The Senator

Advocacy.

Student Government at the community college level is a lot different than it was at the HighSchool level. At High School, it felt like Student Government were the leaders of events and other things along those lines, including clubs and other organizations. Now, at the Community College, it’s all about advocacy and fighting for the students. Although it’s different, I like the advocacy aspect of the ASB of Community College, known as ASO of El Camino College.

Recently, I have been made the Senator of Mathematical Sciences at El Camino College. By recently, I mean yesterday. Halfway through the year, the Senator of Mathematical Sciences moved to a new position, leaving the vacancy. I applied, and was appointed, meaning that I would now have voting privileges in the Student Senate. I can now more easily advocate for the needs of the students in my division. Already being on the Division Council for Mathematical Sciences allowed me to see the perspective of the Dean and Professors, and now I can take that to the Student Senate and provide clarity to them.

So what does need to be done? For one, adding more engineering courses and computer science courses which are both underdeveloped. Right now, we are trying to show the need for these courses due to students having to commute to other community colleges in the area. This hurts not only the students, but El Camino College as potential students in STEM may be discouraged from attending. Although we are just students, we hold a strong voice rooted in advocacy which can lead to the change El Camino College needs.