Saratoga News

West Valley College prepares to conduct student elections

Turbulence caused change in schedule

By Michelle Alaimo

West Valley Community College will hold student elections Oct. 6-9 to replace the entire Associated Student Body government after last school year's turbulent times caused the postponement of elections, usually held in the spring.

The ASB was plagued by problems including charges of sexual harassment and meetings not being held according to bylaws.

"The ASB ceased to function. They were unable to meet, unable to come together," Ed Myers, dean of students services, said.

Because elections did not take place in May, college president Marchelle Fox temporarily appointed two students, treasurer Paul Higgins and student trustee Shane Sommers.

In May, Fox formed a transition team consisting of Myers, the academic senate president, the classified senate president, the director of student activities and one other student.

The transition team's job is to make sure the elections happen as scheduled this fall, according to Fox. The team also will issue goals and rules that the new ASB must follow, including having set meeting times and requiring college approval before declaring an emergency meeting. Fox said last year's ASB did not give enough warning for students to attend meetings, and meetings were often scheduled at times when the majority of students could not attend.

"The new senate will be up and running as soon as possible," Fox said. But even attempts to rectify last year's problems are coming under fire.

Sommers said he does not think Fox has the authority to form a transition team.

"I'm opposed to the whole thing they have done," he said, adding that last year's ASB was disbanded by Fox. "It sets up a situation where they can disband [the ASB] any time they don't like what they are doing," he said.

Fox disagreed. Since the ASB was not functioning or performing any other student activities, she said, it was necessary to have a transition team to help make sure basic student functions were carried out until a new ASB senate could be elected.

Myers said the ASB was not disbanded, and everything was done properly. He said he thinks any issues can be resolved with the new senate and that the college is looking forward to a new year.

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