The Associated Student Union is holding a candidate debate this week for its 2019-2020 election.
By Tate Coan, Online Editor
Sixteen candidates for seven positions in the Associated Student Union will gather at the Office of Student Life on the second floor of the Student Union, Wednesday at 1 p.m., to debate their ideas for Valley College.
Many of the prospective are current ASU members seeking re-election for their position but some are hoping to shake things up by running for a higher office. Elijah Rodriguez, the Current Commissioner of Publicity, is running against three other applicants for president and, according to his personal statement, is ready to “fight for all student rights.”
The Commissioner of Political and External Affairs, Ani Apikyan, and Commissioner of Social Media, Evelyn Soriano, are running for different positions, both against two competitors. Apikyan is running for Vice President and Soriano for Commissioner of Health and Safety Concerns; both are using their experience with the ASU as a qualification for their proposed new political offices.
The Commissioner for Student Life position, uniquely, will have the incumbent, Maricela Garcia, defend her position from challenger Jose Romo the current Commissioner of Ethnic and Cultural Affairs.
A new member, Dania Castillo, is running for Commissioner of Campus and Environmental concerns unopposed; Treasurer Angelica Simityan is running for re-election unopposed as well.
Jy Prishkulnik is challenging the standing Commissioner of Fine Arts, Angela Darpinian, who is running for re-election this year and says she wants students to feel “accepted and appreciated.”
The Candidates’ debates will be April 17 at 1 p.m. in the Office of Student Life and is open to all students.
Voting will be online through a link in student emails between April 22 and April 29 with phones, tablets, laptops or at on campus computer labs. In-person voting will take place on April 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Monarch Hall.