Members of the Associated Students Government occupied two high level positions — Executive Vice President and Elections Commissioner — not by votes of the student body, but by emergency appointment by the student senate itself.

ASG rules mandate that both positions be filled at all times.

Philip Dailey, business administration major, and Danny Yang will serve in these positions until the next elections in April.

The positions became vacant in January of this year after the members were removed.

In his new position as EVP, Daily reviews and signs all requests for funding, including activities and club funding, before submitting them to the executive board and the student senate.
He said that one of the biggest obstacles he faces is freeing up available funds, the kind of funds that would push for greater turnout at student events.

The lack of student involvement presents problems for the ASG and has done so for years.

According to Yang, there were so many vacancies in the student government last August, that the organization was struggling to effectively help the student body.

“Sometimes students don’t want to speak up,” Yang said. “But with senators holding positions in each of the different departments, they are able to voice some opinions for those who have concerns.”

Overseeing the election process falls in the hands of the ASG.

Yang who is election commissioner says ASG’s election committee represents “neutral ground, because we have to be in a fair game to be able to see that across the board, it is equal and fair for everyone.”

He said that even though he’s just starting in the new position, he already has several ideas to change the way students view politics here at FCC. His ideas include driving promotions with the student senate, making students aware of their petitioning powers and advertising vacant offices.

One year ago, Yang said, an estimate of seven candidates for ASG offices, including the candidate for president, ran unopposed, and student voter turnout was very low. He wants to get more students to participate.

“Students are one of the most underrepresented demographics,” Dailey said. “There is a certain apathy towards getting involved.”

Dailey said student involvement is important because students can actually influence a lot of decisions not just at the statewide level but at the local level.

“In theory, students are the most important ones on campus because the school cannot have accreditation without student representation,” Dailey said.

He said he doesn’t mind if they [students] “bust down their doors” in an effort to get involved and make their voices heard.