Originating from Goleta, Lisa Sloan has 37 years of experience as a senior environmental health specialist.
With a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Cal Poly, she now runs for Area 2 of City College’s Board of Trustees following councilmember Robert K. Miller’s stepping down.
Her most urgent point of focus remains the school’s fiscal budget, as well as Measure P.
“My understanding of Measure P is that it is intended for the facilities,” Sloan said. “The point of Measure P is to refurbish buildings. We actually passed a measure in 2008, [which would allocate] $77 million to refurbish the buildings.”
Sloan argues that Measure P only serves to build seemingly pointless installations on campus, where the funds’ intended purpose for refurbishing run-down classrooms and facilities is not being fulfilled.
“They used [the money from the bond] to build a press box near the stadium, and so we still have to refurbish buildings,” Sloan said, referring to the board’s use of the money. “But now they’re talking about building a new gymnasium.”
Were Sloan elected to the vacant Board of Trustees chair, she says she would immediately commence a mass audit of City College’s funds and fiscal policy.
“What I would do is an assessment,” Sloan said. “I would look and see where the money is going, and be a lot more strict about the budget.”
Sloan says she will have an “open door” policy, so that students may air their grievances directly to her, and by extension, the whole board.
“We want to make sure that every student feels welcome on campus, no matter what you look like,” Sloan said. “We are all human beings created in God’s image, we have zero tolerance for hate or violence on campus.”
Sloan believes that giving underprivileged students the means to complete their educations will raise them out of poverty. Her grassroots approach is dead set on City College’s position as a resource.
According to Sloan, what City College’s administration ultimately needs is a diversity of opinions.
“I think there’s too much division based upon what you think. […] I actually know someone who was told that he was wearing a hat that had the name of a politician on it, and he ended up being told ‘You cannot wear that hat.’ [Because of this,] he ended up quitting [City College].”
“What we need is more diversity of opinions on the City College board,” Sloan said. “It’s five against one. […] There’s two that have dissenting opinions, and they’re overruled every time.”
