Freshmen learning the ASI buzz

CSUS freshmen who want to get involved with Associated Students Inc., wait no longer. The Sting Team is here!

The Sting Team, which was started this semester, is a mentoring program that unites freshmen interested in campus leadership with ASI members.

The team members get to take a sneak peek at the intricacies of student government without holding an elected position.

"It is a program designed to teach freshmen how to be student leaders at Sac State," said ASI President Gary Davis. "We want to ensure that students have the knowledge to be able to further causes which are started today. We want to ensure that we have plenty of student leaders in years to come."

Davis said he recruited the team's 10 current members from freshmen orientation over the summer. Applicants completed interest forms and Davis then conducted a group interview. He added that no one was turned away in the process of picking the team.

Elizabeth Jopson, a member of the team, was involved in her high school's student government. She said she sees many benefits to the program, which has helped her further build upon her leadership skills at CSUS.

"By being involved with the Sting Team, members are fortunate to learn the ropes to ASI early," said Jopson. " We are informed and don't go into student government cold turkey. This program helps to publicize ASI and allows a wider group of students to get involved."

According to Davis, he adopted the idea from a similar program at Texas A&M as a result of the immediate need he saw to better develop and encourage student leadership on campus.

"If you look at the number of uncontested or unopposed seats in the ASI elections every year, you'll see that we need this program," said Davis. "Clubs, organizations and even ASI committees on this campus, struggle from inexperienced leadership. The Sting Team will, at the very least, teach 10 students per semester what it takes to be leaders on our campus."

Chris Missick, who is paired with Davis, and is one of the team's two captains, said the only definite requirements of the program are that team members must attend weekly team meetings, as well as weekly conferences with their mentors.

Missick said one of the most valuable aspects the program has to offer CSUS is the preparation it gives future student leaders.

"Gary has so many goals and plans currently in the works that he couldn't possibly complete all of them during his term. His only option is to build on them and that's where the Sting Team comes in," said Missick. "By observing Gary now, when he is out of office I will be able to use my first hand experience learned as a freshman to carry-out his goals, as well as those goals of the other ASI members."

Originally from Southern California, Missick said he is not only learning leadership skills first-hand from the movers and shakers of CSUS, but his involvement on the team has given him a second family.

Stephanie Johnson, program mentor and ASI director of social sciences and interdisciplinary studies, said she wishes the program would have been available when she was a freshman.

"Because they are freshmen, they will have the opportunity to participate in ASI for at least four years. Being that I started in ASI my last year of school, I feel that I have missed out on a lot of fun and opportunities for the last three years," said Johnson.

Jennifer Millsap, a Sting Team member and social work major originally from Redding, said the team has helped her develop confidence and make friends.

"The Team has given me a great opportunity to get to know people and what's going on campus first hand," said Millsap. "If I wasn't involved, I know I wouldn't go out as much as I do now. I know if I go to an event, I can count on at least one of the team members or ASI mentors will be there to hang with. It's not just a school thing, we're friends, " she said.

Millsap described the group members as positive, energetic and outspoken bunch with good heads on their shoulders.

Jopson agreed that being on the team has made the transition from high school to college a lot smoother.

She said the many hints on adjusting to campus life she has learned from the people she has met, like what professors to take and those to avoid, have made the past few months a breeze.

Crystal Clark, another Sting Team member, said the program is not only a great way to make a lot of new friends, but also an information service to freshmen unfamiliar with the campus and its activities.

"If I wasn't on the team, I probably would be like the majority of freshmen, completely unaware and uninformed," she said. "I probably wouldn't know where the ASI office is and right now I can get to it with my eyes closed. More importantly, I have direct contact with a highly motivated group of people that often get taken for granted on this campus."

Angel Gomez, a team member who came to CSUS from Clear Lake, said being the first group has given the team a lot of freedom and a comfortable environment to work and develop in.

"Being the first group, we are basically the guinea pigs. Since we are all learning about this program together, they give us a little leeway to have fun while getting a feel for student government," said Gomez. "The group is set up in a way that makes you want to join because being among nine other freshmen with the same goals, intimidation and shyness are forgotten."

Jeremy Brickner, mentor and Director of the College of Health and Human Services, said he is very pleased with the way the program is working, so far, and is thankful that such a dedicated and fun group volunteered the first time around.

"The program is working like a charm," said Brickner. "My Sting Team member, Jessica Bennick, has done so much with me already. She has co-authored some legislation with me that will be presented at the next board meeting on Nov. 4. She is a bundle of energy and it almost makes me jealous. The overall feeling I have right now is very positive," he said.

Like Brickner, Missick said his experience in the program has been extremely positive and the learning process has been personally rewarding.

"As President of 24,000 students, Gary amazingly always has time to smile and wave, and go the extra mile to help people learn. Seeing how humble and down-to-earth he is is truly inspiring," he said.