The Impact of Associated Students

Many Santa Monica College (SMC) students don't know the name of their student government, let alone its role in student life and affairs — especially in pandemic times.

Associated Students (A.S.) acts as the main intermediary between the student body and the institution, billing itself on its website as “the primary liaison between the students and the faculty, staff, and administration…[while making] sure the students' voices will be heard."

"It’s always there, but students don’t realize that,” said A.S. Director of Publicity Alexis Gosselin, who is currently serving his third semester in student government. “When I came into SMC as a freshman, I had no idea what student government was...I started exploring clubs and [realized that they fall under] this umbrella of student government.”

That umbrella includes 16 individuals tasked with representing students when it comes to college affairs. Three of the 13 student-elected positions on the A.S. Board of Directors are currently candidate-less — Vice President, Director of Instructional Support, and the new position of Director of Equity and Diversity. Another four races have candidates running unopposed.

The amount of students who vote for these influential Board of Directors positions has typically been a small percentage of the roughly 29,000 students last fall, according to Tableau’s. The 2020 A.S. election saw a significant drop in student voter participation compared to the year prior — a 79% decline, from roughly 2,300 to just under 500.

Two critical factors undoubtedly contributed to the steep drop-off— the coronavirus pandemic, and the resulting transition to a completely online learning environment. Because of this, A.S. decided to run an extensive social media campaign in the lead-up to this week's election, in an effort to boost interest and virtually get out the vote.

Decisions made by the A.S. Board of Directors have significant impacts on student-life, especially in the areas of club activities and events. “The board meets every week, where departments, student organizations, [and] faculty members submit proposals to the A.S. board," stated Gosselin, “[who then decide] whether or not to approve them through a majority vote. So the 16 A.S. directors — which are 13 directors elected by the student body, and [the three Inter-Club Council (ICC)] officers [that are voted on by the board— decide to vote on those proposals.”

Student membership fees make up a sizable portion of the boards' budget, which came to roughly one-million dollars for this semester/school year, according to SMC’s Associate Dean of Student Life Isaac A. Rodriguez Lupercio. The optional $19.50 A.S. membership fee that students pay upon enrollment helps fund unlimited free-ride programs through the Big Blue Bus, access to student-specific programs like Glasses for Classes and the Student Relief Fund, and discounts at many stores and restaurants in the local area. It also helps pay for future student government programs and events.

Gosselin stressed the importance of A.S. in student-faculty relations. “It does have power, in the sense that there's the appointment of representatives to serve on committees where [students] do have a vote that is equal to a faculty [or] administrator that sits on that committee,” A.S.’s Director of Publicity continued. "The budget A.S. has is over $2 million, so that's quite a big budget to spend...on student organizations, support for students' basic needs, and instructional support services."

“Many things are funded by A.S. ... but many students don't realize it," said Gosselin. "There are many of the theater programs, or the dance department’s programs, that are partially funded by Associated Students. The food drive pantry [also] has support from Associated Students."

Current Student Trustee Joshua Elizondo, who is running unopposed for the position of A.S. President, has seen how Associated Students works during his time on the board. "There will be a lot of decisions made around how the school operates —what resources will still be available...[do] we keep these things around," said Elizondo, a political science and humanities major. "[It's important] to have student leaders that understand these changes, and understand what the students want."

A.S. campaigns and election organizers are hoping for increased voter turnout this election cycle, with winning candidates likely to encounter a slew of pressing issues on day one in office. Voting will be held online Monday, March 29, through Thursday, April 1 at 11:59 p.m., on Corsair Connect. Results are scheduled to be announced this coming Friday, April 2.

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