In 2024 only 379 students turned out to vote for American River College’s Associated Student Body members, and in 2023 the number was even lower, according to Brett Sawyer, student life supervisor.

In a school with approximately 30,000 students, the voter turnout raised concern for ASB members at its Feb. 7 meeting.

“Last year, a lot of people didn’t know how to vote, where to vote, or what to do. They didn’t even know we existed,” says Alicia Szutowicz-Fizpatrick, student senate president.

Since ASB is responsible for representing ARC students, senate members want to prioritize student government engagement and participation.

“Ultimately, only students understand student perspectives,” said Shazil Mahmood, director of public relations for the ASB.

Mahmood adds that while ASB may not be capable of speaking for every student individually, more voter turnout means a greater and more accurate pool of viewpoints. 

To combat low voting turnout, ASB approved spending $25,000 to encourage more students to vote during elections this spring. Its goal is to hit 1,000 voters, a count that has not been achieved before. 

Giovani Ferrari, director of legislative affairs for the ASB, says most of the money will go to election day itself for games and food to get people interested in voting. The rest will go toward things like speeches and videos to stimulate interest before the event.

Ferrari also went over bills that will be proposed on Lobby Day on March 11, an event where student senate members present their school’s needs to state legislators.

The student senators will lobby legislators for such bills as AB 9, which would require the California State University system to monitor and respond to community college transfer rates starting Sept. 2026. The ratios would need to be posted on CSU websites so all students can access the information. 

“This would increase at least some level of transfer rates between these schools,” says Ferrari. 

Another proposed bill the Student Senate will support, SB 98, would require educational institutions to notify students, staff, and community members when immigration officers are on campus.

Additionally, Halal chicken is now available at Pacific Dining at ARC in the sandwich and burrito station after two years of work from ASB’s Halal Food Committee.

“It’s been a struggle because the contract with Pacific Dining is with the district, not ARC. It should be public, but we currently don’t have access to it,” says Shazil Mahmood, director of public relations for the ASB.

Despite this, Halal food represents the start of a much bigger effort for more food inclusivity at ARC. The committee has begun brainstorming ideas to integrate gluten and allergy free options, as well as options for those with Kosher and Jhatka diets.

For those ordering specific dietary food, like Halal chicken, asking workers to switch out their gloves is strongly recommended.

The senate also approved spending $20,000 for a two-day retreat within the Los Rios District to welcome and train incoming and previous ASB members.

Szutowicz-Fizpatrick says the cost comes from the number of ARC’s key members being invited to the event, including ARC President Lisa Cardoza.

A budget of up to $1,500 for expenses stemming from ARC’s participation in the Student Senate for California Community Colleges March in March was approved as well. The event will be held on March 4.