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Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Student government appoints 2 to council

Published 2012-03-07T11:38:00Z”/>

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Dan Reidel

Associated Students filled two officer vacancies Friday, after ineligibilities arose at the start of the semester.

Erik Taylor was approved as the new director of legislative affairs, replacing Joe Banez.

Luann Manss replaces Natalie Lessa as commissioner of environmental affairs.

Taylor was a legislative affairs council member when Banez was in office, A.S. President London Long said. She added that Taylor wants to follow through with the events Banez had planned before he became ineligible to continue in the position.

Taylor, a junior political science major from Irvine, decided to attend Chico State after a cousin told him about Chico’s atmosphere and community, he said.

The director of legislative affairs keeps students informed about bills regarding students’ interests in the state Legislature and sits on several boards including the board of directors, Taylor said. He wants to inform students about a bill called the Middle Class Scholarship Act.

“Middle class students get screwed over when it comes to financial aid,” Taylor said.

The plan closes tax loopholes for out-of-state businesses, and the money generated will go to middle class students who need financial assistance, he said.

“For the next two months it is definitely something that the legislative affairs position will be taking part in,” Taylor said.

Taylor ran a voter registration drive in May 2011 that registered more than 100 students to vote, he said. Through the drive, he contributed to “No on Measure A” winning with 69 percent of votes.

Measure A, voted down last year, would have moved city elections to summer if passed. Opponents argued that students were being disenfranchised, because many leave Chico for the summer months.

Taylor is unsure if he will run for re-election as director of legislative affairs, because he is also the president of the Student Democratic Club, he said.

Luann Manss, commissioner of environmental affairs, was not present for comment at the board of directors meeting Friday and could not be reached by press time Tuesday.

Manss is a “great student advocate,” Long said.

“She’s so personable and willing to work with anybody and willing to help make an event sustainable,” she said.

Manss should have been involved with student government a long time ago, Long said. She has always been active in sustainability and has worked well with A.S.

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<strong>Dan Reidel can be reached at</strong>

<em>[email protected]</em>

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