Woodland Students plan Rally for Measure J

The Associated Students on the Woodland campus met last Thursday afternoon to discuss the planning of a student rally to take place in the latter part of October. The rally will inform students about the Measure J, which is a bond that will renovate the Yuba Community College District, as well as provide much needed new buildings to three of its campuses. The goal of the rally will be to provide information regarding Measure J, showing the students, as well as the parents of students, its benefits. Also, the Associated Students of Woodland Community College hopes to get local press to cover the rally, informing the community of the activities pertaining to Measure J

The rally, planned for late October, will take place from noon until 1 p.m. It will be located in the middle of Woodland Campus. The activities will include free lunch for students, informative fliers and student speakers. Students will be discussing the benefits of Measure J, such as a new cafeteria being added to WCC and sports facilities that could benefit the whole community. Students will be passing out buttons and brochures as part of the campaign.

The ASWCC will also inform students about the positive effects of Measure J through fliers posted around campus prior to the rally. At some point before the rally, students may be briefed by an ASWCC officer regarding Measure J during the first few minutes of their classes.

The campaign for Measure J in the community is likely to include phone banks, tailored TV ads and signage throughout the city.

WCC faculty hope the students are the major voice in this campaign. WCC Faculty are in favor of the bond, however, are unable to encourage the bond because of a policy that states that they must be non-partisan during school hours. In other words, faculty are not permitted to lobby for votes.

Measure J will renovate older damaged buildings on all campuses in the Yuba College district. However, a large portion of the bond will go into the Woodland Community Campus. The bond would provide WCC with a much needed cafeteria, as well as an athletics program. The details of the bond are discussed in the Facilities Master Plan, which can be found at: http://www.yccd.edu/documents/viewdocument.php?id=1454.

There are no arguments against or any formal opposition to Measure J. The Board of Trustees, student body, college faculty and even the Mayor of Woodland support the bond measure. Mayor David Flory announced at the informative meeting that he “supports (Measure J) 1,000 percent, and will be there before and after.”