Letter to the Editor
RE: “Official” Clubs at SCC
In the most recent opinion column of your publication, the Ebbtide, Dan Gayle supposedly “exposes” his perceived shortcomings of the Shoreline Community College Student Body Association Student Government and its “bureaucratic red tape.” I speak on behalf of the SCCSBA Student Government and numerous upset representatives from many active clubs on campus that have brought this article to my attention and have requested that an opposition article be written to counter this extremely biased, irresponsibly reported, and misinformed opinion piece.
The first complaint lodged in this article is that “It’s not that students aren’t interested, it’s just that being an ‘official’ club isn’t worth a lot of their time. The bureaucratic red tape that students need to wade through is enough to cause many students to walk.” My answer to this is that a reporter really should research all the details before stating that as fact. Are there any students that were interviewed proclaiming that they are upset with the process and are willing to go on the record?
Compared to what other institutions require of their students, we facilitate an exceedingly friendly process. In order to have the historical $1000 baseline budget, all a club needs to do is show that they have a reasonable idea to enhance student life here on campus, a decent roster of ten names (considering how many students attend this school that is really not asking much), and a constitution in which the club is to be governed by. This is not a lot to ask for considering the amount of benefit to be gained.
When Gayle suggested that all clubs are fraudulent by stating that “many clubs just grab random friends to sign…. It’s a farce,” he insults all the really hard work that active clubs on campus do. For example, the Wordsmithies put together a successful fundraiser last spring. The Asian-Pacific Islander’s Club worked very hard to put together a successful fashion show for the campus in January and did constant charity drives and informational tables to make a difference not just here on campus, but on the community and global scales as well. The Black Student Union, the African Student Club, and the Hip Hop Club have been putting on barbeques on campus and in the community in the spring to promote friendship and to foster and improve that sense of community we have on this campus.
Most recently, the BSU, Hip-Hop Club, and the Rebel Alliance raised funds in order to do aid work over spring break down in New Orleans. These are only a few examples of the amazing clubs we have on campus that also help facilitate hugeevents like Multi–Cultural Week.
Also, any club that is caught misusing student funds will be subject to the review of the Student Senate Budget & Finance Committee and if the allegation is found to be valid they may be subject to the revocation of their budget by the approval of the Student Senate. Other penalties may be assessed depending on the situation and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Dan Gayle, I suggest that if you know of any such clubs that are not using their budgets to enhance student life that you report to the Student Senate so that it may be investigated. That would be a constructive way to assist the process in being more fair and transparent.
Gayle also alleged that the Student Government is exceedingly uncompromising when he asked, “What about the students…,[that] are too busy to attend to the needs of the SBA?” If students are too busy to attend the meetings that are held by the SCCSBA Student Government then they are encouraged to arrange for another representative to present their views and needs or contact the SCCSBA Vice President or any available/ willing member of the Executive Board to present on their behalf. For example, the Photo Forum Club was re-recognized on May 3rd. Their representative, Rene Severtson, was not feeling well and did not desire to attend the whole meeting. She empowered me to present on her behalf to the Student Senate and was not denied. Also, I will be presenting on behalf of the International Muslim Alliance and the Psychology Club during today’s (May 10) Senate Meeting.
I think that Gayle presented the members of the Student Government unfairly when he stated, “The Student Government sets its meetings and club functions…in the middle of class times, so it is really a hardship for many to dance the bureaucratic dance.” My answer to this is that it would be impossible to schedule anything outside of class times since we have a combination of morning (peak) classes, evening, weekend, hybrid, and online classes. There is no time that is outside of class times. Meetings for the Executive Board, the Student Senate, & UCC are generally scheduled in the late afternoon (2p.m. is frequently a start time) since that is the time in which the lowest frequency of classes are taught.
Iam most offended by the portion of the article that states “Fill this form, or else. Get these signatures, or else. Show up at this meeting, or else. Present…, or else.” There is no penalty for not “dancing” for us, but there is a level of accountability that must be established in order for a club (recognized group of students) to reserve rooms, represent the college within the community, et cetera.
Legal requirements must be met, and, honestly, if Gayle has an issue with legal requirements he is wrestling with a bear much larger than the SCCSBA Student Government or the administration of this college. Club Advisors serve a dual purpose and are compensated as such, they provide the level of accountability and supervision that the College and State Law require and also provide clubs with specialized guidance and experience. Without this process, numerous resources would be unavailable to everybody due to unforeseen liabilities and other forms of damage that may occur without the guidance and knowledge of College Policies, State Laws, etc.
Gayle’s claims regarding the $1000 baseline budget issue are ridiculous. The $1000 is historic and there is no document in existence that binds us to that amount. Gayle fails to provide insight into the process through which all of the money that is managed by Student Government is handled over the course of the year.
All money managed by the SCCSBA (SS&A Fees) that is not spent on clubs fund many of the things that seriously impact students on this campus. We support students’ responsibly through tutoring and vital services that are provided by the Multi-Cultural and Women’s Center. The reason why that level of money may not be provided next year is that the students (SCCSBA) have embarked on a capital project, the renovation of the Pagoda Union Building, and since enrollment is currently down, we are generating less fee revenue and therefore need to come up with more money to pay for our Certificate of Participation (COP= State Loan).
The SCCSBA Student Government is currently making some hard decisions when it comes to budgets and none are taken lightly. We are trying to ensure that all of our obligations are being met while trying to provide future years with the highest level of sustainability that we can.
A point of information for everyone: The Ebbtide is funded with student money also.
The last issue that I will address is Gayle’s statement about Student Government conjuring a “ton of red tape...to access some of these additional benefits as a club.” Once again, this is not some grand plot developed by a conspiracy of Student Governments past and present. Legal requirements require that the College (not the Student Government) require these forms to establish a paper trail and a minimum level of accountability. Once again, if Gayle is dissatisfied with this, then I suggest that he respectfully speak to the Board of Trustees during their Open Comment Period to inform them of his complaint about state legal requirements.
Jamie Ardeña and others in the Student Programs Office have been working diligently to help make this process much more consistent and accessible to all. They should be rewarded for their efforts and for their creation of the Student Activities Manual to assist clubs in planning and navigating this process.
Also, Gayle should feel free to contact any member of Student Government, or our advisor if he has any questions or concerns about Student Government actions.
The only fact he wrote was that “there is a lot of money at stake, and you are responsible to everyone to spend it correctly.”
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