Lastly Vice President of Programming has the current Stephanie Campos, Social Science and Education Director.
During the information session the various requirements to be met prior to running for the elections were established as well as the roles of each candidate.
“I’m not sure what previous years have been as far as the numbers, but I would say that the excitement of the students running and getting involved in leadership opportunities is exciting and there’s a large number,” said Poole about the 26 candidates that turned in applications and were present for the campaign guidelines meeting.
The positions five executive positions available are President, Executive Vice President, VP of External Affairs, VP of Finance, VP of Programming and 21 Board positions available are five Upper Division Directors, four Lower Division Directors, two Directors from each school, two Graduate Directors, and two Housing Directors.
While executive officers will devote 10 hours minimum, the office board members will devote two. The benefits that will be granted to both executive and board officers include leadership skills that can’t be taught within the classroom setting, quarterly parking permits, one unit of credit through GST 120, priority registration and chances for networking with campus leaders.
On Friday in the Blue Room after the final applications were turned in there was a meeting for the candidates about campaigning guidelines. Each candidate had to attend this mandatory meeting before they could start their campaigns.
“You are a role model,” said Poole before launching into the Do and Don’t list for campaigning, which included all posters, handouts or any campaign material must be approved by Poole before it can be used.
In addition, some areas may need additional approval for posting. Places that are prohibited from campaigning are cars, trees, bathrooms, mirrors, in or outside the Cafeteria except for the bulletin boards, outside science three and the Student Union. Posters only are forbidden from the Student Union, talking to students and handouts are okay.
Each student candidate can spend $300 on campaigning and no more. The funds do not get reimbursed to the students, but they must fill out a campaign expense sheet to which they have all receipts allocating what was spent where.
The current Vice President of External Affairs, Jesus Martinez, brought to attention the other ways of joining ASI if candidates are not elected. One of those ways is by submitting an application to be reviewed by the board to add an open seat. The other way that students can be involved is through the student at large positions, which are open to freshmen who are lacking the credit and enrollment requirement.
There will be a candidate forum held on campus for all students to get to know whose running. The time and location is still to be announced.
Don’t forget to cast your electronic vote on May 14 from 9 a.m. to May 15 at 9 p.m. The ballot will be emailed to all students through your email address on your myCSUB account. There will be a link to follow in which you will cast your votes. If you do not receive a ballot please contact Emily Poole at the Campus Programming office.
