Sac City Express » associated student government

Public relations commissioner resigns

Matthew Urner — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:35:33 +0000

Emma Snuggs resigns from former ASG as students campaign for roles in the City College student government, now called the Student Associated Council. Former ASG President Leedell Williams is running again for president of SAC. |Evan E. Duran| sacupcycles@yahoo.com

Former Associated Student Government (ASG) Public Relations Commissioner, Emma Snuggs stepped down from her position Oct. 5 accusing board members of racial discrimination.

“The board is hostile and unapproachable,” Snuggs said in her resignation speech. “I’ve suffered overt racism and harassment, hostility and discrimination. This shamefu behavior is being modeled by administrators.”

Snuggs, who is Native American, said her concerns about racism arose after ASG President Leedel Williams appointed a majority of African Americans to theDisciplinary Appeals Committee.

“I should’ve been on the disciplinary board,” Snuggs said. “I am a minority and feel like I’ve just been trampled on by my own board and certain administrators.”

Snuggs said Student Discipline Officer Elaine Ader warned Williams that there was a formal complaint against Snuggs. The complaint was lodged against Snuggs after a verbal altercation she had with Admissions and Records, according to Snuggs.

Snuggs said the complaint is old and has no validity.

“They’re just scrounging for ways to keep me off the committee,” Snuggs said.

The committee composed of five students and seven faculty members. When a student appeals a disciplinary reprimand, the committee holds a hearing. Ader claimed there was no room for bias on the committee, and by violating the code of conduct students create a conflict of interest in the appeals process.

“After a few years of experience, I have a rule: Anyone who has violated the student code of conduct should not be on the panel,” said Ader. “There are 21,000 students without
behavior code violations. I’d rather just have five of them.”

Ader said Snuggs is taking the decision personally, when, according to Ader, it is not a personal matter.

“I’ve tried my very hardest to promotes positivity, community and diversity,” Snuggs said.

Reuben Banuelos, vice president of the Indigenous Peoples Club, said, “I fully support Emma. She has always looked out for every group of people,”

Banuelos said he believes everything Snuggs said in her resignation speech about suffering from racial discrimination.

ASG President Williams was responsible for appointing the five students who are currently on the Disciplinary Appeals Committee.

“Ms. Snuggs, nor any student, has ever been the subject of racial prejudice by the ASG under my administration,” said Williams. “Ms. Snuggs was considered as an appointee, but ultimately her appointment was rejected by Discipline Officer, Dr. Elaine Ader.”

ASG Commissioner of Technology Husham Haroun was sitting next to Snuggs during her resignation speech. He said Snuggs had attacked the board over lack of racial
diversity in previous meetings.

According to Haroun, the board should be ethnically diverse and reflect the campus population as much as possible.

“For some time, black students were the only ones showing interest [in the Disciplinary Appeals Committee],” said Haroun. “We didn’t plan that or try to work that in.”
ASG elected Olivia Gover as the new PR Commissioner for ASG shortly after Snuggs’ resignation.

“Snuggs was a very good PR,” said Haroun. “She knew how to get the word out. She was good at getting students involved and promoting our cause. She was very dedicated to her job. We now have someone new. It’s going to take a while for ASG to get up to speed. We have very high expectations for Gover.”

City College elections

Jake Willis — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:09:23 +0000

Outgoing City College Associated Student Government president Justin Turner (left) is next to his successor, current Chief Justice and newly elected ASG president Leedel Williams. Photo by Vincent Fernandez

Former Associated Student Government Senator and Chief Justice Leedel Williams was voted in as president over business major Braxton Lethco after students cast their votes electronically April 12-13 at City College for the first time.

Los Rios Community College District decided to implement electronic voting machines during elections for the 2011-2012 school year. Three hundred and forty-four City College students used the machines to approve ratification of the new student constitution and voted on candidates running for ASG positions. Other wins included Lemanda “D” Del Toro for vice president, Richard Ragudo Jr. as Student Affairs commissioner, Emma Snuggs as Public Relations commissioner and Husham Haroun as Technology commissioner.

Two new student senators, Jack Jones and Nakia Rhodes, were also elected.

344 students from City College voted during the elections, adding to a total 2026 votes from the entire Los Rios district.

The new student constitution will be implemented Nov. 1, and another election will be held afterward to elect new officers.

For more information on student government, contact Kim Beyrer.

Electronic voting at City College

Tony Goodloe — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:38:28 +0000

The Express Stock Photo

It’s election time at City College and students are preparing to cast their votes–electronically.

