Gary Moratz / Roundup
More than 50 resolutions that could impact community colleges throughout California were up for discussion and debate recently.
The Student Senate for California Community Colleges had their annual Spring Assembly in San Diego May 1-3 at the Doubletree Hotel.
Resolutions are divided into different classifications and can affect issues such as academic freedom, financial aid and student services, to name a few.
A delegate from each college has one vote for each resolution, but can discuss it with the students who attend the conference with the delegate prior to casting their vote.
The SSCCC has all 21 topics listed and the resolutions that were voted on will be posted on their Web site so anyone can see what passed and which ones failed.
Conferences have breakout sessions that cover a wide range of topics to better educate student government members on how to conduct meetings, write resolutions, public speaking skills and other issues related to governance.
“It’s been a fascinating experience, you learn a lot at these assemblies,” said Navid Shaghaghi, interclub council chairperson for San Joaquin Delta College.
Voting for “senators-at-large” and “region representatives” takes place during the spring session. Rachel Richards from Santa Monica College was one of the senators-at-large elected to represent Region VII.
“The elections were exciting,” Richards said. “That’s what I was focused on this whole time.”
The SSCCC assembly takes place twice a year, in the spring and fall. The spring assembly takes place in the San Diego area and the fall assembly in San Jose. There are 109 colleges and 72 districts comprising the California Community College system, which represents 2.6 million students.
Policy is set by the Board of Governors, which has 17 members appointed by the state governor. These members formally interact with state and federal officials along with other state organizations that deal with community college issues.
There are 10 senators at the state level who are voted in by delegates to represent the 109 community colleges. Delegates are typically the Associated Students Organization presidents, or another ASO member the president appoints.
Senators-at-large help the BOG participate with legislature on local, state and federal levels.
“Majoring in law will help me when I participate with legislation,” said Sheila Dharod, a student and delegate of Los Angeles City College. “That’s why I’m running for state senator; I want to give the students of California a voice for important topics.”
More information about the SSCCC is available at http://www.studentsenateccc.org.