Quick, what does ASI stand for? When asked this question, the minds of many Sacramento State students draw a blank. Many of us rarely see or hear any promotion about ASI; we lack an interest as to who they are.

ASI is the abbreviation for Associated Students Inc., the official governing body of Sac State students. Despite the context of ASI, do you know their purpose on campus? What does ASI do for you? Or the services it provides to the surrounding community? When asked these questions, many would answer no.

“Our main goal is to serve students,” said ASI President Christina Romero.

Romero said because ASI consists of students servicing students, its interests reside in the needs of past, present and future Sac State students.

ASI is made up of the students here at Sac State and each member plays an integral role in the overall goal. They work to ensure students have a distinct voice in the governance of the university.

According to ASI’s mission statement, the program”…provides students experiential education, leadership opportunities, student representation, various business and recreational services, campus life programs and activities that support the campus and the greater Sacramento community.”

Anytime you wave or swipe your One Card and get something at a discounted rate, whether it is a free Regional Transit ride, using the Sac State Shuttle, or even getting to see a free movie in the University Ballroom, you can feel secure knowing that ASI is doing its job of servicing students.

ASI lacks non-member student involvement, and it’s hoping that the upcoming Election Campaign Contest will encourage students to gain a greater interest in ASI, Romero said. The campaign offers $1,000 as first prize to the student who designs the best image for the upcoming ASI election, but is this approach appealing to the overall student body? And what is the real reason students lack an interest in ASI?

Offering $1,000 is definitely appealing to the overall student body and right about now, some of us would inquire about $20. It’s a great way to get students asking questions that will allow ASI to promote on a higher level other than informational meetings and paper fliers. Maybe ASI should create a slogan for its abbreviation: “ASI: where our interests lay in the interest of you.”

Many students lack an interest in ASI because of its abbreviation; it’s intimidating. When first introduced to the organization, the abbreviation evokes images of a politically driven organization, and although ASI does represent the governing body here at Sac State, that’s not the only service it provides to students.

Many may not be aware that most of the free and discounted programs we frequently use are available to us because of ASI: the Aquatic Center, where many of our CNAA and recreational teams play and practice; the Children’s Center, which offers employment opportunities and day care services; KSSU Radio, Student Life Service Center, Peak Adventures, and more.

We look forward to greater interactions with students, faculty, administration and the Sac State community. We want to collaborate with clubs and organizations to help promote each other and unify our campus, Romero said.

ASI is a student-based and student-run organization. If we want to see more, hear more, and be more active with the decisions it is making in regards to the services it provides to students, we need to become more interactive with the organization. What we put into ASI is what we can expect from ASI. As for ASI itself, be more encouraging as well as eager to promote to students on and off campus in a way that’s most appealing to the student. This would take us from just being familiar with the abbreviation ASI, to getting to know the people of Associated Students Inc.

Talecia Bell can be reached at [email protected]