For the first time students will be able to cast their ballots electronically April 12 and April 13 for the 2011 Associated Student Government candidates from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Learning Resource Center lobby. Electronic voting will only be carried out at specific computer kiosks, once a student is signed in and verified, in the LRC.

“You cannot log into eServices and vote from your personal computers, only at the voting stations,” Kim Beyrer, the Student Leadership and Development coordinator said.

Candidates this semester are diverse in their backgrounds, majors and experience. The two candidates running for ASG president are business major Braxton Lethco and former senator and chief justice Leedel Williams .

The ASG vice president race is between political science major Lemanda Del Toro and student advocate Shinesh Prasad.

The senate race is between communication major Jack Jones and former senator Naskia Rhodes.

Three unopposed ASG commissioner positions will be on the ballot: ethnic studies and sociology major Richard Ragudo, Jr., for commissioner of Student Affairs; ethnic studies and political science major Emma Snuggs for commissioner of Public Relations; and computer engineering major Husham Haroun for commissioner of Technology.

Elections will also be held throughout the Los Rios District, with a race for student trustee. The candidates include Cosumnes River College student Christina Alvarado, former American River College student Eugene Pislar, and ARC student Shaine Johnson.

Also on the ballot will be a new Los Rios Community College District constitution which if passed will be implemented on Nov. 1, 2011.

For more information, check out the Voter Guide.

Hail to the chief

Vincent Fernandez — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:19:33 +0000

Associated Student Government Vice President Justin Turner will take now retired ASG President Renee Worley's place. Photo by Kimberly Washington

City College Associated Student Government President Renee Worley resigned her position Nov. 3, citing personal reasons and acknowledging that her schedule was preventing her from fulfilling her duties as City College president.

Vice President Justin Turner was elected by the governing student board as its acting president shortly after, and was then voted in as ASG’s new president in a special meeting two days after Worley’s announcement.

Debra Dixon, former ASG president and its current pro-tem senator, was also voted in to fill the vacant role of vice president. Turner and Dixon were both elected unanimously by their peers.

“There was no question on behalf of this board as to whom would be moving into those positions,” said Maszaba Carter, City College’s Inter-Club Council president. “We are extremely grateful for them to be here.”

Worley, who beat Dixon by six votes in last spring’s elections, told ASG members her decision to resign was due in part to her demanding schedule and personal reasons.

“She [Worley] did the right thing by the board and the students by stepping down,” Dixon said. “Renee’s an amazing young lady, and I think she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to.”

Turner, first the ASG public relations officer, will now take over as president, a position that has been fraught with inconsistent leadership over the last three years. Two of the last three ASG presidents, including Worley, have resigned.

Steve Macias, last semester’s ASG president, resigned Jan. 20, 2010, amid fervent protests by his own governing staff over his actions in approving an anti-abortion demonstration during City College’s Constitution Day.

Turner has just over a month to serve out the fall term, with the semester ending Dec. 16. Turner will take over midterm as chief of staff, as Dixon served last year. He will serve out the term, which ends in late February 2011, just after the spring elections.

“We need to get over this lack of leadership the past two years where presidents have come and gone,” Turner said.

Turner describes his style as more hands-on than Worley and feels that his accessibility will be key to his success as City College’s student body president.

“I’m here from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. I can do it,” Turner said.

Students urged to walk out

Online Staff — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 06:36:03 +0000

City College’s Associated Student Government sent fliers through e-mail urging students to participate in a campus-wide walkout on Oct. 7 protesting the continued delay of financial aid support and the governor’s absence in community college funding.

ASG vice president Justin Turner said he witnessed the boiling point of frustrated students yet to receive financial aid funds firsthand. One incident involved students threatening financial aid staff and City College police were dispatched to keep the peace in Rodda North.

Both students and professors are encouraged to leave their classrooms at 11:30 a.m. and gather on the quad for ASG speakers and a DJ scheduled at noon.

For more information regarding the walkout contact Ruben Moody at: Rmoody08@yahoo.com.

It’s all about image

Michael Lucas — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:08:14 +0000

A possible future logo for City College.

A student design team and the Public Information Office are working together to create a new logo for City College to strengthen its visual identity and consistency, according to the college’s public information officer.

According to Amanda Hamilton, a group of faculty, staff, students and administrators have narrowed it down to three options students will vote on during the week of April 7.

