The Cosumnes River College Student Association Constitution was ratified on Nov.  10, in part of a district wide revision, after an election was held on Nov. 8 and 9.

Students who run for leadership positions from 2012 to 2013 will have to follow the new constitution’s structures that will go into effect May 31, 2012.

“The desire is to enhance the opportunity for involvement of students in clubs and organizations,” said Kirsten Kennedy, 20, CRC’s commissioner of public relations. “Also, for the student associations to operate as organizations mainly designed to provide students with learning experiences.”

Major changes of the structure of student government at CRC include the Associated Student Government revised as Associated Students of Cosumnes River College.  Also, the one component structure, the student senate, was divided into three components – Student Senate Clubs, the Events Board and the Joint Budget Committee.

“Our Senate will be able to better address advocacy issues on our campus, while our newly refined Club and Events Board can focus on bringing students fun activities to make our campus a more enjoyable place,” Kennedy said.

CRC’s Senator of Business and Family Services Petra Duke, a 26-year-old, agreed.

“With the Club and Events Board replacing the Inter-Club Council, it will give the clubs more power to put on their activities instead of it being based off of us and student council.”

CRC’s revision was in compliance with Chancellor Brice Harris who stated the Board of Trustees requested a review of the student constitution at each Los Rios College in order to create consistency across the district, said Kennedy.

“The Board’s interest is that the groups are not treated differently unless that difference is necessary because of the uniqueness of a college, Kennedy said.”

Marlon Balancio, a 21-year-old architecture major, said he believes the district revision, “is history and will affect students.”

“There will be more opportunities for students on campus to be involved by having small roles that don’t have such a big responsibility,” Balancio said. He said it will create a more “lively campus.”

Out of the 20 positions in CRC’s student government that govern 16,000 students, only five have been filled. Associated students of CRC said they expect this number to change with the new constitution that is expected to build more student involvement.

“It’s a shame because there are a lot of people on this campus that really have strong opinions and voices that want to be heard,” Duke said.