By Daniel Hernandez
The Associated Students of Riverside City College hosted a virtual town hall that gave students an opportunity to question the candidates running in a special election.
The ASRCC Supreme Court decided to hold a special election after the initial election May 12-13 failed to gather the minimum 100 votes required by ASRCC’s bylaws. The court’s decision included hosting a public forum that took place over Zoom and Instagram Live May 24.
Presidential candidate Albert Jaramillo spoke about the experience he carries both from his time in the military and as Inter-Club Council director. He also elaborated on the goals he wishes to achieve during his tenure as ASRCC president.
“One of the major things I want to do next year if I’m elected is collaboration within RCC,” Jaramillo said. “We are all students that go to the same school. Let’s interact a little bit more.”
Tristin Morales, the vice presidential candidate, followed up Jaramillo’s sentiment, describing how he would work to increase the amount of interaction ASRCC has with the student body by teaming up with faculty to host more town halls.
Morales continued to touch on the topic of increasing communication throughout the first half of the forum.
“Communicating with students … is a really good thing within being vice president,” Morales said. “We are doing stuff behind the scenes interacting with students. Communication is the major thing for the vice president.”
Matthew Brashier, ASRCC senator candidate, expressed that he would like to see senators step up and play a more involved role within the college.
“More events, interacting with students, asking what their concerns are,” he said about what he plans to do. “That way we can better represent the student voice.”
The candidates addressed what they would do to tackle the lack of student participation. All three agreed that the pandemic made it more difficult to get the word out and that many students either miss or don’t read the emails being sent out.
They specified how returning to on-campus instruction would allow them to once again use the tactics they used before the pandemic to attract more student interaction.
“Hopefully, being back on campus, we will be out in front of the students,” Jaramillo said. “We have a lot of events in front of the (A.G. Paul Quadrangle) … and are able to spread the word.”
The candidates also addressed student safety in regard to COVID-19 while returning to on-campus instruction. Jaramillo brought up that the Riverside Community College District created a 37-page document that outlines its plan to safely return to campus and that it would be his job as president to communicate that information with students.
Brashier agreed and added that many faculty members also don’t feel comfortable returning to in-person instruction, but that they would continue to follow the guidelines set in place by the district.
“Some faculty will be doing their classes online… for the students that do not feel comfortable returning this fall,” Brashier said. “ But the district has a plan in place so that’s what we’re sticking by. ”To vote, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ASRCC2021.
