Moorpark College’s Associated Students attended the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) General Assembly May 2 through 4 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott.

The semi-annual conference held each year is where all California Community College Student Governments go to represent their student body in the best way possible.

From May 2-4 Moorpark College’s Associated Students discussed topics from environmental/sustainability issues to financial aid and general concerns.

“The mission is to unite as one voice and goal, and to help advocate for student needs,” said Associated Students Director of External Affairs Ignatius Petilla.

California’s community colleges consist of ten regions; Moorpark along with the rest of Ventura County, Santa Barbara City College, Antelope Valley, and Alan Hancock land in region six.

With the External Affairs Director as the only board member who is allowed to vote for all the various resolutions on behalf of Moorpark College, Petilla’s role was crucial.

There were workshops pertaining to resolutions that were voted on, current issues that impact students, and reviews on parliamentary procedure. There were also meetings for each region in the state to pass resolutions put forth by their own schools. Then there was the General Assembly where all the schools in attendance came together to vote on resolutions put forth by the SSCCC.

“Being my second time at the General Assembly, I got a better understanding of how to process the resolutions,” said Petilla. “The most important thing I learned was the new change in the Brown Act Law, where a roll call vote must be enacted when any voting needs to be done on any main agenda item.”

Many colleges from all over the state were in attendance, but not all were there due to lack of funds to travel, not having a delegate, or other extraneous reasons. However, luckily our region was able to discuss and vote on all resolutions set by our school.

Section VI had one new resolution presented and one postponed from our region. Both were debated and voted on in the Student Involvement and Legislation sections.

“As Director of Campus Events, I had no real purpose there,” said Malik Sanders. ” I went to observe the assembly, network with students from other schools, support Ignatius, and learn more about parliamentary procedure. I left with valuable contacts whom I can share ideas with about serving students based on our unique experiences.”

Sanders expressed the importance of taking part in conventions like these. At times it may seem like the General Assembly is unproductive and a waste of money, but they get things done in service of students. The important realization of showing up and being a part of the whole is what makes the voice of the Community College system so powerful.

“Most of the resolutions can be taken care at a local level, however, there are bigger ones that can be pushed to the
state level, such as problems with tuition, or equality acts,” said Petilla. This is exactly what our Student Government is here to do.