The A.S. Council approved the appointments of new freshman senators from each of UCSD’s six colleges during the council’s Nov. 5 meeting.

The new senators replace interim representatives that have been serving as freshman senators since the council’s first meeting in May.

After reviewing applications and interviewing candidates, freshman senators are selected by each college council and then must be approved by the A.S. Council.

“”I was a little worried about my interview,”” newly appointed Eleanor Roosevelt College Freshman Senator Arielle Maccio said. “”So when they called and said that I got it, I was so excited.””

Maccio, who has a self-described “”passion for leadership,”” is the first freshman senator from ERC to live at the college’s new campus.

“”Our [college council] chairperson said, ŒYou need to start checking your e-mail because you’re no longer an ordinary student,’ “” Maccio said. “”It’s a lot of meetings, a lot of e-mailing back and forth and just a very large time commitment.””

Thurgood Marshall College Freshman Senator Alan Haimowitz was surprised to be appointed “”not because I didn’t feel like I could do it, but because it was a great honor.””

Haimowitz described the job interviews as “”a little intimidating.””

“”I had to go in for a joint-selection interview where they had … a lot of people just sitting around in this little semi-circle with me in the center,”” Haimowitz said. “”Everybody’s looking at you and you know that they’re just judging you on everything that you say.””

Earl Warren College Freshman Senator Erik Ward said he also had a memorable interview.

“”I initially applied as a [Judicial] Board member,”” Ward said. “”So I go to my interview, and halfway through the interview, they tell me about senator and how it sounds like I’m more qualified for a senator job than J-Board.””

The fact that this is Ward’s first position in student government has not deterred him from proposing campus changes ranging from getting elevators inspected for safety to reducing the sogginess of the grass at Warren. Ward also hopes to decrease the number of stops on the campus loop shuttle route.

“”Between OVT and the parking lot for RIMAC, there are four stops,”” Ward said. “”The bus doesn’t even get up to 10 miles-per- hour. It’s ridiculous.””

John Muir College Freshman Senator Billy Lieberknecht, whose brother Nick was Muir College Council chair for 2002-03, brings a familiar name to the council. He said he looks forward to working with other councilmembers to institute a senator exchange program between the colleges to promote the spread of ideas.

Joseph Chern, Sixth College’s freshman senator, was selected by the Student Council of Sixth College only one day before the A.S. Council meeting.

Chern, who said he looks forward to improving the lives of Sixth College freshmen, is also a firm supporter of freshman parking.

“”Freshman have the same priority as juniors and seniors and the other classes,”” Chern said. “”[Freshman] are basically living on their own also, so why should they have any disadvantages?””

Revelle College Freshman Senator Janet Wang plans to be careful in fulfilling the needs of her position without overcommitting her time.

“”I like to be involved, wherever I’m going,”” Wang said. “”A.S. Council is able to offer me [the opportunity to] be informed about everything that’s happening on campus, have a say in things, be able to represent, meet people, and get all of those benefits in one organization.””

The length and formality of A.S. Council meetings are providing new experiences for the freshman representatives.

“”[The council meetings] are very long, but I knew that going in, and very formal, which can intimidate a lot of people … but it’s all for a reason,”” Billy Lieberknecht said.

Ward described the learning curve faced by freshman senators who are unfamiliar with parliamentary procedure used at the meetings.

“”I didn’know what was going on the first couple meetings because, obviously, they’re talking all this different parliamentary procedure,”” Ward said. “”Then, I went to the council retreat, and the next week at A.S. [Council], I knew what I was doing. It was a lot easier to know what was going on.””

Sixth College Chair Crystal Erlendson said that the campus closures last week due to the fires in San Diego county caused a delay in the appointment process.

The council approved all of the senators’ appointments by consensus.