ASNIC officially has a new president, vice president and eight senators.
Julie Salinas won the presidential race, winning her race a 42 votes ahead of her nearest competitor
“It feels good,” Salinas said on her victory.
Joseph Pena, former president of the veterans club, won the vice presidential race by an even wider margin of 98 votes.
Salinas said that Pena has approached her about trying to get ASNIC to get more involved with the veteran’s club—an idea Salinas says she fully supports.
“Joey is going to do an incredible job [as vice president],” Salinas said.
Salinas says she hopes to use her time in office to achieve her main goal: A more open line of communication between ASNIC and the student body.
“What we’ve been talking about is definitely working more with communication with students, because we feel it is lacking,” Salinas said.
Other objectives Salinas is planning to work on include attempting to lower food prices in the student union, and tackling the parking problem.
“I can’t guarantee anything though,” Salinas cautioned. Salinas said that the first order of business would be to get more information and research the problem before deciding on any kind of solution.
Salinas said that she plans to try and push campus clubs into engaging in more campus activities, so that they can become a more visible element in student culture. She said shealso wants to work with NIC’s outreach centers to get them more involved.
“Communication is definitely my focus though,” Salinas said.
With communication being such an integral part of her plans for ASNIC, Salinas said she hope to dispel the intimidation factor she said she feels keeps students from approaching ASNIC.
“ASNIC is supposed to be the voice of the students. If you want to see something happen, come up [to the ASNIC office], we’ll make it happen,” Salinas said.
For the first time in ASNIC history, Salinas has found herself to be the only female candidate elected.
“It’s weird being the only girl,” Salinas said. “But it should still be really fun, I’m really excited about everyone that was elected, and they’re all hard working.”
All the incoming ASNIC members were sworn in on Tuesday, April 24.
“I’m excited for the next school year, and to see what everyone’s ideas are for changing the school and what we can do as a school body,” Salinas said. “Let’s see what fun we can have.”