“The meeting is called to order. It is 2:10 p.m.” ASSC (Associated Students of Skyline College) President Tanya Johnson presided over the weekly meeting of student governors. Johnson writes the start time and the first few items of the agenda on the board. “First order of business is…”
     At this meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 16, in an old classroom in the basement of building 1, they are discussing issues ranging from the ASSC budget to Hispanic Heritage Week to the state and national student conferences.
     “This year’s group is very dedicated to the student body,” states student advisor Amory Buisch. “This group organized a timely and effective welcome week,” she adds with a certain degree of pride. Welcome week activities that kicked off the Fall semester were organized, funded, and operated by ASSC members and volunteers. Activities included the pancake breakfast, the barbecue, DJ’s, a band, donuts and coffee, and inflatable play areas. Welcome week was conducted on time and on budget-approximate cost was over $5,200 according to the ASSC records.
     Buisch has been advisor for 5 years and is responsible to see that the ASSC council meets certain goals and conducts themselves within the parliamentary rules that regulate governing associations. The following students make up this year’s council:
     Associated Students of Skyline College officers:
     § President, Tanya Johnson
     § Vice-president, Peter Monrroy
     § Commissioner of finance, Kyle Merellas
     § Commissioner of activities, Kiiausha David
     § Commissioner of publicity, Neeloo Shafa
     § Commissioner of public records, Hamish Kumaran (just appointed)
     Senators
     § Ilka Barcala
     § Marilyn Mascarinas
     § Monica Nash
     § Marcus Scofield-McKeever
     § Ronn Mercado
     The budget was the next issue up for approval at the meeting. There were some minor problems with some line items and the overall formatting. Buisch handled it easily, advising President Johnson to table it until Buisch could help commissioner of finance, Kyle Merellas rewrite the $65,000 budget for 2003 – 2004 to properly reflect the current status. Buisch later confided that learning how associations operate is part of the process of student government. The meetings, the conferences, everything they do “gives them the skills to help them serve the student body,” said Buisch. “They have built relationships with administration and staff to better serve the students. I feel fortunate to work with the students.”
     The meeting continued as the busy members grabbed bites of onion rings, or sipped soup before their next classes. Among the issues discussed was Hispanic Heritage Week. Senator Ilka Barcala put up a strong argument for the ASSC’s support even though time was short. She persuaded a hesitant council of the importance of participation, and got unanimous support for the ASSC’s participation.
     Senator Hamish Kumaran volunteered to fill the vacant position of commissioner of public records. Buisch warned him that it was a position that would take a great deal of time and commitment. Kumaran was not dissuaded and applied for the position, which was approved at a later date by the council.
     Commissioner Kyle Merellas briefed the council on the various outside committees he is participating in, including budget committee, academic senate, student union, corporate council and the bookstore committees. When asked for further details about the campus bookstore issue, Merellas stated that the issue of whether outside vendors should operate the campus bookstore was being studied. Students interested in participating in the committee should contact Merellas at the ASSC office located in the cafeteria in building 2.
     Senator Marilyn Mascarinas reported on health and safety issues including the procurement of emergency procedure flip charts on campus and out of date health posters that are in need of replacement.
     Other issues included upcoming conferences the council members needed to commit to attend, school parking issues, the computer lab, and the student identification machine. Every meeting decides issues important to the Skyline College student body and meets every Tuesday. Meetings are open to the pubic and Skyline College students are invited to attend.
     All ASSC members volunteer a great deal of time to help make student life better at Skyline College. Tanya Johnson is serving in her fourth semester in student government, one of the longest tenures on the council. When asked why she devotes so much of her time and energy to ASSC, she replied frankly, “You learn so many qualities that can help you in the future.” Then a smile brightens her face and she adds, “I love the leadership role.”