Some of the recent staff and budget cuts have affected the ASYC – Associated Students of Yuba College in ways that are hard to comprehend while being told that Yuba College is “all about the students.”
The ASYC is our form of government at the education level. It is made up of an elected group of officers and a number of open “Senator” seats. Ideally, there would be one person for every one hundred students enrolled. President Juan Cervantes is serving as the leader of the ASYC for this Academic Year. The ASYC represents the student body in all matters, including disciplinary hearings.
During the round of cuts in January, Elizabeth Bowman had her position in Campus Life eliminated. Though Ms. Bowman (who had been serving as the ASYC Advisor) still remains on campus, in another position, the decision was made by Administration to assign a new advisor for ASYC.
The new adviser, Miriam Root, in her position as a public relations person, speaks for the Administration and not for the students. This, understandably, creates a conflict for her to deal with. It is not surprising that she is forced to advise the student government in a manner that is more beneficial to her supervisor(s) than to the student government. In fact, in the words of one ASYC officer, “Ms. Root goes so far as to hinder activities.”
For example, since Bowman’s removal, you cannot get a student ID card for a sporting event admission or for proof of student status on campus or in the community.
It is rumored that ID’s may start being issued again in the near future, but time will tell.
One rumored consequence of this: two of our military students had their lives complicated by the lack of a Yuba College ID card that “could not be issued” to them in a timely manner.
Without the last minute commitment of Bowman, many nursing students would have been left without their mandatory ID’s as well.
President Cervantes advises us that Yuba College is the only community college where the student government reports to a public relations person for the school. Other schools report to the Dean of Student Services or someone in their department.
All students are encouraged to get involved in the student government process. Elections will be held in a few weeks and more involvement will let the District and College know that we take our student government rights seriously and that we want an active student government that is not an extension of the College/District Public Relations Department.
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