ASG presidential candidates take the spotlight

Jeremiah Whitfield and William Scott Powers, candidates for Associated Student Government (ASG) president and vice president this spring, are focused on a platform that includes three key areas: community, student involvement and the overall experience at Mt. Hood Community College.

Whitfield is running for president, while Powers is his vice presidential running mate.

Whitfield has service experience in community functions and local groups, including as a youth mentor for Lions of Judah. He wants to focus on improving student life, as well as campus life and sustainability. He went to Parkrose High School and is in his fourth year at MHCC.

Whitfield said he prefers MHCC over other local community colleges because of the condition of the school and the quality of instructors.

Powers is also focused on sustainability, plus safety and the maintenance of MHCC. His leadership background comes as a former machine operator, a night shift supervisor and being a Public Safety work-study student and volunteer on campus.

The first line of their platform states that “community begins with communication,” and they echo that in speaking about frequently communicating to students. They said they believe if they can create a larger sense of community at this college, it will improve the experience for everybody.

Whitfield and Powers are both looking to increase student involvement in the common MHCC programs and events. Examples include the dental service clinic and public events such as dances, and the two also look to implement a wellness program to help students with health and exercise.

Whitfield and Powers decided to run together, they said, because they have similar values about wanting to improve the quality of the campus, raising general student awareness and improving the connection and communication between ASG and the MHCC student body.

In his election petition form, Whitfield’s personal statement said, “I have one (year) left here at Mt. Hood and I want to make a change, create programs to help future students and also create a healthier Mt. Hood Community College through knowledge.”

Power’s personal statement declared, “I understand that the office that I am running for is a full-time position and I shall treat it as such. The student government is a full-time commitment, which shall modify my other responsibilities of work-study and academia as necessary. I have rarely given up on any task, and shall not on this one. I shall hold office with the greatest ethics and integrity. If I fall short of these declarations, I shall bring myself to account and shall also hold others to account for their actions.”

Whitfield outlined his objectives in his election petition form: “Spread awareness of ASG as a whole and change the image of ASG. Also try and create programs to make college cheaper.”

As for the election this spring, Whitfield said, “I understand a lot of other candidates wish to cut costs, but before we do that we have to stabilize our income.”

Powers echoed this idea by saying that if MHCC can build a stable campus culture and student body it can create new revenue and in turn avoid cutting some of the benefits students like in its programs.