The ASYC: Our Student Government

Few students are aware of Associated Students of Yuba College or its purpose.

The ASYC is a serious organization dedicated to bettering the lives of the students, staff and the community. At their meetings, students are welcome to speak up and out about agenda items and to add their own issues to the agenda for later review.

Last spring, the issue of smoking on campus was brought to the council. This spring, there are more signs placed in nonsmoking areas as a reminder, and the signs are enforced more strictly than before.

When a student asks for a hearing with the college, a member of the ASYC is appointed to give that student fair representation.

According to current advisor, for the ASYC and Campus Life Coordinator Elizabeth Bowman, “The student council serves on college committees to give a ‘students view’ to administration.” The main job of an ASYC member is to protect the rights of the students, and they take that very seriously.

The ASYC is involved in many local fundraisers run through Campus Life, like Relay for Life and they even raise money for families who need help paying for funerals. Last Thanksgiving they gave meals to students who were unable to make it home to their families, and last Christmas they collected toys for Toy for Tots and presents for the senior citizen Angel Tree program.

With all the events they pitch in for, it’s surprising to learn that there are currently only six members serving in our student government. According to the guidelines, there should be one senator available for representation for every thousand students, currently there are only two and Yuba College has a few thousand more students than that.

With so few students with so much responsibility, one would think that the job would weigh pretty heavy on one’s shoulders, but the students’ feelings on that couldn’t be more different. Heather Williams, the current secretary of the ASYC, says that the atmosphere is “very laidback and fun”.

Nonetheless, they are still radically understaffed and therefore have to work twice as hard. Lack of student awareness about the student government is probably the main contributor to the ASYC’s small numbers, which is why they want you, students, to come in during election time and nominate yourself for a chance to have an invaluable position in our school and community.

Elections will be held at the end of March for ASYC positions. Elections start on March 31st and voting is from April 28th to the 30th.

Their office is in room 302b.Someone is always there to help, to listen to complaints, opinions or just to inform. The meetings are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1pm and are open to all students and staff to attend.