ASMCC aims to increase participation by students

Jessica Smith

The Associated Students of Mesa Community College (ASMCC), MCC’s student government, is geared up for an active and successful 2009-10 school year. They kicked off the semester with Welcome Week holding events on the Southern/Dobson and Red Mountain campuses during the first week of classes.

Events included a carnival, club fair, and ASMCC meet and greet.

Spencer Morgan, the ASMCC President said Welcome Week was a huge success. “It went actually extremely well, one of the most successful events that I’ve witnessed on this campus,” Morgan said. “During that week, between Monday and Thursday, we met with or we had nearly 3,000 students go through our events, which is 10% of the (student) population.”

ASMCC has three main goals for this year, creating student involvement, advocating for student’s need, and increasing communication between faculty/staff and students.

When asked how they were going to increase student involvement Morgan said, “We’ve really focused this year on creating events that students will want to be at and at the same time, providing mediums where they can get that information,” Morgan said.

“We’re trying to find new and creative ways in order to reach the student population through different mediums, for example the chalk art that we used for Welcome Week this year.”

According to Morgan, students are already stopping by the student government offices, located on the ground floor of the Kirk Center, to request help with various issues.

These range from trying to get the skateboard policy on campus changed, to increasing teacher evaluations and the standard issues like parking and tuition.

The ASMCC has office hours during the week in which students can stop by and speak with the student government executive board. Students can also contact them by phone at 480-461-7278.

“Really the focus this year is trying to create means for them to be able to advocate these things for themselves, providing them with the tools,” Morgan said. “(We’re) creating a student Senate, for example that they have an opportunity to go and address concerns at, and to have an atmosphere in Senate where they want to take on these policy issues.

“With the Executive Board, creating a culture where people can walk into our office and talk about issues and we will actually follow up and act on them.”

The first Senate meeting was held on Sept. 9.

The student Senate at MCC is made up of two different groups, one consisting of senators elected from campus clubs and the other of students known as independent senators, who wish to take a more active role in campus politics.

Students can apply to become independent senators.

Positions are filled based on Senate approval and those wishing to get involved should speak with Shaundra Newstead the Vice President and Senate chair.

ASMCC has been very visible on campus so far this year which has helped increase administration and staff confidence in the new student government.

“Really, what has hindered communication between faculty and staff and the student population has been that there has been kind of a mistrust,” Morgan said.

“From the administration’s viewpoint, a lack of responsibility and accountability in the student government.”

Much of this breakdown in communication can be attributed to the yearly change in student government officers, making it difficult for ASMCC to forge lasting relationships with students and staff.

The main objectives of this administration are linked to an underlying desire to return to the basics of student government.

They are committed to representing the student population, meeting their needs, and ensuring that they have a voice in campus affairs.

“I think in the past we’ve kind of strayed from that in order to tackle less meaningful or tangent projects that aren’t really necessary for a student government and they’re not fulfilling our potential.” Morgan said.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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