ASU prepares second Disneyland trip

The student government board unanimously passed their second trip to Disneyland.

By Natalie Metcalf, Valley Life Editor

(L-R) ASU Treasurer Diego Enriquez, ASU President Ani Ramazyan, Commissioner of Fine Arts Mia Sanchez, ASU advisor Monica Flores and ASU Secretary Natalie Castillo conduct the finance committee meeting on Tuesday, discussing finance motions submitted by club members and faculty on campus. (Chris Dreadson | Valley Star)

For the second time in two semesters, the Associated Student Union approved a motion that ensures the board’s return to the magic kingdom, but this time with park hopper tickets and matching Mickey Mouse Valley College sweaters from the campus bookstore.

At their biweekly finance and executive committee meeting Tuesday, the board allocated $5,454 for a day at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. On their last trip, all Monarchs could attend if they also attended a leadership conference series. This time, there is no leadership conference attached to the Disneyland trip. The attendees will consist of ASU officers and commissioners including one advisor. The board will go to the theme park on June 8.

“ASU will be going to Disneyland again this semester as a reward for our hard work,” said ASU President Ani Ramazyan, reading the budget request. “ASU takes pride in being students at LAVC. We want to proudly represent LAVC at Disneyland.”

The budget request was submitted by Commissioner of Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Erick Portillo and Commissioner of Student Life Arely Aguilar.

ASU’s Disneyland trip will cover food stipends, transportation, tickets and Valley Mickey Mouse sweaters which will be purchased at the bookstore on campus. At the bookstore, the crewneck cost $47 and the hoodie cost $49. One-day park hopper tickets for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure cost $244 a piece.

Last semester, the board spent $7,384 on a Disneyland trip connected to leadership conferences over the course of the semester. ASU usually plans a Disneyland trip every year through a budget request by the board’s advisor Monica Flores. Last year, the previous ASU board went to Disneyland in June.

The student union board allocated $7,384 for a Disneyland trip last fall. This semester, the board passed a $5,454 expenditure for their second trip. (Natalie Metcalf | Valley Star)

The budget for this semester’s Disneyland trip is $1,930 less than before, as fewer people will be in attendance. ASU allocated money last semester for 27 students and three chaperones. This year only the executive board will attend.

Last week, the student union board went to Washington D.C. to visit their California senate representatives. The board created a committee last semester, in order to plan their trip to the American Student Association of Community Colleges Conference. In November of last year, the board allocated $5,700 to the Washington D.C. trip.

“It was a great learning experience,” said ASU Treasurer Diego Enriquez. “I think we should increase the promise or give more money to STEM students who usually are in their third year of college –– just because the course work they have to do is more rigorous. That was the main issue I brought up to the congressman and the senate representatives.”

In total, the ASU has a general contingency of $298,465.85. The finance and executive committees meet bi-weekly to approve motions submitted by clubs on campus to receive funding for student events. According to the student union’s mission statement, the board strives to represent Monarchs on Valley’s campus and encourages student engagement.

“This is a good tradition of our hard work,” said Flores, during the finance committee meeting. “Kinda like a little end celebration since we aren’t getting most of you [the board] back next year.”