The De Anza Associated Student Body inaugurated its new senate for the 2010-2011 school year on June 9. The newly elected senators are planning to increase the awareness of De Anza College’s diverse communities as well as tackle the current economic hardships plaguing students.

“Our overarching focus is to create a strong sense of community, academic excellence and leadership,” said Neesha Tambe, executive vice president of the DASB.

According to Tambe, building a long-lasting connection between senators and students begins as soon as they enter their first class. The senate plans to provide incoming students with a student liaison in their Counseling100 course, De Anza’s introductory course aimed at informing new students about the campus at large. The student liaisons would act as a mentor, offering insight and advice about the college and college life to new De Anza students.

“We want new students to get their feet wet in the college life,” Tambe said.

The support network is not only reserved for newer incoming students, but also for those continuing as well. The senate plans to further support a student assistance program for students to become teaching assistants for classes. The program would allow students more time and experience with a subject and can provide students the opportunity to become eligible for grants and scholarships down the road.

The DASB Diversity and Events Committee hopes to encourage students to integrate the whole of a college experience into their educational lives, instead of only coming only for class and immediately leaving. From the recent success of the International Food Festival last spring quarter, students can expect to see an increase in culture identification and education through similar events.

Tambe explained, “We want to bring attention to multiple cultures and build diversity among the students”.

This connection is furthered by the creation of a new senate officer position in the DASB Senate known as the Intramural Affairs Officer. Senator Anmol Mirakhur was voted by the senate to fill the position on July 7. This position is responsible for creating “a line of communication between athletics and the arts [and] to add a voice to an often unrepresented group.” Adding a voice to AB540 students has become a priority on the new DASB agenda as well. There is a hope that they will be able to find space for students with an illegal status and continue support for organizations like FYE and L.E.A.D.

In addition to an increased focus on De Anza’s diversity, the senate is taking a more active role against the campus’ current budget crisis.

“We plan to work with the Foothill-De Anza Foundation to help underfunded clubs and activities on campus,” Tambe said.

According to Senator Ali Masood, with funding scarce, these alternatives are necessary in order to breathe new life into these organizations whose value is highly regarded by large sections of the student body.

The DASB Senate also hopes to aid students directly in their daily financial affairs. A recent project has been piloted by the DASB Environmental Sustainability Committee to promote financial relief through an offering of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus tokens to De Anza students. The tokens equate to a daily bus pass on any VTA bus. The pilot program has started with 30 students to gauge the program’s effectiveness for both De Anza and VTA.

Additionally, the Finance Committee has been working with De Anza’s cafeteria in the Hinson Campus Center in order to provide food vouchers for low-income students. The vouchers could be used as a type of “De Anza Dollar.”

Tambe says, “The changes we make will be broad and long-lasting. We are not a drive-through school, we want to make a student’s experience valuable. We want them to know they have a say in their college.”