ASG VP candidates discuss platforms and hopes

Four students who are running for the office of Mt. Hood’s ASG (Associated Student Government) vice president met in the Main Mall of the Gresham campus Wednesday to talk about their positions and platforms.

Cayman Linson (running with presidential candidate Peter Camacho); Jada Salmon (Carrissa Baer’s running mate); Michael Potts (Michael Tippery’s partner); and Santiago M. Velasco Lopez (running with Kelly Bernardino) answered questions asked by Basil Hawley from Mt. Hood’s forensics team. The audience on hand was then encouraged to write down questions on note cards, that were then addressed by the VP candidates.

Linson said he believes that seminars are the answer to various struggles students have. A seminar class for new students coming to Mt. Hood should be offered; this class would help students understand basic college tasks such as how to print, and to know what happens on campus on a weekly basis, he said.

Seminar classes with “specific cultures and religions in them” was another proposal from Linson. This would be intended to help international students looking for a support system and to “feel comfortable in this new environment,” he said.

Linson also mentioned that class material should be available for students who sometimes are unable to make it to class: He said lectures should be recorded as podcasts, so they are accessible to students.

Santiago Lopez said he believes that students should be made aware of various resources available for them to succeed, and in empowering them, in part, by letting them decide on which issues to focus.

One resource that students struggle with is the cost of textbooks. Lopez said he would work to help Mt. Hood instructors get grants so that they could write their own textbooks, so that they can get paid while possibly making the books cheaper for students.

Michael Potts said that his ASG administration would make an effort to directly reach out to students to get them more involved in ASG activities. He said he wants to make ASG as transparent as possible, and wants electronic reader boards on campus to inform students of activities and general information.

“Campus culture” was a mantra that Potts used more often than other candidates. He said that being involved in MHCC’s Theater program, he knows what it’s like to face mostly empty seats in the theater. He wants to work on getting bigger crowds at campus events such as theater and music performances and sporting events, he said.

Potts also said that Lancer, the contracted company that supplies food at Mt. Hood’s dining areas, needs competition, so he would work to make that happen.

Jada Salmon started off by saying that her administration would work to split up events throughout the day, so that students who take evening classes would have the opportunity to attend. She also said the Vista dining area should remain open past 3 p.m.

Salmon is a big user of Mt. Hood’s Student Life app, and said she would work to get more students to download it. She also believes in canvassing (as Potts also said) to get students involved and to keep them aware of campus events and activities, she said.

The vice presidential debates lasted for about an hour, and other issues were addressed.

Anyone wishing to get more information on the candidates should contact [email protected].

Voting opens on Monday and will go on until May 6. More information is available on the Student Life app, or MHCC.edu/asg.