According to graphic communication instructor Andrea Diaz-Vaughn, the Graphic Communication Department selected three dependable students, Lori Llanillo, Christie Garcia and Charles Henderson, who call themselves The Agency, to undertake the project.

“These students were so professional in their work,” Diaz-Vaughn said. “It was amazing.”

Amanda Knight, a Japanese major, said that she didn’t even know what the current logo is, and she’s glad to hear that the school is focusing on it.

“It’s a good idea to visually set ourselves apart because honestly I think this is a great school,” Knight said.

Hamilton said the process began in spring 2009 when her office, which is responsible for marketing, noticed that City College’s logo, which is currently an image of a covered wagon, was inconsistent and outdated.

“We want our brand to be a clear promise of what we are to our students,” Hamilton said.

The Public Information Office submitted an official request, suggesting that the logo be replaced, at which point the project was approved and brought to the Graphic Communication Department in May 2009, according to Hamilton.

According to Diaz-Vaughn, she and fellow graphic communication instructor Don Button offered the project to Llanillo, Garcia and Henderson. In summer 2009, the students started the discovery phase during which they received no academic credit or pay. During this time, they surveyed the Executive Council to define the goals of the project. Once this was completed, they entered the design phase.

In fall 2009, the design team presented five visual recommendations for the logo to faculty, classified staff, deans, executive staff, the Executive Council — a group composed of representatives from the faculty, staff and student entities on campus —and the Associated Student Government, according to Hamilton.

These constituents narrowed it down to the three strongest concepts: City, Diversity and Rodda.

Garcia explained the meaning behind each concept: “City” represents the progressive aspect of City College. “Diversity” represents the diverse community at City College that works toward the same direction and goals. “Rodda” represents the traditional and foundational aspects of City College.

According to Hamilton, these concepts will be presented to the student body on April 7 through the iMail email system. The City College community will have a week to vote on a concept or to leave the logo as it is. If a concept is chosen, the design team will enter the development stage where they will refine the chosen concept into the actual logo, according to Garcia.  “We are all proud to have been a part of this process,” Garcia said. “To have it come to this point is amazing.”

City College recall election results in limbo

Stephanie Rodriguez — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:15:38 +0000

A sign in the Quad draws a line for campaigners. Allison Valenzuela

The results of the recall election held against Associated Student Government President Steve Macias and Student Affairs Commissioner Monica Guzman are now in limbo.

The entire recall election has been found in violation of an open-meeting law known as the Brown Act, ASG Vice President Debby Dixon said on Monday.

“As of now, the recall election was invalid,” Dixon said. “I forgot to put the time on the agenda set for the special meeting — just that technicality. I will be going to see the chancellor about it.”

Macias reported the technicality to the Los Rios Community College District, which at this point is in favor of declaring the election void, according to Dixon.

“This discovery is not something that the administration simply discovered on their own; it was well known and ignored,” Macias said. “At the October 21st 2009, ASG meeting , the section of the Brown Act that the meeting was in violation of was read by myself and another ASG member only to be purposefully ignored by both the VP Dixon and ASG adviser Lee Weathers-Miguel. Luckily the district was able to catch on to this injustice before it progressed any further.”

For the recall election to have counted, 362 students needed to place their votes. According to Dixon, the minimum guidelines were met for student participation in the balloting.

“More students voted in this election than in the regular general election,” Dixon said. “We had 540 students vote in the general election, over 600 voted in this recall election; we topped the amount in the regular election.”

In an e-mail statement, Macias said Guzman, the other ASG candidate up for recall, accumulated absences after the recall petition for her seat had been started, so it is unclear to him why she was in fact recalled.

“The normal process would be for the board to simply vote to excuse an individual from their duties during a meeting,” Macias said. “This was known, but yet the recall moved forward for Ms. Guzman.”

Get the latest recall coverage by returning to SacCityExpress.com and read The Express on Nov. 10.

Behind the scenes: Sept. 29 issue

Cecilio Padilla — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:14:45 +0000

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at The Express? Well, here’s a look at what happened during our Sept. 29 issue.

Video produced, edited, and filmed by Cecilio Padilla.

Letters to the editor

Online Staff — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:37:32 +0000

RE: “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” Sept. 29

While reading through your article, I couldn’t help but notice that you wrote that the Sacramento City College Health Services Department took sides and set up a booth to oppose the anti-abortion display on Sept. 17. The Express newspaper reported that the Health Department “felt that it was unfair that the group ran unopposed.”

