Associated Students

Involved... and then some

By Kristen Coachman
The Collegian

If you’re thinking about becoming involved with Associated Students and looking for advice, Brent Hansen, senator for the School of Business, is the person to talk to. The involved Fresno State senior discusses AS, what being in the group entails and the need for student involvement.

“As far as my schedule, it’s not too bad,” Hansen said. “On average, I spend about four hours a week with AS-related things.”

Hansen has two classes for his major to complete before earning his degree in Marketing this semester.

“I don’t consider myself an average student, where I just go to class, do my work, turn in my grades, and hopefully get a 2.0 and pass,” Hansen said. “I want to give back to the school I’m at.”

Hansen will continue to give back to Fresno State as the Senator for the Craig School of Business. It’s a position he held in the Fall semester and will continue with in the spring.

“I’m kind of the liaison between the entire Craig School of Business, everything that it stands for, students, faculty, whatever, and the student government,” Hansen said. “I meet once a month with Dean Hensler, we talk about issues going on in the business school, and I give him an update about what’s going on in AS."

Hansen speaks highly of Doug Hensler, the dean the Craig School of Business.

“Dean Hensler is a really good guy, he’s great to work with, and to somewhat work for. And I’ve really enjoyed building the relationship with him,” Hansen said.

This is Hansen’s third year on AS. He originally ran in 2003, the spring of his freshman year and became a senator at-large. He was an Executive during the 2004-2005 school year.

“I’ve run the whole gauntlet of what you can do in AS, ” Hansen said. “That’s really given me a broad perspective about what AS is, so I think to that extent, I have a little bit of a better understanding of how AS runs, because I have been in everyone of those positions.”

Hansen said that being a part of AS allows him to fix problems on campus.

“When I originally ran, I ran with a platform of improving the RDF (Residence Dining Facility), and changing some of the policies,” Hansen said. “For instance, there used to be no guest meal policy, and that was something I brought up. It was my brainchild, and I ran with it."

“It was passed my first year in the Food Services Committee, which I sat on for three years,” Hansen said.

“So, that was kind of like my first win, and it was really neat to see, once again it goes back to this idea that being on student government, you can make a difference, you can make a difference, and I felt like right out the gates, I was able to make a difference.”

Hansen said his hardest time in AS occurred last year when he was an AS Executive and a new boss to some of his friends.

“It was like, okay, trying to draw the line between being a friend and a boss, but always keeping it in perspective,” Hansen said.

In addition to AS, Hansen is involved in Alpha Kappa Psi, the Recycling Club, and the university student health advisory committee.

“I’ve been on the Association Board of Directors, which is the highest ranking board of directors on campus that deals with auxiliary services and everything,” Hansen said.

The passion Hansen has for Fresno State is not limited to committees and behind the scenes activities.

One of his many activities placed him front and center at Fresno State functions, during his participation on the Fresno State Spirit Squad.

“I was Timeout,” Hansen said with a smile. He took over the position of the Fresno State mascot his sophomore year.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I mean, it’s not like everyone gets the opportunity to become the mascot of a division one sports program,” Hansen said.

Hansen believes the opportunities Fresno State has granted him allowed him to pursue his goals, and believes other Fresno State students should take advantage of what the university has to offer.

“Without the university, I mean, students wouldn’t have as large as a breadth of knowledge,” Hansen said.

“And the university really does provide unique experiences for students, and I just feel that many students don’t take those opportunities.”

Hansen does have advice for those thinking about running for AS in the future.

“Don’t do it because you think it’s going to look good on a resume. Don’t do it because your guidance counselor told you to get involved. Do it because you want to do it. Do your research, find out what AS stands for,” Hansen said. “Run for a position because you have a passion for it, and you want to see something change.”

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