ASG Senate in session

Luke Garrett / News Editor / The USD Vista 

Associated Student Government (ASG) took on a new name and constitution among other changes this year, but still faces obstacles from years past: organization, position appointments, and finances. 

The newly-elected students gathered in the courtyard of the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) on Sept. 26, a location they are piloting in hopes of drawing more student attendance and attracting passers-by. 

The meetings came a week later than previously scheduled. 

“We had announced to senators that Sept. 19 would be our first meeting, but due to a couple things that came up, we decided to start it today,” Speaker of the Senate Carolina Moreno Armenta said at the meeting. 

However, the current ASG website lists the first senate meeting to be Oct. 3, a week after the first meeting occurred. 

Armenta notified students of the senate meeting through the ASG Instagram the night before. Other than word of mouth, the post was the only way students were informed of the meeting. 

It lasted a little over 30 minutes and consisted of approving appointed ASG senators and chairs, notes from the ASG executive staff, and a number of updates on ASG’s $1.5 million budget.

Seven senators were appointed, continuing a pattern from last year in which the executive staff selects students to fill senate vacancies. Last year, then-president Natasha Salgado appointed 14 senators. This process was a topic of much debate last year, as some argued that it fails to engage the student body. ‘

No debate was had this year, however. The seven appointments were made by one mass vote upon the suggestion of Armenta, without individual discussion of the appointees. Eight chairs of ASG were also appointed in the same fashion. 

Despite his appointment, the Finance Chair George Sanderson was not in attendance. ASG had been unable to fill this position over the past few weeks. This has halted much of the financial activity of ASG, prompting concerns from those who rely on ASG funding early in the fall semester. 
ASG President Marion Chavarria Rivera spoke to the delay in student organization funding. 

“Because the initial Finance Chair that we had selected had to step down over the summer due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to take a minute to get our new Finance Chair up to date,” Rivera said. “We are trying our hardest in the next few weeks to get all the funding done.” 

ASG commands a budget of over $1.5 million made up of a $121 fee paid for by each undergraduate student. The entire Fall 2019 budget was confirmed last May, with one exception — the College Readership Program (CRP). 

The CRP program provided physical newspapers in years past and was reduced to digital subscription this past year. The current ASG executive staff decided not to pay for both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and are attempting to have Deans pay for one of the two digital subscriptions. 

The ASG President spoke about the CRP, but did not name the Deans with which she is speaking or the newspapers the ASG executive staff is hoping to fund.

“We are trying our hardest to get subscriptions to stay on campus,” Rivera said. “There is a leaning toward one over the other, but based on my meeting with the dean that I am meeting with I can’t really rule out anything as of yet.” 

Students still have digital access to both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, but both subscriptions are pending contract renewals this fall. ASG has not provided any specific information about the program so far. 

The next senate meeting is on Oct. 3 at 12:15 p.m. in Solomon Hall. It will be live streamed on the student government’s Instagram.