Associated Students Inc. President Christina Romero highlighted successes of the past semester and stressed that ASI needs to increase student interest during her State of the Students address today.

Throughout the address, Romero emphasized the importance of getting students involved on campus.

Despite a massive advertising campaign to drive students to the polls for the recent elections, voter turnout was not any higher this year than last, Romero said.

“People who know about ASI and what we are doing, care about it,” Romero said. “People who don’t know, don’t care and those are the people we are trying to reach.”

Romero talked about ASI’s achievements this semester as well, saying that the board fulfilled elements of every aspect of their strategic plan.

She applauded several major accomplishments for ASI this year, including organizing the student march to the capital in protest of the tuition increases proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

ASI worked hard involving the alumni association in campus activities, postponing increases to graduate student fees, advancing campus environmentalism and offering students the opportunity to attend home games of any sport for free, Romero said.

ASI held the event outdoors in the Library Quad in hopes of drawing more students and improving the visibility of the organization.

In previous years, the address was held in the University Union. The last State of the Students address drew three students, Romero said. This time, many more students showed, largely due to the outdoor venue.

Sumair Arif, junior civil engineering major, was walking across campus when he heard the ASI address.

“I saw people gathering, and so I wanted to see what was happening,” Arif said.

Nicole Hoffelt, freshman communications studies major, said though she knows almost nothing about what ASI does, she was attracted to the event because of the crowd of people and the music provided by KSSU.

Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez also attended the address and praised this year’s student government.

“They set a high threshold for the incoming board members to reach for,” Gonzalez said.

Roberto Torres, ASI secretary of state affairs said he was very happy with the accomplishments of ASI over the last year.

“Every year, ASI sets the bar higher, and I think this year they definitely set the bar much higher than ever before,” Torres said.

“We have been able to accomplish so many things for the students, much more than ever before.”

Derek Fleming can be reached at [email protected].