The Student News Site of Central Oregon Community College

The Broadside

The Student News Site of Central Oregon Community College

The Broadside

The Student News Site of Central Oregon Community College

The Broadside

Actions of COCC’s student government are Troubling

Staff

The Broadside

In the Bulletin on Oct. 14, the lawyer for COCC’s student government dismissed the controversy surrounding the role his clients play and their definition at the college by saying that it “‘looks like a much bigger issue than it is.’ ”It looks like a big issue because it is a big issue.

It’s a big issue because if elected members of the student government are trying to shake off college policy and define themselves in such a way that they and they alone are in charge of and oversee hundreds of thousands of dollars, students may wonder what protects them against corruption.

What will it be like when they are outside of college policy with only themselves to write and rewrite their constitution, set policy and restructure their roles?

ASCOCC issued a memorandum on Oct. 12 stating that they had hired an attorney (who typically charges $295 per hour) and a consultant for “public relations training.” Why would a student government, with the student’s best interest at heart have to hire a PR consultant?

It is clear that student fee money is being spent on the lawyer; students need to see the bill for the consultant. The Broadside has formally requested this public document and are waiting for its release.

In the memorandum, one of the areas where ASCOCC claims the need for legal help is in avoiding being dissolved by the college. These are serious issues. The word “dissolution” comes to mind when something is not working and it is time to start over. It is not a concept that is thrown around lightly. Obviously serious things are afoot with COCC’s student representatives.

This leads us to the events at the Oregon Community College training in Vernonia. COCC student government—ambassadors of COCC—brought alcohol to a training that was sharing space with a middle school basketball camp, took off to the coast during the training and rented hotels rooms when lodging and meals were provided with training registration.

This connotes a sense of entitlement that is undeserved and a serious lapse in judgement. Is this a pattern?

Students and administration need to question just how autonomous their student government should be.

This is the biggest issue of all.

You may contact The Broadside Staff at [email protected]

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  • T

    The BroadsideNov 6, 2010 at 7:21 pm

    It may surprise you to know, Mr Lynch, that we are not all gentlemen over here.

    We have faith that you were not being “maliciously inaccurate” in leaving out the other half of the newsroom.

    The Broadside Staff

    Reply
  • T

    The BroadsideNov 6, 2010 at 7:21 pm

    It may surprise you to know, Mr Lynch, that we are not all gentlemen over here.

    We have faith that you were not being “maliciously inaccurate” in leaving out the other half of the newsroom.

    The Broadside Staff

    Reply
  • G

    Greg LynchNov 4, 2010 at 7:19 pm

    Gentlemen:
    I find your most recent editorial to be maliciously inaccurate. I have no idea where you got the notion that the ASCOCC Board’s agenda was and is to “shake off college policy..” or that “they alone are in charge off and oversee hundreds of thousands of dollars.” The efforts of the Board, are and have been to better and more precisely define its relationship with the college. While the Oregon Statutes recognize the existence of student associations, there is nothing definitive in either these statutes or the Oregon Administrative Rules regarding the authority of the Association and its Board, or precisely how it is to function in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities to both the college and to its student constituency. Your newspaper appears to take great liberty with creating inferences that are simply not true. Instead of attacking these individuals who are earnest in their desire to document a mutually beneficial and long-lasting relationship with the college, you should be supporting the effort with responsible journalism that provides your readers with facts rather than innuendos. Were you to ask those involved in this process, all would tell you the same thing…….that there has been no conflict or adversity in the discussions, and that everyone involved is in agreement conceptually with the goal of this effort. Be honest in your reporting and you could go from a tabloid to a newspaper.
    Greg Lynch

    Reply
  • G

    Greg LynchNov 4, 2010 at 7:19 pm

    Gentlemen:
    I find your most recent editorial to be maliciously inaccurate. I have no idea where you got the notion that the ASCOCC Board’s agenda was and is to “shake off college policy..” or that “they alone are in charge off and oversee hundreds of thousands of dollars.” The efforts of the Board, are and have been to better and more precisely define its relationship with the college. While the Oregon Statutes recognize the existence of student associations, there is nothing definitive in either these statutes or the Oregon Administrative Rules regarding the authority of the Association and its Board, or precisely how it is to function in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities to both the college and to its student constituency. Your newspaper appears to take great liberty with creating inferences that are simply not true. Instead of attacking these individuals who are earnest in their desire to document a mutually beneficial and long-lasting relationship with the college, you should be supporting the effort with responsible journalism that provides your readers with facts rather than innuendos. Were you to ask those involved in this process, all would tell you the same thing…….that there has been no conflict or adversity in the discussions, and that everyone involved is in agreement conceptually with the goal of this effort. Be honest in your reporting and you could go from a tabloid to a newspaper.
    Greg Lynch

    Reply