Sac State ASI election winners announced after voting draws 9.6% turnout

Salma Pacheco and Laura De la Garza Garcia win ASI presidential ticket

Newly elected ASI Government candidates pose for a group picture following the announcement of the voting results on Thursday April 7, 2022. The candidates will be serving their term from 2022-2023.

Jenelle Lum and Alexis Hunt
April 9, 2022

Students gathered Thursday inside the Elderberry and Beetle Room at Residence Hall at Sacramento State as loud music blared through the doors during a warm spring evening.

Members of Associated Students Inc. waited for the student government election results after the campus-wide polling that took place Wednesday and Thursday.

Salma Pacheco and Laura De la Garza Garcia won the presidential ticket after running unopposed. According to the results from ASI, only 9.6% of eligible voters participated in the election.

“I’m just glad that I got to make everyone proud today,” Pacheco said. “I believe there are some rules and regulations that don’t serve us Sac State students anymore. I also feel like we need to advocate for the diverse students on our campus.”

Nataly Andrade was elected Vice President of Academic Affairs. Her goals in her new position, according to her campaign statement, are to emphasize the importance of student mental health and to create guidebooks with resources for freshmen and transfer students.

“I really want to be someone that the students can trust,” Andrade said. “I am truly doing this because I want us to succeed.”

Despite the lack of attention paid to the election by much of the school’s population, some students still showed up for moral support.

Fashion major Nolan Ashworth accompanied his friend Jadie Beltran, who was elected as Director of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to provide support.

Newly elected ASI President Salma Pacheco poses following the voting results on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Pacheco said her intentions are to focus on Sacramento State’s legislative issues throughout her term.
(Alexis Hunt)

“I saw mostly posters around campus and it just seems like a pretty inclusive community,” Ashworth said.

Additionally, the winners of “Cash for Clubs” were announced. “Cash for Clubs” is a fundraiser held by ASI that gives students the ability to vote for their favorite clubs, which receive $5 for each vote.

First place in the fundraiser was the Marching Band, in second was the Esports Club and Mujeres Ayudando La Raza and the Softball Club tied for third.

Editors Note: ASI vice president Laura De la Garza Garcia is a rotational staffer for The State Hornet and was not involved in the reporting or writing of this story

Unfilled positions:

Director of Arts and Letters

Director of Business

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About the Writers

Jenelle Lum, arts & entertainment editor

(she/her)

Fourth-year journalism major, Jenelle Lum returns as the spring '23 arts and entertainment editor. She enjoys covering live music and shows, movies and all things Disney. She served in editorial positions at The State Hornet and The Express at Sacramento City College.

Alexis Hunt, visuals editor

Alexis Hunt is the visuals editor for The State Hornet and a senior journalism major at Sac State. This is her second semester with The Hornet, and following graduation, Hunt hopes to pursue a career in photojournalism.