With student elections around the corner, Sacramento State’s Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors is preparing for its final month in office by encouraging more student involvement.

Candidates were announced March 19 and it was revealed most positions will be unopposed.

Despite the lack of people running for office, ASI will be kicking off election season with Coffee and Candidates, an event intended for the student body to meet potential officers and become better equipped to vote as candidates share priorities and goals.

ASI President Nielsen Gabriel said he does not think nonvoters realize everything student government has to offer.

“I think that without a doubt, there are students who are aware of ASI’s presence,” Gabriel said. “With that said, I do not think enough students are aware.”

Although he oversaw an increase in voter turnout throughout his three years serving on the board in various positions, Gabriel said he would like to double last year’s record-high 14 percent of student body involvement.

With programs such as Peak Adventures and the Aquatic Center, KSSU student radio, Safe Rides and the Children’s Center, ASI is not only responsible for many well-utilized campus programs, but is the political voice for students.

The ASI Office of Governmental Affairs informs Sac State students about different political issues related to higher education and lobbies the state legislature on behalf of the students and the Board of Directors.

Students on campus pay $63 to fund activities ASI sponsors, but even with a large campus presence, student government often goes unnoticed.

Diana Macedonio, a junior sociology major, said she is aware of ASI, but is uneducated in what it does.

“Once a year I see the signs,” Macedonio said. “They have really good campaign strategies especially when they reach out to student organizations. I don’t doubt they’re doing a lot for the campus, but they don’t really make their presence known after elections.”

Macedonio said she would like to see more about ASI’s progress throughout the year and thinks a larger social media presence may help.

“It’s not that I’m not interested. It’s just I have no way of knowing what they’re up to,” Macedonio said.

With or without student awareness, the Board of Directors take part in many large affairs on campus.

Gabriel said his biggest and most difficult issue was regarding the Union and the Well event center.

“It was a very sensitive topic to the student body,” Gabriel said. “At the end of the day, I can say that I did communicate any and all input to the proper administrators on campus. I think this may have swayed the decisions that were made, as well as affected future actions.”

For Director of Arts and Letters Sara Tulane, the struggle for her position was representing one of the largest and most diverse colleges on campus.

“It was trying to get everyone together,” Tulane said. “Making sure that when I was representing them on the board, I wasn’t just representing one major.”

Because of this, Tulane said she plans on being involved in the college post-election while providing assistance to her successor by emphasizing the significance of the upcoming elections.

“It’s the opportunity for students on campus to share their voice,” Tulane said. “This is something where every student has the opportunity to decide who they want to represent them and make decisions that do affect them. You never know what policies are going to come out of it.”