4Cs Student Trustee Election Guide
by Lindzie White
Student Trustee week is here and is featuring two debates followed by the election. Student trustees are among the most critical, yet underused, resources on a community college campus. As stated by the General Laws Part I Title II Chapter 15A Section 21: Board of trustees for Sec. 5 institutions. “One member of such board of trustees shall be a full-time undergraduate student member from said institution… Each student member shall be elected by the student body…”
At Cape Cod Community College (4Cs), the student trustees’ primary role is to bring the diversity of student perspectives into the college board room.
“Every election is determined by the people who show up, and why they show up,” states Asher Hamilton, the Coordinator of Student Engagement.
Currently, there are five candidates that are running for the position of Student Trustee. The candidates meet and greet is Wednesday 21st at 4:30PM-5:30PM, which will be held on zoom. All students will receive an invitation via student email the night before the event from the Office of Student Engagement. Pin the post and jump on to meet your Student Trustee Candidates.
Thursday 22nd, the candidates will have the first debate starting at 4:00PM-5:00PM. All candidates will have the ability to share their background information and give reasons on why they’re running for Student Trustee.
“The most exciting part of this election is to see the excitement grow within our 4Cs students as they design the election process in a way that best serves the students and the student voices that are represented and underrepresented,” says Amber Olson, Lead Moderator. “It has always been important for our students to make visible that which has always been invisible and not understood.”
The second debate will be Monday the 26th starting at 4:00pm–5:00pm. The candidates will be asked the same question and they will have 3–5 minutes individually to answer the debate question. Followed by the debate there will be a guest speaker to address the student body as whole and give examples of how important a Student Trustee is to a college.
Olson says, “I think it’s a great time for students to recognize the importance of politics and elections on a micro-level. The smaller you get in local government the more your voice matters and the more the person elected will be affecting you specifically.”
Attending the debates is the best way to get to know the student candidates running for Trustee and decide who should represent the students voice.
Election Day for Student Trustee is Wednesday the 28th. A survey monkey link will be sent to all student emails at 9:00am–12:00pm. The candidates will be available on the 28th at 4:00pm–5:00pm, in the case that a student was not available for the first meet and great on the 21st, they now have another opportunity to talk to the student candidates before they vote. The poll will end at midnight and the results will be processed by three secured faculty members.
The election results will be delivered on Friday the 10th no later than 5:00pm, the announcement will be sent to all student emails. Olson reminds that, “Social distance does not mean social disengagement.”
Cape Cod Community College has a legacy of creating and shaping leaders, such as Ed Markey and Timothy Whelen. What seems like a small level undertaking could be a huge step into a life of local government and leadership. If you want to learn more or want to be involved please contact [email protected], and if you’re interested in being a moderator, please contact [email protected].
Categories: Around Campus, Student Life