Twelve out of 32 Senate seats were filled during the last Wednesday’s Senate meeting, which was the first of the semester.

Also, returning members discussed ways to recruit more members to fill the remaining seats.

In addition, ASCC President Joe Cobarrubio must appoint and the Senate approve a candidate who will be replacing former ASCC Vice President Alex Armendariz who stepped down last semester after he maxed out his six semesters of service.

Holly Bogdanovich, director of student activities, said she hopes that those who have returned to the ASCC will encourage other students to pick up an application.

“I hope that (they) will encourage students to volunteer their time to the (ASCC),” she said.

Currently there are two vacancies in Cabinet and one vacancy in Court with the addition to the appointment of the ASCC Chief Justice.

One of those who are seeking to join Court is Joella Brizuela, sports medicine major.

She said that although she is a newcomer to student government she decided to apply because she hopes to develop leadership skills.

“When I attended the ASCC Leadership Conference on Jan. 3-5 I got the sense that Cerritos has a great faculty and a good spirit.”

As for members in the Senate, they say that though there was a low turnout and 17 vacancies for the meeting that there will be an effort to encourage students to know how student government works.

Senator Ray Gonzalez said that those who have thought about joining student government should do so.

“What he or she will gain is leadership experience,” he said, “and during Club Information Day on Jan. 23 there will be information available to those interested.”

President Pro-Tem Jorge Ramirez said that he too hoped for new faces, or as he put it, “It’s all about recruit, recruit, recruit!”

For Senator Jaime Sandoval it was more than just gaining leadership skills during a student’s tenure on student government.

“That person will have to adjust their schedule to be involved with the Cabinet, Senate or Court.”

However, Mario Torres, psychology major, who applied to be in Senate, said that he looks forward to being appointed at Wednesday’s Senate meeting.

He said that he too hopes that students will be interested in joining the ASCC. “I’m excited that I will be a part of student government,” he said.