VCCCD Board of Trustees member Bernardo Perez discussed transparency and communication between the Board members and the college’s students in a meeting with the Student Voice staff and President Sanchez, on April 14.

Perez, whose role includes managing funds entrusted to the Board as well as ensuring its policies are carried out efficiently, believes that communication between the Board and the students, it oversees, is essential.

“Problems exist because people aren’t clear and honest with info,” Perez said. “I will be open, honest, and free with the info, because if I asked I would want that courtesy.”

Perez wants student journalists to engage with the Board to shed light on issues that have immediate and future effect on students.

He used the recent creation of the optional Associated Students fee as an example to this. The fee is $5 for Moorpark College students and they will have the option to pay for it. The money will be used to fund student activities and events. This fee was created because students began expressing interest in more campus events and activities, according to Perez.

“I think it is best if the ideas come from the ground up,” Perez said.

He encourages student journalists to communicate the needs and interests of the college’s students and support what they want.

“We want to increase public participation and make ourselves more available,” Perez said.