While students may have been out exploring Vintage Days or just enjoying the warm Valley weather, The Collegian and the candidates for ASI president met on Saturday evening to talk business.

The three candidates for ASI president include current Executive Vice President (EVP) Jessica Sweeten, an agricultural communications major, Tom Boroujeni, a music composition major, and Jasjit Kamboj, a senior getting majors in economics and political science.

The Collegian asked the candidates about a number of topics, one of which included what these candidates believe are the three most important issues facing the Fresno State community, and how they would address those issues as ASI president.

All three candidates believe parking — in particular, the proposed parking in the northwest end of campus — is one of the biggest problems on and around campus.

Kamboj, who supports building the structure, believes the increase in parking fees is an important issue to consider.

“The parking structure that is going to be built is going to increase our parking fees by $136, which is a substantial amount — basically doubling our current fees,â€Â Kamboj said.

Sweeten, who is part of the three-member group “For Students Who Deserve More,â€Â also agrees with building the structure.

“I would continue to inform students on the issues that are facing the parking structure and keep them informed,â€Â Sweeten said.

Boroujeni, is a member of “Party for Education, Direct Reform, and Objectivesâ€Â (P.E.D.R.O.), a 10-member campaign group. He opposes building the new parking structure.

“We have enough parking on campus — the problem is getting to that parking. We’re coming up with specific ways of how to deal with it,â€Â Boroujeni said.

One of Boroujeni̢۪s other major emphases will be on finding alternative revenue sources for ASI, an issue that is also important according to P.E.D.R.O.̢۪s 10-point plan for improving Fresno State.

“Alternative sources of revenue is our first thing. We are a nonprofit organization so we can apply for grants and we can get these grants and give them to the students,â€Â Boroujeni said.

Boroujeni̢۪s third major emphasis was on increased clarity in government and student participation in ASI.

“I think it’s very important to get students involved, and the only way to do that is to show them how we can impact them, as ASI leaders, as their government,â€Â he said.

Kamboj also cited more student participation in programs and eliminating ASI’s “misuse of fundsâ€Â as important to his campaign.

“We need to build more accountability. Accountability will come with updating the ASI Web site and making sure all of our minutes are put up there and including video of sessions as well,â€Â Kamboj said.

Kamboj̢۪s third major goal would be to give rejoining CSSA closer consideration.

“I plan to look at what it’s going to cost us per student to really get represented at the state or national level. The figures that we’ve gotten before from CSSA say it’s going to cost us 60 cents per student, which isn’t a substantial fee for looking into CSSA,â€Â Kamboj said.

“But of course we want to look at CSSA’s structure and what that structure is going to do for us.â€Â

One of Sweeten̢۪s other big issues includes the cost of higher education to Fresno State students.

“I would continue to lobby in Sacramento for higher education to decrease tuition,â€Â Sweeten said.

“I would continue to work with professors to make sure their book lists are submitted earlier, because if they’re submitted earlier to the bookstore, the cost will go down tremendously,â€Â she added.

Sweeten’s third emphasis is on breaking down the “communication barrierâ€Â between students and the administration, and said students need more representation in the decision-making processes of the university.

“Upper administration does not communicate with the students. ASI is trying to bridge that gap this year by placing students on the committees across campus,â€Â Sweeten said.

“As president, I would continue to place those students. When decisions are made, they happen at those committee levels, and we need students on those committees.â€Â