ASU grills food, raises trip funds

A smell of sensation circulated around campus triggering students' appetites during an ASU fundraising barbecue in the quad on Thursday.

"I smelled food, and I got an email, so I went looking for it by following my nose and I could not resist," student Dominga Nathaniel said. "It is a good cause helping out the ASU for their fundraising, and it is better than signing a petition."

The ASU served grilled hot links for $4 and hot dogs for $3, both of which came with a bag of chips and a soda, to fundraise for an annual student government conference.

"We have done (barbecues) in the past, but not in a long time," ASU President Rodney Wilson said.

ASU Vice President of Clubs Mikhael Bunda said the group needs to raise $6,000 for seven students to attend the American Student Government Association Conference in Los Angeles.

The conference is a professional training workshop teaching college student organizations how to execute their goals, maximize their productivity and allow students to strategize with peers from all over the region, Wilson said.

Bunda said the conference will benefit the ASU and in the future, the ASU will incorporate the barbecue as one of its big events.

The first-term president said the ASU will not have barbecues for free anymore because the organization cannot afford them. If all goes well, however, the ASU will look at doing the event once a week because it is economical for students.

He said the barbecues held previously were free and provided an alternative food source for students.

ASU Sen. Devin Gamble said he brought up the idea of the event and the ASU will continue them throughout the semester if they are successful.

"The ASU wants to do fun stuff for the student body considering this is a tough time for everyone," Gamble said. "I am happy that the event is happening and the funds came from donations and fundraising."