Race to control AS finances continues
By Benjamin Baxter
The Collegian
Michael Karbassi and Issac Lopez are running for the Associated Students Vice
President of Finance seat.
Both Karbassi, a senior entrepreneurship major, and Lopez, a junior political
science major, said there is a serious problem with getting the word out
regarding the $4,000 annually available for use by qualifying organization
on campus.
“Of the 270 clubs and organizations, only 30 applied for funds from Associated
Students this year,” Lopez said.
Karbassi disagreed with Lopez’s statistic. He said there are around 70
who applied, but agreed that more clubs should take advantage of possible funds.
Karbassi said he would focus the efforts of Associated Students on informing
more students about the process of getting money from AS. “This money
is not for me, this money is for everyone. We need to be an inclusive organization.
It’s not our money, it’s everyone’s money,” Karbassi
said. “If students don’t know about it, it’s AS’s fault.”
Lopez serves as the treasurer of the InterFraternity Council and is also
the council’s past president. He has also served on the Associated Students
as the Senator for the College of Social Sciences.
Karbassi received 16 percent of the vote in a 2003 Fresno city council election
but failed to win a seat.
Since then, he has served two terms
as an Associated Student Senator for Student Affairs and twice on the AS Finance
Committee, through which he has worked with the Associated Students budget.
Lopez considers student awareness of Associated Students among students to
be a top priority for an officer. “I would do my best to inform students
on what AS is and does, and how they can get the most out of their governing
student body,” Lopez said.
Around 2,000 Fresno State students among the 20,000 enrolled voted in last
year’s AS elections. This election period was a record turnout.
Both Karbassi and Lopez said the lack of election turnout is a serious problem
that might be fixed by a more aggressive campaign strategy for Associated
Students.
Karbassi said he would fight for recognition of fraternity houses to be considered
campus living, to improve police coverage in that area and to apply for state
grants to fund what he considers a much-needed parking structure.
Lopez said he would be able to “continue to combat fee increases and
ensure that tuition can stay at an affordable cost” for those enrolled
throughout the CSU system. He also said he resolves to improve campus communication.
Karbassi said he would like to draft a document available for professors
that would assist in their textbook selection. “Most professors are trying
to help out students to get good textbooks, anyway,” Karbassi said. “I
don’t think most professors just get a free book and don’t care
about how much it costs.”
Elections are April 4 through April 6.
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