The Associated Student Government is mobilizing in its effort to get Fresno City College students actively involved in the student government.

ASG is looking for committed representatives to fill up to ten open positions said ASG president Danielle Valdez. Any student can join, as long as he or she is taking nine credits here at FCC.

Of the 11 sitting members, eight of them are fresh off the block. “The work is very satisfying and also fun because our group of people are awesome and fun,” said first year Senator Tonay Thomas.

One of the ASG’s biggest concerns is the lack of student participation on a campus with a lot of issues.

“Most students aren’t aware we even have a student government,” said Valdez. She added, “Our goal, right now, is to raise awareness.”

Speaking about the low rate of participation, Executive Vice President Sandeep Maan said, “Unfortunately, that means our student body is not aware of their future leaders and also do not know what is happening on this campus. It is their responsibility to vote if they want better facilities and a good environment on campus.”

Right now, the two major issues on the ASG agenda is the participation to create a cleaner campus, and a resolution for the on-campus parking situation.

ASG would like to add more to a short list; they would also like to be able to knock things off the top of it, but with the organized student vote at an all time low in turnout, and the existing attitude of neglect among students has contributed toward a downward trend in the student government’s effectiveness.

This May’s student election saw all time lows in voter turnout. Less than one per cent of the student body showed up at the polls in the runoff to the initial presidential election which resulted in a tie for the first time in the history of FCC. Valdez wound up beating incumbent Vice President Lisa Kooiman by a count of 85-53.

Danielle Valdez was not the typical candidate for ASG president. For one thing, she’s a 42-year-old woman. For another, she’s employed with FCC. Nevertheless she feels she provides the insight that will allow her to be a successful president.

“I went here in 1983. I know what Fresno City College was then, and I know what it is now. I wanted to get into politics this time around, because I never had heard of the benefits when I was here. I want students to know we’re here to help them,” she said.

Valdez won a highly contested victory in the runoff in May. Her opponent, 19-year-old Lisa Kooiman is back as a senator. She returns as an unlikely veteran in this year’s ASG.

“A lot of responsibilities tend to land on my shoulders due to having so many people involved with student government. It is somewhat of a tiring process, and it requires lots of patience,” said Kooiman.

Aside from Kooiman, there are two other officers that provide some experience. They are 20-year-old Executive Vice President Sandeep Maan, and 19-year-old Student Trustee Natalie Nelson, both of them elected to their respective positions last May. Maan is in charge of balancing the student budget among other things. Nelson serves as a liaison to the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees. Both of them are doing all they can to reign in a motivated, but inexperienced group.

A contribution to the ASG that cannot be underestimated is the diversity that eleven individuals bring to the table. Maan came to the states four years ago from India. Rookie senator Sergey Saluschev hails from Russia.

“Equality and diversity go hand in hand. Compared to last year’s student government we are a lot more diverse, and thankfully we all treat each other as individuals,” said Kooiman.

ASG is a productive microcosm on this campus. What ASG wants to change is the neglectful attitude of the majority of the student body. The ASG’s concern for FCC students is disproportionate to the self-awareness of the student body. It is more in balance with the student body’s unwillingness to seek a unified sense of purpose. Until the student body is willing to become a powerful force for change, the ASG will continue to struggle against the mainstream, self-orientated, campus consciousness.