During the first spring ASCC Senate meeting, senators elected Jessica Germata as their new vice president after the resignation of former vp Ivan Oyarzabal.
The Wednesday, Jan. 20 meeting included a report read by ASCC President Eduardo De La Rosa, in which Oyarzabal endorsed Germata as a candidate to fill his position.
Germata currently serves as the SSCCC delegate in which she represents the students of Cerritos College at the state level.
After Germata answered questions from senators she was appointed vice president.
The new vice president stated,Germata stated.”I don’t know if they [ASCC Senate] were expecting me to fold, but I am glad that they asked those questions and I was able to respond adequately and assure them that I am qualified for this position.”
Germata added, “I believe this semester can be a great one, once we get past some procedural issues, we can go ahead and focus on what’s important which is to represent the students.”
ASCC President Eduardo De La Rosa expressed, “I’m excited about what she has to bring to the table, I believe she’s very qualified for her position and her experience with SSCCC, […] her military background will help ASCC more accurately represent the students.”
Now that ASCC has elected a new vice president, it may move on with the representation of the student body.
However, not everyone is satisfied with the performance of ASCC.
During public forum Hector Arellano, a current student of Cerritos College, expressed dissatisfaction with how some of the senate members are operating.
“If you’re here to serve yourself and not here to serve the students, you’re wasting your time,” he said to the senators.
Suleima Castillo, a current child development major, said “I feel unrepresented and disappointed by ASCC, an institution which is supposed to be my voice, won’t listen to me.”
She was referring to her frustration while trying to push for the Falcon Kids initiative which would help her as a child development major.
Tense beginning aside, senators were given a chance to run for new positions and appointed the new spring semester officers.
Among the newly appointed members was president pro tempore, Saul Lopez.
“I’m excited about my appointment, I have all these skills that I’ve learned throughout the years by being involved with the ASCC that I will finally be able to put to use,” Lopez said.
“I want to make sure all members are kept in check so that we don’t repeat last semester,” he concluded.
The other officers elected were:
- Senator Adrian Gomez, who will serve as the majority leader
- Senator Elena Robles as minority leader
- Senator Luis Guzman as sergeant of arms
- Senator Karen Patron as faculty senate liaison
