Forum allows student voice
Jessica Knapp
Communicator

Student government beseeches students to join the democratic process as elections loom.

On April 30, student government candidates held a forum inside the SFCC Café in order for students to know what they plan on accomplishing in the 2008-2009 school year.

“We have a very successful election this year as all positions are filled,” said Megan Brownlee, Academic Vice President.

This is different from the past years as not all positions have been filled. Four out of the five if the positions are running unopposed, with 3 candidates running for the position of Associated Women Student’s President, one of which a male.

Each candidate was given 3 minutes to speak on the issues they planned on addressing upon opening up the floor to student and faculty questions. Campus security, faculty and student communication flow and the availability of student officials to students themselves were all hot issues touched on in this forum.

“I want to provide better unity and say I’m proud to be from SFCC,” said Oscar Oscana, A.S. President candidate.

By far the biggest issue to students was the running of a male student for the representation of the women on campus. Questions from faculty and students were shot at David Thuneman, A.W.S. candidate concerning his reasoning, goals and qualifications. According to Thuneman, his plans were to increase involvement in this club using resources allocated to him

“I was told that this was small club that didn’t have a lot of involvement,” said Thuneman.

The two other candidates for A.W.S. spoke on their focus on helping other women on campus with any issue brought to them.

“I am fully prepared to be an advocate for all students,” said Sheena Thompson, A.W.S candidate. Thompson is also a staff Communicator.

Associated Men Student’s candidate Jonathan Clayton said hisfocus was on continuing Alex Crouch’s work of reaching out to the community and showing the students what men care about.

“My main goal is to continue to further the excellence that men bring to this school,” Clayton said.

Candidates Dave Baughman, Activities V.P. and Alex Crouch, Academic V.P. agreed on that getting the word out to students is not only about what events are going on but on the issues that students should be aware of.

“We are to strive to meet the needs of the students and to be a resource to students,” said Baughman. Baughman is Marketing Director of the Communicator.

New candidates will be introduced to the Student Body during the senate social on May 14 at 11:30 a.m.

You can contact the writer at staffwriter@spokanefalls.edu