The De Anza Associated Student Body held their quarterly open house in the student council chambers of the Hinson Campus Center on Wed April 7. At the event, each committee of the senate showcased their goals for the quarter, and students were given the opportunity to meet the senators. The event was promoted by posters displaying the time and date, as well as DASB banners.

The DASB contains nine internal committees – Budget and Finance, Student Rights and Campus Relations, Administration, Marketing and Communications, Diversity and Events, Student Services, Environmental Sustainability and the Executive Council.

The senate grants each committee a budget at the beginning of every fiscal year. $1,038,122.61 was approved by the senate for 2010-2011to distribute among the academic divisions, campus organizations and the committees. The committees utilize these funds for events, promotional materials and the research of programs in order to maximize the quality of student life at De Anza. Each senator is required to be involved with at least two internal committees.

At the open house, each committee displayed the poster boards they constructed, informing spectators of their purpose and goals.

Levon Minassian, community relations manager for Diversity and Events, emphasized that the D&E committee is working with the Inter Club Council’s to plan their spring carnival. “The angle we’re looking for is fun” said Minassian, who further elaborated on organizing bands and an economists panel for the event.

Justin Chou, vice president of student rights and campus relations, said that his committee has four projects under construction as a final push toward the end of tenure of the current senate. Chou explained that SRCR’s goals are to reduce priority registration to the essentials to benefit the students that need it most. SRCR also plans to hold more student forums, where students can openly ask questions to senators, as well as a suggestion box in order to promote communication between the students and the student government. Chou’s last objective is to build relations with teachers, counselors and administration in order to fight student apathy. “If we don’t accomplish all of these goals 100%, at least we can already have plans set up for the next senate” said Chou.

The DASB meets every Wed at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Council Chambers of the Hinson Center, except on the first meeting of the month, which starts at 4:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public, and concerned students or faculty members are encouraged to attend. More information about the DASB including meeting times for the committees are available at www.deanza.edu/dasb.