PVCC: Spectrum

Column:
Now You See Them, Now You Don't
By Kalina Ontman

Student representative? What? We have a representative? Where? That was the common response from students when asked who their student representatives are. The first election for representatives here at Penn Valley was held last semester, and two representatives were elected: one to represent PVCC students to the Penn Valley administration, and the other to represent PVCC students to MCC.

So what do these representatives actually do? Amanda Walker, our campus rep, explained her job: "It's a little bit of representing the student, also representing the staff and the student, bridging the gap between the two. And really just being there for the student, whatever the student needs." She said that they are supposed to hold a monthly forum to reach out to the students.

Walker talked of being "a student aid to guide the student." But where has this happened? She said that people higher up have not made it easy for the representatives, and that Penn Valley in general is not very organized.

She has many goals, including getting our campus to look cleaner and lowering prices in the cafeteria. Walker said she has been able to lower a few prices. However, in general, Cafe Scout meal costs have increased. She also said that she was able to get the bathrooms to look and smell cleaner since last semester.

Though these are great goals, many students thought they were voting for a genuine voice in the so-called "shared governance" MCC likes to tout. These students want to effect change on higher priority issues as well, such as why we continue to do business with Treat America - a famously mediocre-to-bad food service company - in the first place, or bringing LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) students under the protection of the discrimination policy here at Penn Valley, or looking out for students' interests in dealing with upcoming financial aid changes.

Penn Valley's district representative, Jill Street, was unresponsive to multiple Spectrum inquiries. Which raises the question: How, exactly, are students supposed to get in contact with her, so she can represent them?

From all reports, Street has a wonderful personality as does Walker, but when it comes to their accomplishments as Penn Valley student representatives, very little can be said. That is no doubt because the positions to which they were elected were never intended to have any real influence anyway, and certainly not to establish anything like genuine "student government," as it is commonly understood on most college campuses.

To contact campus representative Amanda Walker, make an appointment to visit her Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11-12, at the Office of Student Life and Leadership on the mid-level of the dining area, or email her at amina2222@yahoo.com.

Don't want to bother with student reps that were selected by the administration first, then voted on by students who thought they were voting for real change? PVCC President Bernard Franklin recently said that by this summer or next fall, students can expect to be able to go to an ombudsman, a special advocate to speak for them on specific complaints. Students may go to the ombudsman with any issues concerning faculty, classes, or the campus.

Apparently, the ombudsman will also be appointed by the administration.

Tell us what you think. Write Spectrum at editor@mcckc.edu.

Return to Front Page