Jan. 16 marked the second general assembly meeting for student programs and clubs. Numerous programs attended, including those who had not been officially invited to the previous meeting held last quarter. During the meeting, the Associated Student Government voted to add programs that were overlooked. BC Speech and Debate Society, Model United Nations and The Watchdog were accounted for and added to the ASG Constituent Reports.
Alex Clark, environmental and social responsibility representative, spoke briefly on what he has been working on this quarter, emphasizing his transit-related efforts. “Metro is cutting 17% of their service county-wide, cutting back 600,000 service hours,” stated Clark. “What we have been focusing on is what is directly affecting our students, which is route 271 and 245.”
“The proposed cut would have them go around the college, instead of directly through it […] those two bus routes represent 55% of our transit riders and 17% of our entire student body, so these are extremely vital routes for our campus,” explained Clark. “Their proposed change would cause inaccessibility and safety issues with our students [. . .] we wrote a letter to the city council asking for support.” Clark and other members of ASG also wrote a letter to Metro along with a signed petition from students of BC to help prevent the cuts from affecting students.
As the assembly continued, the battle to fight hunger on BC campus was discussed. The once-proposed EBT accessibility for students on campus fell through last spring and many students and other King County residents were not pleased.
Terry spoke at the general assembly meeting about the efforts of their Hunger Relief Foundation. “Our Hunger Relief Program is also something we are looking to extend. We have funding and it is something that is happening right now that we are excited about,” said Terry.
“It is going to take us a while to get those EBT terminals on campus and while this is definitely something we want to do, and something we are fighting for, and we know within that time, there will be people who are going to be hungry, people who need to eat. So, we are putting together these pantries so that not only are students able to eat, but it [is] also for students who [are] able to give that opportunity to give,” Terry stated. The pantries to stop hunger at BC will be accessible to students; ASG is going to try to have the pantries placed in hallways around campus.
As winter quarter continues, Terry and other members of ASG will continue to brainstorm new ideas to keep Hunger Relief efforts continuing, promote positive change on campus and uphold campaign promises.
Although ASG is making efforts to help stop hunger on BC with numerous foundations at hand, the process is delayed and the initial result of feeding those who have no food, the solutions have been prolonged for reasons here and there.
An exclusive interview with the president of ASG revealed that fighting hunger, getting students involved with BC as a whole and most importantly, not letting promises go undone are just the tip of the iceberg of goals in mind.
“There was an oversight, and although we are working very hard to make sure we are in contact with BC and all of the programs, we do have 90 clubs. We have clubs in Student Programs but we also have clubs dispersed throughout the campus, that are dependent on student funds there was not a system in place, a solid communication network that we could use coming in to the term, so we are kind of developing that as we go,” Terry said regarding why not all clubs were invited to the previous General Assembly meeting.
Terry stressed his optimum achievement while still in office. “I have learned, more so recognized a lot that is going on, on this campus, with the student movement, on a national level, and that is what I would like to start gearing towards, to bring our student union to be focused on a national level.”
“Before we can do any of that, we need to start moving away from apathy, we really do. What we do today is going to affect how our country is operated in the future,” said Terry. “Now is the time for us to say what is needed to be said.”