In an effort to keep an open line of communication with students and to assert their presence on campus, Associated Students Inc.’s board members challenged students to “Ask Anything” during a town hall meeting held Thursday in the University Union’s Lobby Suite.

About 20 students attended the meeting, with five leaving after the free donuts had run out.

Sarkis Piloyan, ASI’s vice president of academic affairs, addressed student concerns about academic advising accessibility by explaining he realizes most students, after their freshman year, are not concerned or aware that academic advising is a useful and available resource.

“One of the problems with academic advising that (we) really want to focus on is making it more marketable to students during their sophomore, junior and senior years,” Piloyan said. “It seems like students do not follow up to see if they are on the right path, so I am definitely going to make accessibility one of my biggest priorities this semester.”

In response to questions about online class book reserves, ASI Vice President of Finance Chris Smith said ASI always tries to remind professors to consider students’ budget when choosing textbooks and other course materials.

“Right now, we are focusing on hard-copy textbooks for traditional classes, but these issues are something I would like to work with Sarkis (Piloyan) on and have him bring this issue up to the Academic Senate.”

The audience appeared most engaged when a student asked the question, “What is ASI doing for me?”

ASI Executive Vice President Rylan Gervase responded to the students’ inquiries by explaining ASI is a student-run campus organization that has Sac State students’ best interest “at heart.”

“As ASI government, we are always here to hear your concerns. We are in charge of strategic planning which we use when it comes to solving any issues on campus,” Gervase said. “The only way we can find out about the needs of students are through the students’ feedback. That is why we put on these town halls &- to see what the students are thinking make sure their needs are not being ignored.”

Daniel Jackson, an undeclared sophomore and part of the ASI “A-Team,” said he is was pleased with the number of people that showed up to the town hall meeting.

“The turnout was amazing. We had more than double that we were expecting,” Jackson said. “It can really go up from here.”

Laila Barakat can be reached at [email protected].