Students and faculty gathered in the University Union Hinde Auditorium on Nov. 27 to hear Associated Students, Inc. President Christina Romero deliver the State of the Students Address.

Each year, the address is given by the current ASI president.

ASI Executive Director Pat Worley said the State of the Students Address is fairly new with the first address given in spring 2006.

“(The address was created to) provide an opportunity for the ASI president to provide(students) with information…and to discuss current issues (on campus),” Worley said.

Last year, Angela Arriola delivered the State of the Students Address during the fall 2006 semester.

Romero said she plans on being the first ASI president to give the State of the Students Address both semesters during one academic year.

“I think it’s really important that the (State of the Students Address) be given each semester instead of only once (a year),” she said.

Romero plans on giving another address during the spring 2008 semester when she will discuss important events that occurred during the 2007-08 academic year as well as future plans.

“I want (the next address) to be even bigger,” she said.

Last year, won 64.77 percent of the total 1689 votes casted. However, only 6 percent of the entire student body population voted in the April 2007 election, a 13 percent drop from the April 2006 election when Arriola won 1204 of the total 3439 votes casted.

This year, less than 100 people attended the address.

Worley said there is no record of how many students attended last year’s address. She said she feels that each president’s address has been successful.

“In my eyes, every address has been successful in terms of effort and preparation,” she said.

At the address, Romero discussed plans to make ASI’s public image more visible through the creation of an ASI newsletter.She said the newsletter would provide students with information about ASI and campus events.

Romero said ASI also plans on promoting an environmentally friendly and sustainable campus by educating students about environmental issues and worries.

In an effort to further connect with students and student-based organization, ASI has held different events thoughout the semester. These events included Coffee and Conversation, Day in the Quad, President’s Roundtable, Turkey Bowl and Field Day.

She also discussed several campus updates like the Recreation and Wellness Center, which is scheduled for completion in fall 2010, and the new student dorms, which are currently under construction and scheduled for completion in fall 2009.

As for what she would like to see in the future as an alumna returning to campus, Romero said, “a unified campus where students are no longer identified as commuters, but as students who want to stay on campus and not leave.”

Worley said she is pleased with the turnout of the address.

“Things went smoothly in terms of the sequence of events in (Romero’s) presentation. I think (Romero) did a great job with preparation of (the address),” she said.

Though the majority of the student population did not attend, those who did went for different reasons.

Alicia Jackson, junior undeclared major, said she went because attendance was required by one of her teachers.

“If it wasn’t required, I probably wouldn’t have gone…I’m not really that interested,” she said.

Unlike Jackson, Hannah Spitze, freshman biology major, went because she wanted to.

“I went because I like to know how ASI is helping (the Sac State) campus. I also like knowing what they are planning for the future,” she said.

Many students did not attend the address.

Brian Drake, senior government major, was one of those who didn’t.

“I don’t normally attend the State of the Students Address,” he said. “I’m usually busy with something else since it’s not really on my priority list.”

“I wasn’t even aware that the State of the Students Address was taking place,” said Katie Lardner, senior biology major.

Princess Garnace can be reached at [email protected].