The ASI elections have finally come and on Tuesday, students will be voting for the candidates to represent them, including the nine “At-Largeâ€Â senator positions.

Most of the 13 candidates running for the 9 seats say that their choice to run for the “At-Largeâ€Â position came from their need to interact with all the diverse students on campus, instead of being limited to just one college.

Julianne Phillips, 20, an agriculture education major, feels that she can best represent all aspects of the student population and their interests.

“The senators of the college represent solely the students that belong to that college,â€Â Phillips said. “We would get to represent and make a difference for all the Fresno State students and all the students at large.â€Â

Phillips also said that she is interested in the Student Affairs and Activities position and intends on being hands-on if she is elected.

“Student involvement is very important and I want to hear the needs of the students directly from them,â€Â Phillips said. “It’s important to do that so I can represent them and to do what I need to directly interact with them.

Peter Casacca, a political science major, is also running for an “At-Largeâ€Â position and says that his need to be apart of the student-run government came from working at the school bowling alley. He said ASI would give money to organizations, like fraternities and sororities, to use the bowling alley, and then he would find out that those groups were not school approved.

“It was obvious that ASI didn’t know where they were spending their money,â€Â Casacca said. “I want to get in office and help make them more accountable for spending.â€Â

Casacca has volunteered time in student government, has a background in dealing with money and allocations of resources, and is also a YMCA youth coordinator.

He says it̢۪s important that more students understand what ASI can do for them.

He says he is aware of student needs and wants to focus time and energy with the “forgotten clubsâ€Â on campus.

“I want to do more for the clubs on campus,â€Â Casacca said. “The forgotten clubs like hockey, fishing and mock trial. I want to give them more funding and resources, and cut back on the wasteful spending. I’m big on cutbacks.â€Â

Selena Farnesi, 19, a philosophy pre-law and anthropology major, is also interested in the position of working with the clubs and activities on campus. She has a background of working on youth councils for councilmember Henry T. Perea and former mayor, Alan Autry. Her intention is to encourage ASI to make the process of money distribution smoother and easier for the clubs, send a better message of what ASI is about and promote student involvement.

“ASI has gotten a bad rap, especially this year,â€Â Farnesi said. “Students can see the positive impact ASI can make and it will make those relationships stronger and more students will want to get involved.â€Â

Another student that hopes to gain an “At-Largeâ€Â position is Cody Madsen, 19, and an anthropology major. He said he has spent the last two years getting to know the Fresno State campus and has taken in a lot of the needs of the students.

He also said he will take on any position assigned to him and his main goal is to be involved and make a difference.

“I can bring to the table a very good representation of the many different students on campus,â€Â Madsen said.

“I enjoy being involved and where I can really help. I want all of California to see what a great university Fresno State is and for our students to take pride in our great campus.â€Â