This story was updated on Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. to display more accurate information.
Associated Students Inc., Fresno State’s governing student body, has passed a resolution in support of Measure E, a tax measure increase of 0.25% that will generate $63 million annually for Fresno State over 25 years.
The money is outlined to go toward new facilities and buildings, as well as renovating current buildings and increasing ADA accessibility.
“These projects demonstrate Measure E’s commitment to enhancing the student experience, academic excellence, community engagement at Fresno State and create economic opportunity,” the resolution says, according to Frederick Lisitsa, ASI’s executive vice president. “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Associated Students Inc. of Fresno State endorse Measure E, recognizing the potential to raise the standards of academic excellence at the university…”
14 ASI members out of the 15 senate members present approved the resolution with one abstention.
The senate met for the first time of the Spring 2024 semester in the Resnick Student Union Room 207 on Wednesday, Feb. 7 to discuss upcoming elections and campus updates.
ASI members are having difficulty attending the senate meetings this semester due to classes and schedule interferences.
Lisitsa is allowing senate members to send a proxy representative to meetings to avoid too many absences. The proxy may be any person of the members’ choosing as long as they are not actively involved in ASI in any way.
If a senate member chooses to send a proxy, they are responsible for that person’s actions and will face disciplinary actions if needed.
ASI President Karen Carrillo will be missing meetings throughout the semester due to a class required to graduate. She said that while ASI is high on her priority list, her duties as a student come first.
“Although I am fully committed to my role as ASI president, I also have to take into consideration, first and foremost, I am a student,” she told The Collegian.
She said her attendance will not affect her role as ASI president and her dedication and commitment to Fresno State will not falter.
“I’d like to provide assurance to the student body that my absence from ASI senate meetings will not impact my leadership performance or the initiatives and projects I am planning and leading for the Spring 2024 semester,” Carrillo said.
Kent Willis, vice president of the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, gave a short update on some of the workings in student affairs.
Currently, one of the active projects is trying to place a counselor at Fresno City College who will focus singularly on students who have the intent of transferring to Fresno State.
“We have initiated a conversation with them based on the MOU that we’ll be calling the ‘City to State Program’ and we’re looking at an agreement to co-fund the position,” Willis said.
The senate also voted to approve an ASI priority list that was requested by the university, detailing what ASI’s values are.
“I believe that in terms of priorities, we need to get down to basics first, because this is where we’re learning how to be leaders for the rest of our lives,” Lisitsa said.
With election season approaching in March, the senate also appointed an election commissioner, who will assist in moderating the student elections.
ASI is currently accepting ballots to run for senate positions and applications will close on Feb. 16.
The presidential debate is scheduled for March 11 from 12-1 p.m. in RSU Room 207 and elections will be from March 19-21.
Measure E was the biggest topic at the meeting, and the ASI senate took a firm stance with its resolution.
Lisitsa spoke with The Collegian and explained his point of view about Measure E. He said one of the main reasons for advocating for the measure is because there is no doubt that Fresno State needs money.
“Most problems at the school are related to money at the end of the day. Like, if people can’t get resources, it’s monetary; It’s for monetary reasons,” Lisitsa said. “And I think as EVP I’m not allowed to insert my opinion, right, but senators themselves they voted yes on it. And I’m hoping that it’ll turn out well.”
The Collegian asked Lisitsa how ASI will approach any backlash for the resolution.
“We can only advocate for where we want it [the money] to go, right? But I feel like since a lot of things that get funded end up going to athletics that we can only hope that if the pot of money is larger, that the things that desperately need attention at the school will get that money instead,” he said in response.
