Gianni DiCrosta / Roundup
Pierce College’s ASO election closed last night at 7 p.m. after nearly 900 voters turned out to support their favorite candidates.
Sina Ghiabi Hesari, ASO Election Committee chair, reported that voter numbers reached nearly 700 by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
“It’s very good,” said Hesari. “I think it’s more than we expected.”
However Shani Simms, the current ASO president, couldn’t help but compare with the last election.
“Last year was better, this year’s much slower,” said Simms. “I think it’s all the construction affecting the traffic flow.”
Hesari reported that on Friday, April 23 the ballots would be counted at 10 a.m. in the ASO Office. The results will be known by 1 p.m. the same day.
Ballot counting will be open to the public.
Many students still have their own concerns surrounding the election. Kristiene Ignacio, a sophomore liberal arts major, voted on Monday with her own issues.
“These are students who represent us. They are the ones who will help make a change,” Ignacio said. “I just hope that whatever these candidates claim they’ll do, they’ll actually do. I’m tired of people making empty promises.”
Other students, like sophomore Sara Mia Chang, expressed their frustration over the lack of advertisement for the election.
“Honestly, I didn’t know until [Monday] night because two candidates came into my class,” said Chang. “I don’t think it was promoted enough.”
Voters were not alone in their concerns. The candidates also had their own.
Nima Jahanforouz, a candidate for ASO treasurer, commented on the people who may have picked candidates randomly on ballots simply because they were told to.
“The votes count for what these candidates are going to do during their terms, people shouldn’t just vote randomly,” Jahanforouz explained. “If students don’t know what they’re voting for the things they want won’t happen… there’s more to it than telling someone to vote for you and giving them a lollipop.”
Asim Hamid, another candidate for ASO treasurer, also explained the importance of voting carefully.
“Students should care because this is about their money,” Hamid said. “It’s synonymous with tax dollars and voting at your local level.”
The Associated Students Organization held an open debate in the Great Hall today in preparation for next week’s elections.
The debates, which featured all of the candidates for treasurer, club council president, vice president, and president, lasted from 3 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Food and drink was provided.
ASO Vice President Chris Suard officially began the debate with a brief description of the roles and duties that each position must fill.
Sina Hesari, an ASO representative for the sociology department, acted as moderator for the event.
Kicking off the debate were the candidates for treasurer.
All three candidates seemed to stress the issue that students and clubs aren’t aware of the funds ASO has available to allocate.
Nima Jahanforouz, a biology major, had an idea on how to solve this issue.
“I need to build a relationship with the Club Council president, so the clubs know there is money available to them… the problem is they have no idea how to get it,” he said.
Asim Hamid, a business major, stressed the fact that the Associated Students Organization was not meant to stay secluded to Pierce College’s campus. He made a point to push for more lobbying on state-wide levels.
“Money’s tight for everyone, and I want to work on bringing it to the students,” Hamid said.
Shahe Sandjian, another business major and final candidate for treasurer, had similar plans.
“I want to take advantage of extra money…I want to encourage clubs to do more fun activities.”
Candidates for Club Council president followed.
Talia Elma, a business major, made a point to address the dwindling amount of club memberships.
“I want people to really want to be in clubs, and stay in those clubs,” Elma said.
Nick Guyer, Publicity Committee chair, explained his plans to aim for at least 13 people in every club. He explained that the solution should be increasing the amount of people in each club, not necessarily the amount of clubs.
Lauren Aardema and Daniel Axelrod followed as candidates for vice president.
Aardema, Public Welfare Committee chair, began by announcing her plans to greatly increase the amount of scholarships available to include all types of majors.
“I want to bring the people on campus together. I want all students to feel equally acknowledged,” she said in response to scholarship availability leaning in favor of specific majors.
Axelrod, Scholarship Committee chair, also promised to deliver, with plans for promoting the availability of services and assistance for students so they don’t resent the college experience.
“I
want kids to get back to enjoying Pierce College,” he said.
want kids to get back to enjoying Pierce College,” he said.
Lastly came the debates for president.
Nicholas Naczinski, Environmental Committee chair, made promises to create more student job opportunities and also announced his goal to utilize a more efficient recycling program around the school.
Alexander Tabolsky stressed returning positive energy back to the students, and being the “utility of motivation.”
Tabolsky made the point that the main issue with the school is the lack of communication between the student government and the student body.
Kevin Sparks, Social and Cultural Committee chair, also acknowledged the lack of communication.
“The core of my motivating force is seeing a school that could be better,” he said. “I want to give you guys what you want, not what I want.”
Kristian Talebi, a freshman business major in the audience, seemed ready for the change the candidates promised.
“The only people in there are ASO members and their buddies. The main problem is connecting the students with the government,” Talebi said after the event concluded, in response to the meager audience of less than 20 people.
“I think I saw one poster for today’s debate, and it was crumpled on the floor. They said the have a lost of money but they don’t use it. It isn’t the candidates, it’s the whole student government.”
With the debate wrapped up, another issue became evident.
The majority of the candidates, at one point, mentioned problems and bickering within ASO. Many arguments ended with side notes mentioning animosity and alliances within the Senate and its members.
Jahanforouz offered a solution.
“One of the biggest problems this semester was unity… I would need the help of my other chairs,” he said. ” Rather than one person working, we need to work together to create bigger, better ideas.
Elections are next Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on The Mall.
More information about the Associate Students Organization can be found at http://info.piercecollege.edu/students/aso/index.asp.
Students vote for the next ASO president, vice president, tresurer and club council. (Louie Heredia / Roundup )
