The Advocate Interviews ASMHCC Presidential Candidate Dante

Dante: Hi, my name is Alessandra Dante Sciarratta. I’m running for president of ASMHCC, the Associated Student Body of Mt. Hood Community College, in the 2024-25 school year. You can just call me Dante.

Advocate: What inspired you to run for president?

D: I was inspired by my work with (outgoing) President Javier Estrada. I worked with him during the 2022-23 school year, and I loved the work that he did, and he inspired me to take a more active role in leadership on campus.

A: What does the president of ASMHCC do?

D: This role is one of the roles that connects students to administration here on campus. It basically helps students advocate for themselves through the voice of the president… to get their voices heard, and get their needs met on campus.

A: It seems like not many MHCC students are interested in joining ASMHCC. Do you think that’s true?

D: I know that students are feeling a lack of connection, especially after COVID-19. So, I’m hoping to get students more involved in the community and more involved in leadership positions here on campus, through events and getting their voices heard. And I’m hoping that if students realize that they can have a more active voice on campus, they might take a more active leadership role on campus as well. And so, they might be inspired by my position as president and might hope to run for (an office) themselves.

A: Is there anything you would say to someone considering joining ASMHCC?

D: It’s a great position; it’s a great team. Everyone is so friendly, it’s kind of like a built-in family. I highly encourage anyone to run just because it’s been so great in helping me feel more connected to the spirit of Mt. Hood.

A: As president, what kind of change would you want to see at the college?

D: I would like to see administration listen more to what students want to see. I know that campus has felt kind of dead since COVID. I hope that administration is like really listening to us and understanding that, hey, we want more events, we want more food on campus, we want administration to open spaces up more for students rather than keeping everything down, under lock and key.

A: On the flip side, what has the administration has done well for the college?

D: (Their) plans to open up the new Equity Resource Center where the old student bookstore used to be. I’m really excited to see campus explode with life after that. And I’m hoping that in 2024 and 2025, we will see a big return to campus life and a lot more activity, just in the main center hubs of campus.

A: Any ideas about how you would change how ASMHCC is run here?

D: I understand the time commitment and just how much dedication it takes to just be in this position, so I’m really hoping to change how we promote our events and activities to students and also just get more connected to students on our sister campuses, as well, cause I just want students to feel that connection and that community that I know we’ve all been really lacking after COVID-19.

A: Do you have plans for how to improve food or water accessibility on campus?

D: Yes, we’ve been partnering with Barney’s Pantry to open up new water fountains in the Equity Resource Center that’s going to be opening in the 2024 Fall Term. We hope to get more students using Barney’s Pantry and more aware of it just because it’s free food. We (ASMHCC) actually volunteer our time and hard work to packing food boxes – one hour a week every member of the team helps out. We just want to make sure students know that this is a resource that they can access.

A: What is your position on increasing student fees charged by the college?

D: Everything has gotten way more expensive. Students need to understand that in order to continue providing a minimum baseline of activities and support for them, we do need to increase student fees. They haven’t been increased in some years and so we (ASMHCC) didn’t vote to increase them this year, just because we don’t want that strain on students. But in future years, I hope that they do increase so that we can see more positive changes on campus.

A: Broad question: What kind of leader do you want to be?

D: I want to be one that people look to and feel confident that someone will advocate for them and what they want to see on campus. To look to me and see, oh, yes, this is one where I feel confident (in them) leading me and… who inspires me to stay connected and informed and maybe potentially be a leader myself.

A: Anything more you would like to add at this point?

D: I want to encourage everyone to get involved with the ASMHCC or any leadership positions on campus. It’s not a big leap as you think it is and I think you’ll regret not taking a more active role in your community unless you just go for it, because it really makes a change for the better.