The Associated Students of Fullerton College will be having its spring elections this week so students can vote for new candidates and on two new referendums that could significantly impact student life on campus in the coming year.
This week starting on April 8, Fullerton College students can vote in the A.S. spring elections on the campus quad from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The only requirement students will need to vote is to be currently enrolled in the college and have a valid photo ID card.
The candidates whom are currently running are not required to provide a candidate statement or photo. Students can also write in their own candidates as well. Requirements to be a candidate are to have a 2.0 GPA and enrolled in at least five units for the current semester
The candidates for president of the student senate are Selena Cruz and Vanessa Escobar and a known candidate for vice president of finance is Laura Sanchez, according to the Associated Students website.
“I want to get to know you and your needs, so I may learn how to be able to meet them as President. I am here to listen, and help your experience at Fullerton College be more enjoyable,” said candidate Cruz in her online statement.
There are also two referendums that students will be able to vote for that could possibly impact Fullerton College in the next coming school year.
The first referendum is for the Orange County Transportation Authority Bus Fee. If passed students attending Fullerton College will pay a mandatory expense that will be added to their student fees. Full time students will have to pay an additional $5.75 and part time students will pay an additional $5.
The bus pass will be valid for the entire semester and will work on all ‘OCTA’ bus lines. If passed the OCTA bus fee will not take effect until 2020, however students will receive the bus pass in fall due to a grant that will cover the fees. The cost of the fee will remain the same for the first two years but will be adjusted the following years based on ridership.
The second referendum is for a $2 Student Representation Fee which will help the student body organizers to fund the representation on the local and state level. The $2 will be split between local and state advocacy. There will also be an option to opt out the student will need to submit in writing to the community college officials at the time of payment for their fees.
As for when the results of the election will be posted, Fullerton College will have to wait until after the spring break for the election committee to announce the winners and if the referendums are passed.
“Candidates have two business days to submit their financial statements because of how spring break falls that second business day falls on the Monday we come back,” said student services specialist Stephanie Rodriguez.
“We hope to have the results posted that Monday or Tuesday but that is only if everything is finished and resolved with the election committee. They determine when the results get posted,” Rodriguez added.
Current members of the Associated Students have been open about their thoughts on these spring elections.
“$11.50 for the whole year, you can’t beat that to go on all the OCTA buses. A bus pass for that much is a good deal,” said President of Student Senate Joshua Kazarian.
As the voter turnout is often low, the A.S. do try to get the word out to students to go out and vote.
“We did get an email out to all the students from me but it’s hard to get the students to participate,” said Kazarian. “It is kind of hard to get the word out on anything we need to have a better system of communications through out the departments and the professors to get the word out to their students.”