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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