Associated Students Inc. is planning a community chamber of commerce mixer, despite opposition from a student review committee that said the event would benefit too few students to justify its expense.

The $3,500 event, which will include $1480 for appetizers, has been on the drawing board since late September. ASI approved the plan to host corporate and non-profit leaders as part of an effort to increase Sacramento State’s community profile.

Press secretary Erin Hicks said ASI’s goal is to give students a venue to learn the workings of different corporations through involvement with four Sacramento chambers of commerce.

“The idea is to present a positive image of the students that CSUS produces so when these companies hire, they will have a higher regard for the students that graduate from CSUS,” she said.

Representatives from the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber, the Sacramento Black Chamber, the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber and the Sacramento Asian Pacific Islanders Chamber will receive invitations to the mixer. Hicks said ASI pays approximately $700 annually for membership in all four chambers.

An exact figure was not available by the State Hornet’s publication deadline.

ASI is moving ahead with plans for the gala event over the concerns of a 6-member student Internal Affairs committee that reviews ASI legislation and forwards its recommendations on measures the board is considering.

The committee, co-chaired by students Jordan Aquino and Regina Unimuke found the chamber mixer to be too exclusive of students at large, voting 5-1 to oppose.

“While the committee feels this is a wonderful opportunity for students to make connections,” Aquino said at last Wednesday’s ASI board meeting, “they also feel the event is exclusive due to its invitation list. This will not benefit the students at large.”

ASI Business Director Jennifer Plescia disagreed.

“I have respect for the committee, but 6 or 7 students is hardly representative of all student organizations,” she said. “The goal isn’t to be exclusive, but we are limited in space, and the event costs a lot of money.”

ASI has ordered 1,700 invitations that will be sent out for the University Union Ballroom event, although Plescia acknowledged they are uncertain about the ratio of students to community leaders that will be invited.

ASI Post Baccalaureate Director Mohamed Hamada expressed concern with the amount of money allotted for the event and proposed a reduction.

“We only have $10,000 to spend on special events for the whole year,” said Hamada. “$1500.00 TO $2000.00 would be a more reasonable figure.”

ASI will consider cutting the amount of money they will spend on the mixer at their Oct. 16 meeting.