Effective May 31, the Associated Student Government will become the Associated Students of Cosumnes River College, after two and half years of planning.
Other changes in its structure will be added to the ballot during this year’s spring elections.
“The Clubs and Events Board and Student Senate are now two components of the student association at CRC,” said ASG Advisor Winnie LaNier.
The changes come in the middle of a district-wide order for restructuring. CRC’s revision was in compliance with Chancellor Brice Harris who said the Board of Trustees requested a review of the student constitution at each Los Rios College in order to create consistency across the district.
The Inter-Club Council, which previously served as the voice of student clubs and organizations, will be replaced by the Clubs and Events Board. The Joint Budget Committee will also be created from the Clubs and Events Board and Student Senate, LaNier said. The Committee will decide on funding for the student association, according to the revised constitution.
Not everyone feels that the constitution needed to be changed.
“I was a little bit uneasy about the situation,” said ASG President Christina Alvarado. “I was running for vice president at the time. I wasn’t really sure what the heck was going on.”
Under the new constitution, 20 seats will be available for students to run for. Sixteen will be senator positions and four will be commissioner positions.
Instead of officers being elected from within the ICC, as is currently, the Clubs and Events Board will be elected by the student body during the upcoming election.
Candidate hopefuls such as 18-year-old classics major Giselle Obergin have already read through the restructured constitution and know what is expected of them.
“It’s a little unorthodox, but I think it is a great learning experience and it will serve our school well,” Obergin said. “It definitely divides out the responsibilities more clearly than the previous structure.”
LaNier stressed the importance of student participation that is necessary to make this move a success. She suggests that anyone who wants to get into something important on campus should get involved.
Packets containing more information are located in the Student Development Office.