BRIEF: ASU election applications due this Friday

The Associated Student Union is still looking for new applicants for the academic year of 2023-24, but not for much longer.

By Jasmine Alejandre, Staff Writer

The Associated Student Union is seeking more applicants for student officers and commissioners. The application deadline is this Friday.

The available ASU positions are president, vice president, treasurer, commissioners of campus and environmental affairs, ethnic and cultural affairs, fine arts, political affairs, publicity and social media, student life and health and wellness.

Two Monarchs are completing the application process. Christopher Robles Garay, the current commissioner of health and wellness is running for ASU President and Amy Duarte is running for commissioner of cultural and ethnic affairs. The two applicants are working on receiving 30 signatures to become official candidates for the election.

“The importance of student government elections is so we can get more student activity on campus so we can make the campus better and welcoming,” said first-year student Natalie Castillo, ASU’s secretary.

The ASU is an organization run by students, for students. The union is composed of two branches: the Inter-Club Council, and the Executive Council. The Inter-Club council is a group of representatives for all the clubs available on campus, and the Executive Council is composed of students elected and appointed to positions.

ASU officers receive monthly stipends, transcript notation and attend workshops in order to gain experience in leadership skills. Elected officers are required to complete 5 hours a week of in-person office hours.

To be eligible for a position, students must be enrolled at Valley College at the time of the election and must maintain enrollment while the office is held. Applicants are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA and cannot be on academic probation.

Students interested in applying can download the ASU Election Application online through the college website or can fill out a paper application available in the Office of Student Life. Potential candidates must also submit an Electronic Petition Form with 30 signatures and ID numbers of students currently enrolled that endorse the elector's candidacy.

The application deadline is this Friday at 4 p.m. Elections will be held from April 24 to April 30. Newly elected ASU officers will begin from July 2023 to June 2024.

For questions or assistance, Monarchs can contact the Student Life online help desk, email asu@lavc.edu or visit the Office of Student Life located on the second floor of the Student Union.

- With contributions from Natalie Metcalf, Valley Life Editor