Valley Star

Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Dan Villasenor MAN IN CHARGE - ASU President Levon Bagramian shows off his school pride outside the ASU office in CC102.

Valley College's Associated Student Union is reshaping its standard from the inside out. ASU, Valley's student government, is a key resource on campus but there's always room for improvement, according to ASU Vice President Jessie Salas.


"ASU is going to go above and beyond to serve the campus," Salas said.

ASU President Levon Bagramian, entering his second semester as president, says he learned from his first semester in office, such as what the student body wants.

"We will be on the map this semester," said Bagramian. "We want to tackle domestic issues but not isolate outside issues."

The ASU, in response to the high cost of textbooks is establishing a book-exchange program that would allow students to trade and sell books one-on-one without administrative interference.

Two of Bagramian's main goals for the semester include reducing the number of students on academic probation while increasing the college's transfer rate.

"Valley has prominent transfer rates," said Salas. "But our goal is to have at least 75 percent of the students who plan to transfer, transfer."

The ASU's spring agenda is filled, including a trip to Washington DC to attend the American Association of Community Colleges annual event to participate in workshops and meet legislators.

There's still one position open for the AACC event. Interested students may apply for the trip through the ASU office.

"We're here as a service to the students," said Salas. "But we need the students to give us input."

The ASU wants students to become ASU members. Interested students can apply in CC102 for the position of commissioner of ethnic and cultural affairs.

Bagramian and Salas encourage students to pay the optional $7 ASU fee in the business office. The ASU funds the Lion's Den and partially funds the writing center.

"We can't give back until we receive funds," Salas said. "It's because of those fees that we were able to fund the Lion's Den."

"There's power in numbers," said Salas. "We want bigger and better club days."

According to Salas, last semester there were 20 registered clubs on campus. "Once you open yourself up to more than the norm - going to class and going home - you make the most of your community college experience."

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