New State Student Senate transitions

Representing 2.6 million students

By M.J. Abdulbari
OPINIONS EDITOR

The Student Senate Council for the California Community Colleges (SSCCC) met this summer to prepare it’s incoming officers for the new academic year.
Representing 2.6 million students in the shared governance process at the state level, 30 student representatives began their terms this past July, including Marlene C. Hurd, president of the Black Caucus of the California Student Association of Community Colleges, who serves as a senator for Region III.
Former San Mateo CCD Student Trustee Richael Young was elected the SSCCC’s first woman-president in it’s three-year history.
Young, “honored to represent our students in this capacity,” looks forward “to the upcoming opportunities to make education California’s first priority.”
Sacramento City College student Troy Carter, who served as the SSCCC’s Communications Officer last year was elected Vice-President. Steven Ferguson of Glendale College was elected Secretary, Avery Ryder of San Diego Mesa College was elected Treasurer while David Fisher of American River College was elected Communications officer.
The 30-member body is comprised of 20 regional senators, two from each of the California Community Colleges (CCC) ten region, along with ten at-large senators.
Although five students of African Descent ran for at-large senator positions on the council at the Spring General Assembly in May, none were elected.
“It highlights the need for our organization to empower people locally,” said Hurd, “in order to elevate us at the state level.”
Hurd was appointed to serve alongside Young as the SSCCC’s representative to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the.
The SSCCC, in addition to the work of various committees, is currently preparing for its’ fall General Assembly which will be held Oct. 22-24 at the San Jose Doubletree.
SSCCC meets on the first weekend of each month. •H•