On a sunny, spring-like afternoon, a March breeze cooled students slowly gathering under a tent, where fresh cocoa and baked goods sat, waiting for hungry students strolling by in between classes. Some students already assembled, stood, connecting with each other while they waited for the event to begin.
City College Student Senate coordinated with the Cultural Engagement Club for the 10th session of the ongoing dialogue series, “Your Voice, Your Power,” in the quad March 3. Sabrina Edward, the Clubs & Events Board President, and Patti Leonard, dean of Humanities and Fine Arts, hosted the event, with the goal of learning more about students’ experience on campus, and how to improve it.
“This is a request from the president wanting to know more information about what students want,” said Leonard. “What is your experience? What do you like; what do you not like? How does this work; how does it not work? So we [came] up with different subjects for each event.”
The goal of the “Your Voice, Your Power” series has been to provide students with more opportunities to get involved on campus, and find new ways to be successful, according to organizers. Event attendees were asked a series of questions about their time on campus and given the opportunity to share their stories and experiences.
Students like Desmond Campbell, who had never attended a session before, walked by after class, noticed the tent, and said he’d decided to attend. Campbell spoke throughout the event, sharing his experiences.
“The president was right there,” said Campbell as he motioned to the other side of the stage. “I feel like a lot of people had their input, and I definitely felt heard.”
Students spoke up when given the opportunity to discuss any strong concerns they had about being on campus. Some concerns people had included: lack of easy access to the student handbook, finding better study habits, receiving medical support, feeling safe on campus, finding accessibility for tutoring opportunities, and having accountability from professors to prepare subject material in advance.
Students like Carmel Vera said they were having trouble finding the best ways to study and be prepared for classes.
“I’m trying to succeed with getting my education, but I have to deal with other responsibilities. So I’m just trying to find more support in my studies,” said Vera. “I need professors who are more understanding. I’m good with deadlines, I feel like I need help but I don’t know how to get that help.”
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“There’s a class called [Human Career Development] 310,” said Nguyen. “It is a college success class, and we teach students how to study, when to study, how to prepare for exams, and what other resources are available on campus.”
Nguyen said the HCD class he teaches provides students with information about better study habits, and explained how he approaches teaching the course.
“I started teaching HCD 310 with a different perspective—that it’s fault tolerant. It means that basically we expect [that] life happens, we expect that situations happen, and then how do we learn? [We] would be able to give you the information you need so that you can be successful in that class,” said Nguyen.
“Not all professors are going to have that perspective sometimes, but we strive really hard to get everyone on board with helping students,” Nguyen said. “I think most of us here have that in mind that we want to help students.”
Leonard continued the event by asking a question about campus safety. The moderators asked the group where they felt most comfortable on campus.
“Honestly speaking, I feel safe everywhere on campus,” said Campbell. “Then the question was rephrased, ‘Where do you spend the most time on campus?’ So that’s why I mentioned Makerspace, and the Learning Resource Center. As time goes on, more things pop up.”
According to Leonard, “Your Voice, Your Power” series will continue on Apr. 14.
City College mentor Julius Collins, who attended “Your Voice, Your Power” for the first time, said he felt the event made an impact on his life and others around him.
“Some people are afraid to speak, and I have one of my mentees here with me,” Collins said. “For him to see me here, it’s like, ‘Wow, let’s do this [again]. He was just taking me on the way out, and [was] like, ‘I’m glad you brought me.’”
