Associated Students Inc. continued to explore the option of a pay increase through scholarship for its elected staff for next year and postponed a vote on the proposal as they spoke with Director of Financial Aid Craig Yamamoto on April 4.

Some students, however, question ASI’s motive of a pay increase.

Five students were present at the board meeting to either obtain more information regarding the pay increase, or voice their opinion in opposition to it. None of the five advocated an increase.

Graduate student James Banyai and junior ethnic studies major Lizbet Morales spoke before the board about their disagreements with the proposal.

Morales asked if ASI is working more hours to warrant a pay increase.

Andrade said he would not say that, but he cited increases in tuition and cost of living as reasons.

“The pressures of getting a job have increased,” he said.Morales said being on ASI is a “job of representation, not compensation.”

In response, Andrade said instead of being in office for students, board members are out looking for a job to get extra money needed for tuition, rent, and other necessities.

Graduate Director Joyce Davis expressed why she felt a pay raise is needed.

“In a director’s position, I put more time in here than what I make. I work 20 hours a week, but I make $300 before taxes a month,” said Davis.

She said she needs another part-time job to help finance her college and other expenses.

She said the proposal is for incoming board members, not for the current board.

Morales asked board members if they were going to ask students if they agree with raising the salary.

Executive Director Pat Worley said awareness to students and an open forum has already taken place.

“The reason the initial information came about at our working board meeting is because the board realizes The State Hornet covers all of our meetings, and so what we depend upon is that The Hornet will deliver information to the campus community,” Worley said.

Banyai asked board members if they observed how compensation is carried out at other campuses.

The board said there are at least two other California State University campuses that compensate student-body representatives by scholarship, including San Luis Obispo.

Worley said each campus varies in levels of compensation, and said she is not aware of any campus where not a single board member receives any level of compensation.

Banyai said he was concerned that ASI is deciding its own pay standards.

Davis said: “I want to respond to the fact that you’re saying we’re increasing our own salary. We won’t see a dime of this increase, because it’s for the incoming board.”

Three members on ASI are looking to return: Executive Vice President Curtis Grima, Director of Arts and Letters Christina Romero, and Secretary of State Affairs Miguel Cervantes, all of who were asked not to participate in pay raise discussions.

Banyai told the board that the increase will benefit their friends and that they know people who are running for office this year.

Sophomore sociology major A.J. Crisostomo did not speak before the board, but held a similar view to that of Banyai in terms of disagreement with the pay increase ASI may be receiving.

“I understand that being on ASI takes a lot of time, but they’re not taking into consideration other students who work up to 30 hours a week and are not compensated at all, and struggle to get by,” Crisostomo said.

Andrade announced the proposal at last week’s working board meeting.

Instead of voting, Andrade gave the board the opportunity to have an open discussion with Yamamoto about any questions they had regarding how the scholarship method may be carried out if approved.

All board members motioned to postpone the legislation.

Vice President of University Affairs Chris Ramos and Director of Business Shani Alford said the board needed more time to obtain more information on the process as a whole.

“We tabled it until the next board meeting in another two weeks to tie up a lot of loose ends,” Ramos said.

Andrade did not indicate when the board would vote.

The earliest the board can vote is at the next board meeting on April 18.

Jacqueline Tualla can be reached at [email protected]