Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: Opinion

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When I was asked to write an opinion article about the Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors getting a raise, I was immediately skeptical. In my mind, all I could think was: why do they deserve a raise? Just what do they do? I work hard at my job and I haven't had a raise in almost a year. My thoughts immediately shifted when Tiffany Huang,Vice President of Finance, shed light on the issue.

"There hasn't been a raise in seven years," Huang said.

I don't want to gloat, but I get paid pretty good money at my current job, but if seven years had gone by and I was still making the same hourly wage, heads would be rolling.

Maybe not so much, but my employers would have received a strongly worded resignation letter.

Since I began working at the young age of 15, I have always been about my money, and apparently so is ASI. They are currently fighting for the board of directors to receive an increase in its stipend or possibly changing to an hourly wage. The way things are headed, ASI is more in favor of a scholarship.

"We don't have set hours," Huang said. "Our time isn't necessarily determined by being in the office."

The stipend the board of directors receives is only awarded if it completes its job title. Supervising teacher Mary Felix of the Children's Center believes ASI members are going above and beyond what they are being asked to do.

"I think it's a wonderful incentive for the hours of work put into community involvement." Felix said.

In asking for this raise, the committee is also examining the pay difference between Sacramento State and other CSUs around the state.

"San Diego State is the highest-paid but, their student body is a lot larger." Felix said

Now I urge you to go ahead and check out www.asi.csus.edu to get a full understanding about just what ASI is about. Little do we know, ASI is behind many of the programs we take for granted on this campus; programs such as the Children's Center, Safe Rides, Women's Resource Center and even KSSU Radio. I bet some of you guys didn't even know we had a radio station.

"They [students] may be utilizing an ASI program and not even know it," Huang said.

I imagine there are still skeptics out there who believe the ASI Board of Directors shouldn't get a raise. Some of may even go as far to say that the board shouldn't get paid at all, but here's the thing: the board of directors is made up of students too. Members of the board have bills to pay just like you and I.

With the cost of living continuously increasing in Northern California, it's difficult to get a well-paying job, balance school and still be active in ASI. Not to mention tuition, books and other costs that come with being a student.

The way I see it, ASI is killing two birds with one stone. ASI is getting the chance to do something it loves, something it is really passionate about and all ASI wants is to get paid what they deserve.

If the raise gets approved, I have no doubt that it may alienate students even more than they already are from ASI. As it is, Sac State students don't know half of what ASI does. All they know is that ASI is getting a raise for doing it and this may not set well with the students.

"I don't think they're asking for anything outrageous." Felix said.

Oneika Richardson can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com

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