Due to vacancies following last spring’s elections, Sacramento State’s Associated Students, Inc. appointed new directors to fill the three open seats on the governing board.

The three appointments include Andres Perez, director of Arts and Letters, Hitesh Dewan, director of Engineering and Computer Sciences, and Sarah Couch, director of Undeclared Students.

What makes someone serve a cause greater than oneself? What makes a person want to be a voice for so many others? Each person has his or her own answer to these questions, but to ASI’s newest directors, the overall answer was simple: They want to ensure their fellow students have a smoother path through which to achieve their goals.

Their work includes extending opportunities to new students and providing a voice to those who have yet to decide how to proceed in their college lives. ASI directors Perez, Dewan and Couch have been in those situations, and are more than happy to guide their fellow students through the process.

ASI President Miguel Cervantes said these students were appointed because they showed commitment to serving their fellow students. He hailed them as “exceptional candidates to the current positions they hold.”

Perez, sophomore journalism major, started his Sacramento State career covering ASI for the State Hornet newspaper. After leaving the paper, he served as assistant to the previous arts and letters director, Felix Barba. He wanted to become director of arts and letters to make a difference in his college life.

“Out of all the organizations on campus, this is the one that has the most power, this is the one with the most money. This is the one that can get the most stuff done,” Perez said.

“We’re not dealing with pennies here; we’ve got a $10 million budget, and if we have that much money, there’s that much more responsibility,” he said.

In addition to university fees, Sac State students also pay $126 to ASI. Since they are paying for ASI’s services, Perez feels it is particularly important to make sure students’ voices are heard, and that the student government keeps students’ interests first and foremost. To that end, Peres encourages those who rely on the student government to become more informed about their campus.

“If you find out things (about the school) all of a sudden you’re part of the school; all of a sudden, school is fun,” he said.

Dewan, senior construction management major, has been a leader throughout his academic career. When he heard of the vacancy from another ASI director, he said he signed up to make a difference for his fellow students.

“Why not join in and see what I can do?” Dewan asked.

Many students in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Dewan included, did not know they had representation on the ASI board, he said. He hopes that by representing them, he can “make a little difference on my way out.”

“Maybe I can make a vision that is not just one year long,” Dewan said. “But multiple years long, and have somebody carry it forward.”

He added that engineering students would benefit knowing that someone in student government represents them, and making connections with their representatives will help them through college and into the future.

“Connection is everything,” he said. “Communication and connection with the rest of the campus; making sure that you are involved and paying attention.”

As someone who enjoys working with his hands, Dewan originally thought about going to Cal Poly but was intrigued by Sac State’s construction management program. He said Sac State’s program was “more hands-on than the theoretical programs that all the other colleges have.”

His number one goal for the year is connecting with his fellow students, since many are more willing to discuss their problems and issues with their peers than they are with the college’s administrators.

“Student government is the hand for students to be able to do something with the rest of the college; it’s their proxy, their administrative proxy,” he said.

In applying for director of undeclared students, Couch said she “didn’t want other freshmen to be lost” the way she was during her first year at Sac State. She came into the ASI office looking to help, and received several opportunities from which to choose.

To her, the post of undeclared students director was perfect.

Couch wants undeclared students to know about on-campus opportunities for help with finding majors. She also wants to increase her involvement with the Undeclared Students Association.

Throughout the past two weeks, ASI directors have reached out to their fellow students by helping them register to vote and raising awareness of the importance of the upcoming presidential election. This shows that ASI is an elemental part of Sac State life, Couch said.

Cervantes said they were the best people for the positions because they “are committed to learning more about how to make a positive long lasting change for students at Sac State.”

Ben Schilter can be reached at [email protected]