Brahmas can now vote for their 2024-25 Associated Student Organization (ASO) officers and LACCD Student Trustee.
Students and potential candidates for the positions gathered in the Student Engagement Center on April 22 for an election forum.
Emma Ortega and Chloe Bassirat are both running for ASO Vice President.
“I had some personal growth and it encouraged me to be more confident and put myself out there more,” Bassirat said. “I got a lot of passion for ASO as a senator, so I think what I’m able to do as a senator encouraged me to apply for the position so I can be more involved in ASO.”
Ortega said she is open to constructive criticism for students to say what needs to be improved at campus events.
“If someone sends me an email about an event, I’ll look at it,” Ortega said. “If I get this position, I’ll be open to the criticism because I think it’s important for the people that are running for the positions, and the students, to be open to the criticism and be transparent so anyone can feel comfortable.”
speaks during the ASO Candidate Forum at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 22, 2024. “I would love to be your voice,” Bassirat said. Photo by Icy Smith.
Bassirat discussed why she chose to run for the ASO Vice President position.
“I’ve seen how everyone is interacting, how ASO is, the vice president and president is doing,” Bassirat said. “I wanted to be a voice for people to be heard on campus, so vice president was the position for me.”
Bassirat also wants to advocate for students and increase engagement on campus.
“Students can come to some events to get food, bring their friends or meet new people,” Bassirat said. “I really want students to meet each other because after COVID, everything became a mess. So I want students to come together to meet each other.”
Other candidates who attended the forum included Jasmine Minchez for ASO President, Alexa Romero for Club Council President and both Lorenzo Valdez-Larios and Ambyr Cynthia Baham for LACCD Student Trustee.
Minchez voiced some of her goals as ASO President if she gets the position.
“My goal is to let students know what resources are available to them,” Minchez said. “So to meet them where they are, and their classes will let them know that we have a lot of events on campus and that we offer more than just to make new friends and have free food.”
Minchez also said she believes she has the capability and skills for the position of ASO President.
“I would really love to further involve myself with the Pierce College community in my last year as a Pierce student,” Minchez said.
According to ASO coordinator and advisor Lara Conrady Wong, students can open up their emails to vote for a candidate starting on Monday, April 29 at 8 a.m., until Sunday, May 5, at 11:59 p.m.
