Members of the Associated Students Senate will no longer have to battle with fellow students for parking spaces next semester.
Superintendent-President John Romo has allotted eight parking permits to student senators that will allow them to park in places formally reserved exclusively to faculty and staff. These places included the lower of the West Campus parking lot across from the BC Forum and the East Campus lot above La Playa Stadium.
Student Body President James Carter said he is pleased the college approved his plan to award student senators parking passes. In a college where the student senate has a say in college dealings, it is important they feel equal in every way, he said.
“Student senators don’t get paid. They deserve something for their hard work,” said
Carter.
Carter first discovered the possibility of offering members of student government staff parking spaces when he traveled to a state student leadership conference in Sacramento last year. Carter also discovered online student body elections. Yet some senators view this as an attempt to recruit students who are less interested in student government, and more interested in premier parking places.
“People’s motives could be wrong,” said Senator Joey Williams. “I don’t think this is the message we should be sending students.”
Another senator said the plan is unfair because it overlooks student tutors who work on campus and don’t receive such privileges.
“If I wasn’t a student senator I would see this as unfair,” said George Bullock, commissioner of clubs and organizations. Bullock also works as a tutor in the business department.
His supervisors Assistant Dean Ben Partee and Ann Frysle, director of the office of Student Life, signed Carter’s proposal. When Romo received the plan, he brought it before the executive committee where it was approved.
Romo said the senate plays an important role in the college’s decision-making process. He also feels Carter has been a positive proactive leader during his time in office.
“I see this as a way of saying thank you to students who give their time to this college,” said Romo. “The senate is the center of student life on campus and James is trying to make that known.”