Associated Students of the University of Hawaii

About

The Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (ASUH) is the undergraduate student government representing the 10,000+ full-time, classified, undergraduate students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. ASUH was chartered by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents in 1912 and was originally named the Associated Students of the College of Hawai'i.

The student government manages a stock portfolio currently worth around $9.0 million, of which up to 5 percent is withdrawn annually to fund the senate's yearly budget. The student government money originally came from the 1975 sale of the Honolulu Stadium, and has been managed by students since 1980 when ASUH received $836,000 from the sale to invest and create a fund for student projects.

The ASUH office is currently located in Campus Center 211. Before the construction of the Campus Center, the ASUH office was located in Hemenway Hall along with the University's cafeteria, mail room, and bookstore.

ASUH is based on the parliamentary system and the executive and legislative branches are combined into one general assembly (the ASUH senate). The President and Vice president are popularly elected by the student body and the President presides over the senate. The President appoints committee chairs with the approval of the ASUH senate. The executive members of the senate consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the four Senator at Large positions. In addition to the executive officers, 30 senators representing various colleges of the university make up the senate. The number of senators per college varies according to the population of the college, like the United States House of Representatives. The Student Court, which is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, consists of 7 members. The Court has final jurisdiction in all matters pertaining to the ASUH Constitution and By-Laws and in all cases resulting from ASUH senate legislation.

ASUH elections are held three times a year. The General Election takes place once a year during the Spring semester in April. During the General Election, all seats are open for election. Special Elections may take place during the Fall and Spring semesters to fill any vacancies that occur in the senate throughout the year. All senate members serve one year terms. Elections take place online at each University of Hawaiʻi students' MyUH account to ensure a fair election.

The Executive Committee is composed of the ASUH Executive Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), the Standing Committee Chairpersons, and Senators-At-Large. This committee coordinates the administration of all ASUH Senate programs, services and activities, hears Senate measures for First reading, hears complaints made against Senators or Executive Officers and decide the appropriate course of action, and responds to matters of immediate concern when the General Senate is not or is unable to be in session. President The ASUH President is the chief executive officer of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and serves a one-year term (academic year). The ASUH President presides over the General Senate and Executive Committee, and its meetings. They represent ASUH in all official dealings with the University Administration, the faculty, and other organizations, firms, and persons, and is responsible for the general welfare of the ASUH. The current President of the 109th Senate is Joshua Jungha Kim. Vice President The ASUH Vice President assists the President in all Presidential duties, and exercises all Presidential powers and duties in the case of a vacancy, absence or incapacity in the office of the President. The ASUH Vice President is in charge of coordinating the activities of all ASUH standing committees and act as a liaison between the Senate and the standing committees. The current Vice-President of the 109th Senate is Alyssa Renteria. Secretary The ASUH Secretary maintains accurate and complete files of the minutes of all General Senate and Executive Committee meetings, as well as upkeeps the records of all committee meeting minutes. The Secretary maintains attendance, voting records, and codifies all Senate legislation. They perform duties as assigned by the President or the Senate. The 110th Senate Secretary is Min Ji Cha. Treasurer The ASUH Treasurer, along with the Committee on Finance, drafts and introduces the ASUH Budget each fiscal year. The Treasurer publicizes and submits financial reports to the ASUH. They perform duties assigned by the President or the ASUH Senate. The current Treasurer role for the 110th senate remains vacant. Senator at Large

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.