Engineering News, September 19, 2005

September 19, 2005 Vol. 77, no. 4F

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASUC REP : CEE junior Rita Encarnacion was elected senator last spring and is already working to make sure northside engineers benefit from southside ASUC opportunities. (Photo Credit: Rachel Jackson)

New ASUC senator plunges into the roil of student government, keeps northside front and center

It’s 12:30 a.m. You’ve been working on problem sets in a Cory Hall computer lab for five straight hours. Your eyelids are drooping. Your stomach is rumbling. You need sustenance. The brown-spotted banana in your backpack won’t do. Where do you go? Brewed Awakening closed at 7 p.m., Nefeli Caffe closed at 9, and Top Dog closed at 11.

Those hours just don’t work for studious, burn-the-midnight-oil engineers, including Rita Encarnacion. A CEE junior, Encarnacion is the new ASUC senator, joining incumbents Igor Tregub and Chris Abad. The three engineering senators will again focus their attention on expanding northside business hours so restaurants and coffee shops are open later at night.

In addition, Encarnacion has other goals for her first year in government. “I’d like to increase the visibility of engineering groups by helping them collaborate with others on campus,” she says. “I’d also like to improve AirBears around northside and engage women’s engineering groups to do more active outreach to female students in K-12.”

She’s been on the job for only a few weeks, but already Encarnacion is feeling the responsibility. “It’s overwhelming. There are six committees I’m serving on. But I’m adjusting,” she says with a smile. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting people.”

Her engineering training will help, she says. Long hours in the senate chamber? No problem. Analyzing budgets? Piece of cake. Identifying different variables and boiling them into a solid answer and course of action? Encarnacion, who has held leadership roles since grade school, is ready.

She admits ASUC gets a bad rap from some students. If you’re not involved in a student society, how does student government really help you?

First of all, “The ASUC is an important tradition and institution because it upholds the student voice,” she says.

At an everyday level, “We provide grants, special funds, and scholarships,” she adds. “We’re student liaisons to the administration, UC’s police department, and the city. We advocate for campus safety, with activities like lobbying for more blue emergency lights. We can help you if you’re having problems with your landlord. We’re also trying to make parking around campus better. It’s just a matter of publicity and letting the students actually know what’s happening. We have to keep them informed and involved.”

Got an idea or a complaint? Need support for your student society? Want ASUC higher-ups to know exactly how you feel? Meet Encarnacion Fridays from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Free Speech Movement Cafe or email her at ritae@asuc.org.

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