While the Health Department claims to be fair in its presentation, the information provided at the table was clearly biased. In the campus-based Health Department’s one-sided exhibit, the pro-abortion views of Planned Parenthood are clearly endorsed. This is unlike the campus-based Associated Student Government, which has endorsed a position of neutrality on the topic, encouraging and vigorously defending the rights of each side to express themselves.

While the Health Department used taxpayer dollars to support a one sided abortion agenda, the ASG did not spend a single dime supporting either side.

The SCC Health Department’s Web site advocates that students use family planning services, such as abortion, from Planned Parenthood. The Web site directs students to four separate Planned Parenthood locations, and does not include even one alternative family planning service that does not support abortion.

I find it at least ironic that a public institution would endorse the use of abortion and then claim that other groups are being unfair by presenting a view that is not in support of abortion.

In the interest of fairness, the ASG has approved plans to invite both anti-abortion and pro-abortion groups onto campus. Will the Health Department do the same? The Health Department will cease to be biased when they provide information in support of abortion and also against abortion.

Steve Macias

ASG President

RE: “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” Sept. 29

I am writing you to take issue with the article entitled “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” I am glad that the Express did cover the story; however, I am disappointed that it did not cover the entire story and in so doing ultimately failed to convey the true concerns of the student body regarding the events in question.

One of the “missing” important items that I feel needs mentioning regards the physical threats that were made to students on the days of the events. Students were threatened regarding their sexual orientation, as well as regarding their religious beliefs. There is currently an open investigation on the part of the LRCCPD (Los Rios Community College Police Department) regarding the threats that were made that day.

Another “missing” item from the article regards the brochures that were handed out to students. These were handed out based on race. There was a brochure for those of African American descent, Latino descent, Asian decent and so on.

Finally, there is a lot of “talk” about the true intentions of our current ASG President, Steve Macias, regarding the event in question. There has been a lot of open conversation regarding his actions and his motives in his administration of the ASG.

Macias states in an email sent to ASG student affairs commissioner Monica Guzman, “You, as an ally along side Justin (Turner), Jeanette (Carpenter) and our other fellow Republican officers need to band together and force this board to work as a unit.”

It is my sincere hope that going forward, the Express newspaper will do whatever necessary to cover the entire story when it is of the magnitude that this story is. Thank you for your time.

Tiffany Lange

City College Student

RE: “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” Sept. 29

While the Health Department used taxpayer dollars to support a one sided abortion agenda, the ASG did not spend a single dime supporting either side.

I find it at least ironic that a public institution would endorse the use of abortion and then claim that other groups are being unfair by presenting a view that is not in support of abortion.

Steve Macias

ASG President

RE: “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” Sept. 29

It is my sincere hope that going forward, the Express newspaper will do whatever necessary to cover the entire story when it is of the magnitude that this story is. Thank you for your time.

Tiffany Lange

City College Student

ASG president accuses City College of abortion activism

Robert Pace — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:30:24 +0000

Embattled Associated Student Government president Steve Macias launched a scathing attack on City College’s Health Services department Tuesday in a letter to the Express.

Macias played an integral part in bringing an anti-abortion group to campus on Constitution Day. The group, which refers to itself as the Sanctity of Human Life Network (or SOHLNet), was billed as the Genocide Awareness Project in ASG documents Macias submitted for approval as a part of the Constitution Day festivities.

Macias is now facing a recall election, to be held Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, orchestrated by students offended by the display and what they deem to be inappropriate behavior from Macias for his role in allowing the anti-abortion display on campus.

In his letter Macias claimed that, unlike the ASG, Health Services endorsed abortion activism by passing out pamphlets from Planned Parenthood at its Constitution Day booth.

“While the health department used taxpayer dollars to support a one-sided abortion agenda, the ASG did not spend a single dime supporting either side,” said Macias.

Ash Pearsol, president of the Queer Straight Alliance and treasurer of the Sac City Freethinkers, disagreed.

“That’s just not true,” Pearsol said. “There was a lot of information out there, but it was the same stuff that’s available in their [Health Services’] office and posted in every womens’ bathroom.”

Both the Sac City Freethinkers and Queer Straight Alliance clubs were a part of the display set up across from the anti-abortion rally along with the Health Services department.

“We’re a student advocate,” said City College nurse Jeff Christian. “It’s not our place to help students make those decisions, just to give them both sides of the issue and let them decide for themselves.”

According to Pearson, the goal of that display was to inform City College students of their choices and the fact that, whichever side of the issue they were on, they had support.