Student government leaders take on duties from advocate to watchdog
Modesto Bee 3/28/07
Enter student government — the watchdog for students.
Modesto Junior College students will decide who will be their representatives for the 2007-08 academic year when they fill out ballots next week.
California State University, Stanislaus, and Columbia College students will visit the polls in April, with University of California at Merced students voting in early May. The two universities are still accepting applications from students, but the filing period for the community colleges has passed.
Most people remember student body elections from high school, but not as many realize the same representation exists in college.
Student government leaders fulfill many roles as the voice of the students.
"We're the advocate for those who won't, don't speak up. They need that extra backbone of support," said Chelsea Minor, president of Associated Students Inc. at Stanislaus State and a political science senior.
Officers assigned to committees
Student government officers must meet grade requirements and attend weekly meetings. Some are assigned to campus committees that manage issues such as facilities, curriculum and safety.
"We know the types of things it means to be a student, especially a lot of the current struggles of students," Minor said.
Besides presidents, vice presidents and senators, voters may be asked to approve referendums. UC Merced students will see a request to increase their fees paid to Associated Students of UCM. Students pay $20 a year, but student leaders are asking for $130 annually, said Josh Franco, AS president and public policy senior. The extra money would finance more events and activities, along with training and lobbying efforts.
Student leaders are struggling to raise awareness about and participation in student government. Many candidates at local colleges will run uncontested. And once students settle into government positions, they may quit at a new semester, depending on their class load.
Some colleges offer students a stipend for their work. MJC officers can earn about $100 a month, and senators receive about $100 a semester, which amounts to about 10 cents per hour of work, said Maria Quijalvo, president of Associated Students of MJC.
Uncertainty limits interest
Student interest in elections is hardest to drum up at junior colleges, MJC students said.
"School ends in April, typically students are not able to commit to a volunteer job that starts in September as they don't know yet what their courses will be. The lifestyle of a community college student is transient," said Quijalvo, who is working toward transferring to Stanislaus State to study sociology.
Students vote on MJC's east campus on April 2 and 3, and on west campus on April 4 and 5. Up for election are seven officers and 10 at-large senators.
Last year, turnout was about 10 percent. Participation at four-year colleges is a little higher.
"Students are studying for finals. They don't want to have anything to do with school right now besides studying," Quijalvo said.
Much of student government's impact is indirect, local student leaders said. But when students need help, they learn about student government very quickly.
When water aerobics classes were cut this summer at MJC, students rallied Associated Students for support. Adaptive aerobics classes are necessary for disabled students and their physical therapy, Quijalvo said.
"When they cut adaptive (water classes), they cut out a whole population of students," she said.
By working with administrators, Associated Students got one class reinstated, she said.
Besides being the voice of their colleagues, student leaders also lobby administrators and state legislators on issues ranging from class offerings, textbook prices and tuition fees. MJC alone spends $45,000 a year on training and lobby trips.
"Without students standing up for their peers, who else will?" Franco asked.