Reporter Magdalena Clough contributed to this article.
A week ago, the campus made a clear effort at transparency, with the pizza with the president event.
The event was well attended by students who were interested in bringing concerns to the president.
The speakers all expressed their views on a variety of topics, but went into detail about the ones they chose to speak on. Andrew Mark Carlos, who advocates for the school’s clubs to student government and administrators, spoke about DREAMers and his experience living as one.
“I am here to represent students hiding or ashamed of their [legal] status,” said Carlos, Club Liaison of ASG. “My message to you is that you are not alone.”
He went on to express the need for acceptance on campus, while making the point that those who immigrate to America often don’t have a home elsewhere to “go back” to.
“When you tell a student to “go back to your own country” because they don’t have the proper papers,” Said Carlos, “keep in mind that they may have been born in that country, but left when they were young, or have no connection to that country.”
Agustin Martinez talked about homelessness and his personal experience working his way into college.
“I was willing to stand in front of the college with a sign with my student ID number and payment center phone number saying ‘will someone please pay $30 [for testing] so I can get into college?’” said Agustin Martinez, Outreach Coordinator of ASG.
Claudine Richardson, Director of diversity, equity, Mosaic center and the LGBT+ center, spoke about diversity on campus and in the community we live in. She spoke about safe spaces on campus and gave the definition of what those are.
“A safe space is a place where students who have been historically minoritized can go to share their concerns,” said Richardson. “They know their experiences won’t be silenced.”
Richardson also spoke about how many people see diversity.
“When people think of diversity they think of it in a very one dimensional way,” said Richardson. “You are ‘this’ so I don’t think of you like ‘this’.”
Darren Pitcher, Acting President, and Christine Johnson, Chancellor of CCS, discussed SFCC’s mission statement and how important education was.
“Education is the great equalizer,” said Pitcher.
After the speakers gave their thoughts and reflections on their topics, they let students express their concerns about campus. The students brought up all kinds of different topics, from the construction of the new Arts building, to the need of more instructors and leadership in programs.
One concern brought up was that students have to pay for the bus pass even if they do not use it. Willow Zimmerman, President of ASG, shed some light on the situation.
“Think of it like public school,” said Zimmerman. “Not everyone has a kid in it, but everyone pays into it.”
The event ended with ASG handing out pizza and drinks to the students and faculty who were there.