The race for a place in ASG

Jay Sabin and Sean Robinson are running on the same ticket.

Jay Sabin, presidential candidate

By Nick Ngo

Jay Sabin, student life senator, wants to be the exact representation of the school. He wants to put a face up there that says, “I’m just like you.”

Sabin describes himself as regular MHCC student that’s no different from any other student. “One thing about me is any student can talk to me regardless if I’m president, senator or if I’m just a guy chilling and playing pool,” Sabin said.

Sabin, running as a presidential candidate for the Associated Student Government, says he wants to build a bridge of communication between the students and the student government.

“We don’t have enough representatives going out and actually talking to students,” Sabin said.“We just don’t have enough people who feel like they can actually talk to their student representatives.”

Majoring in political science, Sabin has been attending Mt. Hood Community College since summer 2005. During that term he was recruited to be a member of the forensics team. In fall term, Sabin joined the student senate. His job was to go to check in with his assigned departments, see how they are doing and ask if they need anything from the student government.

One of the ideas Sabin and his running partner, Sean Robinson, have for next year, if elected, is to properly use the student fee increase money. Another idea is to sponsor more events for students.

“[We have] something to give back to the students that come here all the time,” Sabin said.

In addition, Sabin is looking at starting a book loan program, more of a scholarship for people who are not on financial aid. He says book publishers make the price of textbooks too high for students. His and Robinson’s solution is to use the money from the student fee increase and give it to students as scholarship money for buying books.

“It’s really disconcerting that I’m coming back to school and I see all these people, [ages] 18-23, who are barely making it and barely getting into school and all we do is keep raising things and we don’t do anything for them,” Sabin said.

Sabin says that even if he loses the race he will continue his involvement with the student senate, the debate team and might be done with school early. He will still go out and talk to students about the school and what he feels can happen.

“I can still get all this stuff done,” Sabin said, “regardless if I’m president or not.”

 

Sean Robinson, vice presidential candidate

By Nicole Donner

Though undecided as to what major to pick, vice presidential candidate Sean Robinson is sure of his determination to change the face of the ASG. With running mate Jay Sabin, Robinson plans to use his experience as a participant on the student senate in the ASG office.

A 2000 graduate of Gresham High School, Robinson spent four years in the U.S. Marines and served in Iraq during September 11. After leaving the Marines, he enrolled at MHCC with an undeclared major and tested the waters in programs like political science and social science. He’s also been an active member on the forensics team.

In his third term as student here, Robinson has found interest in the ASG and relating to students on a personal level.

“Since I’ve dealt with fantastic, idealistic impossibilities with student government, I want to present real, achievable goals to the students,” said Robinson. “Most importantly, the [text] book issue, which we’re all suffering.”

Robinson plans to keep control of the increased student fee money for next year. He wants to be sure organizations and clubs are using their money properly.

“Mostly, I want to ensure that we don’t allow clubs and organizations to go crazy with extra money and waste it,” says Robinson. “Since Jay [Sabin] and I have been involved with proper accounting of student funds, I believe we’d be the best to ensure, we as the students of MHCC, get the most bang out of our buck.”As part of his campaign, Robinson intends to place 75 posters around campus. These posters are not all in English ­­- 25 of them are in Spanish and five in Russian. He plans to change these posters on a weekly basis.

Robinson and Sabin have created a blog to keep students up to date with issues happening at MHCC. For more information, visit their blog at http://robo-sabin-victory.blogspot.com.

As the weeks to election day wind down, Robinson keeps in mind why he’s running for the position.

“I’ve been very excited in the Senate and have been involved with a major process giving the Senate legitimacy in the ASMHCC Constitution by allowing them to have legislative power, which is the primary responsibility of a senate,” said Robinson. “The vice president is the chair of the senate. That was one of the primary motiviating factors in me wanting the position.”

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