2008 Woodie Awards
ASU Turning a New Leaf
H.M. Montes De Oca / Special to the Star
Issue date: 4/27/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
After months of battling, we all hope that ASU's Executive Council will begin to move forward. For perhaps the first time since this team took office, the Executive Council will be acting as a cohesive unit.
Interim President Jessie Salas maintains that throughout the controversy, the ASU has not been deterred from its duties. So this begs the question, why is there such a low turnout for ASU events and elections? Lack of publicity for upcoming events, coupled with disinterested students, continues to stymie the efforts of the ASU.
Students don't realize how the much the ASU benefits them. That optional $7 ASU membership fee provides services like the Lion's Den and events such as Homecoming, the Dean's Reception as well as cultural events. Those perks are nice, but how many students know that the ASU funds other necessary programs like the Child Development Center, the Math Tutoring Lab, the Service Learning Program and the Transfer Alliance Program? I'm sure most students didn't know that the ASU recently joined the North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, securing a 17-page list of discounts for ASU members.
In these days of state budget crunching, students can help ensure the survival of these vital services for the cost of a venti Mocha Frappaccino and a scone.
The lackluster attraction of ASU events is also due to little advance publicity for planned events. This newspaper reports mostly on ASU events that have already occurred. Take for instance the event Monday to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The event was mentioned in a small blurb in the "Campus Eye" section of The Star, announcing only the time and place. What is the incentive for students to attend? Aside from the display in the Campus Center, I did not see any other advertisements around campus. The ASU has underutilized the newspaper and radio station as media to connect with students.
What we have here, folks, is a failure to communicate.
The next couple months will show the true mettle of the Executive Council. Now that the interpersonal problems have been settled, the board must show that it has what it takes to overcome its problems and provide a strong institutional base for the next generation of ASU.
Interim President Jessie Salas maintains that throughout the controversy, the ASU has not been deterred from its duties. So this begs the question, why is there such a low turnout for ASU events and elections? Lack of publicity for upcoming events, coupled with disinterested students, continues to stymie the efforts of the ASU.
Students don't realize how the much the ASU benefits them. That optional $7 ASU membership fee provides services like the Lion's Den and events such as Homecoming, the Dean's Reception as well as cultural events. Those perks are nice, but how many students know that the ASU funds other necessary programs like the Child Development Center, the Math Tutoring Lab, the Service Learning Program and the Transfer Alliance Program? I'm sure most students didn't know that the ASU recently joined the North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, securing a 17-page list of discounts for ASU members.
In these days of state budget crunching, students can help ensure the survival of these vital services for the cost of a venti Mocha Frappaccino and a scone.
The lackluster attraction of ASU events is also due to little advance publicity for planned events. This newspaper reports mostly on ASU events that have already occurred. Take for instance the event Monday to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The event was mentioned in a small blurb in the "Campus Eye" section of The Star, announcing only the time and place. What is the incentive for students to attend? Aside from the display in the Campus Center, I did not see any other advertisements around campus. The ASU has underutilized the newspaper and radio station as media to connect with students.
What we have here, folks, is a failure to communicate.
The next couple months will show the true mettle of the Executive Council. Now that the interpersonal problems have been settled, the board must show that it has what it takes to overcome its problems and provide a strong institutional base for the next generation of ASU.
