New ASU takes shape

The ASU filled the majority of vacant positions.

By Tate Coan, Online Editor

After over three weeks of having only five sitting council members, the ASU filled over half of their open positions.

At the ASU’s meeting Feb. 26, the council appointed a treasurer; secretary; and commissioners of fine arts, health and safety concerns, political and external affairs, social media and student life. With many different backgrounds and qualifications, the newbies have brought some diversity to the mix.

The new treasurer, freshman Angelica Simityan, was voted in unanimously due to her math-related qualifications. The 18-year-old Van Nuys High School graduate started at Valley last fall and is majoring in aerospace engineering major.

“I came to the ASU and saw what a great environment it was and how it was filled with inspiring and motivated individuals,” said Simityan. “I immediately wanted to volunteer in order to do as much as possible until I was able to have a position in the student government.”

She looks forward to getting to know her peers and making sure the money raised “goes to benefiting the students.”

A second applicant for the treasurer position was another first-year student, Ani Apikyan. The 17-year-old was denied the position of treasurer, but was voted in unanimously as commissioner of political and external affairs because of her interest in government. The business administration major plans to go to law school and has previously worked as an intern for Rep. Tony Cardenas.

Apikyan said she applied for a position at ASU because she wants “to help the students of LAVC to the best of [her] abilities … and to improve students’ college experience.”

The new commissioner of fine arts, first-year student Angela Darpinian, was also unanimously appointed by the ASU. She wants to learn, give and succeed in her new position to inspire youth to do the same.

“I’d love to major in the ‘pursuit of happiness’ if it ever existed,” said Darpinian, 18, “but it’s Art History instead.”

Another woman who wants to help others in her new position is commissioner of social media, Evelyn Soriano, a physics major who started at Valley in 2017.

After she attended an ASU conferences last semester, Soriano said she “learned leadership skills and discovered the need [she] has to help others.” The 20-year-old feels social media is the best fit for her because it combines both leadership and creativity.

In her fourth year attending Valley, Maricela Peña, a chicano studies major, decided to join ASU because she wants to “encourage students to build community on campus and take advantage of ASU resources.” Peña was appointed as new commissioner of student life.

Elen Sargsyan, originally applied for the parliamentary position but was unanimously appointed as the commissioner of health and safety concerns by the ASU council. This was due to her previous volunteer work involving health issues at USC.

On Feb. 28, two students were voted in by the Inter-Club Council to become the new ICC Representatives. Aidan Christopher Boyles was voted in by a majority, and Sam Arias was appointed unanimously.

The ASU will be accepting applications from students wishing to run for office in the fall semester until March 22.