Although all these programs are available to students, many do not know about the services that are provided.

“I think that not very many people are aware of the programs that are available on campus,” said Kathy Quintero, senior, and psychology major. “Maybe they need to let more students know about them.”

This is an issue ASI is addressing, as Coluzzi said that ASI wants the marketing department to work with Student Life to create a better community on campus. However, he said that they couldn’t do much with $100,000 in terms of marketing.

The new marketing and public relations department of ASI, established in the 2010-2011 school year has increased its budget from $108,761 to $145,700 for this year.

Of the $3.6 million budget that ASI had prior to the increase of student fees for this semester, $1 million dollars is slated to fund the operational costs for the ASI business office and stipends for the Board of Directors.

The operational costs for the business office include $17,000 to provide telephone service to the different programs, $40,000 on periodic audits, and $195,000 on auxiliary business services, which, according to Peter Koo, executive director for ASI, go to the University for all accounting functions that need to be performed over the course of the year.

The combined monthly stipends for the ASI Board of Directors, who are both students and elected by students, totals $137,000 for this year. The ASI president earns $925 per month; the four vice presidents each make $800 per month and the remaining 15 members each receive $500 per month.

According to ASI President Andrew Gutierrez, being a part of ASI is no different than any other job, the responsibilities of which include attending two to three committee meetings per week that last two to three hours each, meeting with members of the administration and student organizations, handling tasks that must be completed as a part of their committee duties and being accountable and available to the students of SF State.