Online voting begins for ASU and Student Trustee elections

Students are able to read candidate personal statements and access voting in their student portal as the election runs through May 3.

By: Rosemary Villalonga, News Editor

Valley College students can now vote for nine ASU officials and an LACCD student trustee who will help shape the student experience in the coming school year. 

10 candidates are running for nine positions, and students can vote from April 27 to May 3 through their student portal. Positions include president, vice president, treasurer, chief of justice, commissioner of campus and environmental affairs, health and wellness affairs, fine arts, political affairs and student life. Eight of the 10 candidates are unopposed, leaving only the presidential race with competition. 

Students are able to read each candidate's personal statement on the school’s website. ASU presidential candidates are Alina Laaly and Emma Shanakian. Other candidates include Mitka Delgado for vice president, Robert Lazaryan for treasurer and Samantha Gomez for chief of justice. Their personal statements allow students to “learn more about their experience, goals, and vision for LAVC,” according to the Valley website. 

The ASU also hosted a hybrid candidate forum for students to hear from those who will soon represent them. Students could attend in person at the Skybox Conference Room or online through Zoom. The two hour event was hosted on April 21 and was open for students to ask the candidates questions and learn about their goals for next year. 

As the current commissioner of publicity and social media, Shanakian said that she hopes to use her experience to reach more students. 

“One of the biggest things I want to focus on is accessibility,” said Shanakian in her opening statement. “Instead of expecting students to come to us, I want to go to them.” 

Laaly, who is the current commissioner of campus and environmental affairs, then followed with her statement. 

 “My goal is to create a more connected environment between the individuals on the ASU board,” said Laaly. “I see the potential of what our campus can be. I’m running to make the campus more connected, where communication is clear.”

The voting will also include the position for LACCD student trustee. This election will determine who will serve as a representative of student interests and opinions districtwide. The term of office is from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027. Student trustee candidates are Melvin Martinez, who attends Valley, and Brian Campos, who attends Trade Technical College. 

Both candidates expressed their concern with the lack of student engagement. “There’s not enough visibility at these forums and there’s not enough visibility at town halls,” said Martinez. 

Through online voting, the ASU hopes to reach more students and make it convenient for them to easily cast their vote. In the 2021 election, only 1.68 percent of Valley’s student body voted, while in 2023, only 3 percent cast their ballots as well.