Audience members played a significant role at a meeting held by the Associated Students, Inc. board of directors on Oct. 15. The goals of the meeting were to make decisions about funding for events and student organizations, and to discuss the board’s goals as a representative body at SF State.

Drew Foster and Bryan Ting, two members of Eco Students, the Environmental Studies student group, attended the meeting to remind the ASI board of its ability to present a nominee for the Sustainability Committee. The committee is comprised of administrators, staff, and two students, Foster said. Ting and Foster said they attended the meeting specifically because the board is allowed to nominate one of the student members of the Sustainability Committee, and wanted to know if students could participate in the selection process.

Eco Students has an interest in the member selection, Ting said. “Sometimes it’s useful [to attend the meetings] because; one: to know what is going on. And two: to be involved in the process of government,” Ting said.

Near the end of the meeting, Ronald Bentley, a graduate of SF State and member of the Black Student Union in 1968, spoke to the board as a representative of the BSU. Bentley asked the board for a realistic plan to provide funds to the BSU to bring three graduates of SF State back to the campus for the 40th anniversary of the SF State student strike. Bentley said the three alumni were students during the protests and would participate in three workshops presented by the BSU for the anniversary celebration.

“They played a part in what happened here,” Bentley said. “And it will be great to have them here to talk to students.”

The board finished the meeting by discussing their goals for the 2008-2009 school year. Members tried to work out pragmatic procedures to implement the original goals the board set at the beginning of the semester. Facilitating copy service for groups, and systems for groups to request funding from the board were discussed until members could plan for smooth operation the remainder of the year.