LCC student apathy is reflected by the college’s completion rate — the lowest among Oregon’s community colleges, at 7 percent — but the apa- thy is reflected in the voter turnout rate, as well.
Last year, only 555 students of more than 10,000 students enrolled at LCC voted in the Senate election.
ASLCC represents students to LCC’s Board of Education to fight on behalf of students on issues like tuition increases, lack of student spaces on campus, transportation concerns and social equality for non-traditional students.
The Senate also represents us in the state legislative sessions as part of the Oregon Student Association, where they lobby on issues like textbook costs, disinvestment in community colleges, tuition hikes and more.
In last year’s election, candidates ran unopposed for all positions except multicultural coordinator. Four Senate seats were vacant after the election. Mario Parker-Milligan secured his second year as president without a rival.
Imagine if this were our national government. America would be appalled and just about anybody who filed for candidacy would be empowered to make major financial and political decisions on behalf of the public.
With $326,271 under its supervi- sion in 2011-12, ASLCC has a huge responsibility to the students. The Senate provides funding for any student-related activities or events that occur on campus, controls the funding of every club on campus and spends a large sum of money sending students to conferences in Baltimore, Florida and Washington, D.C.
Students pay $47.75 per term into this budget, but the majority of students didn’t vote in last year’s elections, don’t attend Senate meetings, and have never spoken to the president or any of the senators elected to represent them.
It is imperative that this representation be handled effectively and responsibly. Otherwise, we endanger the future of student success in college. We need active and reliable members in ASLCC in order to ensure our students are advocated for properly on every level.
Currently, there are two open senate seats and two other open ASLCC positions.
In the spring elections, there will be 10 senate seats available, as well as four student finance board seats, a president/vice president ticket, the treasurer position, the multicultural coordinator position and many other appointed positions.
The Torch encourages students to run for these positions, which present a unique opportunity for students to learn how to lobby and be a representative, a side of politi- cal learning impossible to replicate within a classroom setting.
But even if you don’t plan on running for an ASLCC position, please — above all — make sure you vote. Lack of participation in elections is a silent threat to democracy and an injustice to voters themselves.
