“Igniting student’s potential and empowering their voices…”
-Yahir Flores
After his only competitor dropped out of the Associate Student Inc. (ASI) elections, fourth year student Yahir Flores became the newest ASI president.
The previous year was a tumultuous time for ASI’s leadership after Jaime Arellano, the current president at the time, stepped down for undisclosed reasons. This left Brian Nguyen, the vice president for administration at the time, to fill in the position from the end of the fall semester and spring semester.
While double majoring in political science and Chicano studies, Flores is also an activist being involved in protests like the LAUSD strikes. Whether interning for public figures like Richardo Lara or participating in the Surge Coalition (undocumented leaders coalition), Flores says that he is always striving to make a difference.
Flores spent his first years in remote classes and during that time, he dealt with mental health issues and felt he lost his advocacy amid the pandemic. However, becoming more involved in the Surge Coalition helped him find his direction and pursue higher education.
Before the presidency, he started as a state lobby corps officer and then moved on to a diverse inclusion officer in ASI. As the Diverse Inclusion officer, Flores worked with the Cross-Cultural Center to host cultural celebrations like the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration and Salvi Loteria Night.
“It was such a monumental moment… to see our hard work, and to see how students felt like they were heard and valued,” Flores said.
As president, his main focus is advocating and ensuring students’ voices are heard. With his passion for making a positive difference, Flores strives to bring transparency and better communication with the university administration. He wishes “to provide that space for students to have this campus be a home away from home.”
“I will continue to advocate for students, faculty, and staff by establishing effective communication with the administration and transparency and consistency between ASI and the student body,” he said on a post from the ASI Instagram. “I will also focus on implementing a secure action plan for addressing mental health services with CAPS to accommodate our 21,912 -student population better, alongside decreasing the percentage of students struggling with food insecurity by expanding our food pantry services to maximize its potential. Ultimately, as ASI President, my focus will be prioritizing student needs and working towards ensuring that the administration does not overlook the students’ voice but rather for it to be acknowledged and taken seriously with action.”
Flores also plans to have more representation from clubs and organizations and focus on improving public safety on campus. He wants to ensure that ASI fulfills its mission of heeding students’ perspectives and voices. He would like to make the campus more accessible by providing that tables, chairs, and equipment are fixed and ready to use by students.
The position as president “is the chief executive officer of ASI and is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation, accountability, and representation of the Board of Directors (BOD) by providing strategic direction on student-related issues, policies, and services that affect Cal State LA students and by representing the BOD,” according to the ASI website.
Students shared their expectations and concerns about the new ASI president. English major Valerie Lira wants the new president to push for more spaces to study outside the library and student union and better shade for outdoor tables.
“More spaces to study instead of being at the library or just outside,” Lira said.
Senior Afina Rafiansjah also noted that they would like to see more private study areas, especially for those who study alone. Rather than tables with more than two seats.
Ozzy Valdiviezo, a second-year computer science major, would like more student involvement in renovations throughout campus. He voiced the need for better whiteboards and less reflective coatings on the floor in Salazar Hall. He also hopes ASI President Flores will push for better pay for students working on campus.
“More communication with students and better pay for student workers,” Valdiviezo said.
