We want to save your money

By Jay Sabin and Sean Robinson

As enrolled students we’ve had to come to grips with many of the same problems which the current student body has to contend with. Both of us have bit our lip and cursed when we walked out of the bookstore and later sacrificed a trip to Duke’s, Skyline, or Barracuda’s because of ridiculously high book prices. We became just as angry as you when the federal government slashed $14 billion from our student aid programs and we’ll be just as angry as you when the school has to raise tuition to keep up with the constant cuts of state funding. While becoming more and more motivated to make a change, we found ourselves asking other students what they felt were the main problems at MHCC.

Many students expressed interests in clubs and activities, yet very few were aware of the game room located downstairs in the Student Center. We then helped organize the Gamers Club, a club where students can kick back with other students and play games like Halo, Magic, pool, ping-pong, and many others. It gives students a chance to forget about homework for a second.

We as ASG president and vice president want to re-enact the Adopt-a-Club program that was put together by Amy Conn, the current Director of Student Organizations. We believe that Student Activities are a high priority here at MHCC. In order to do that, we need more communication between the student government and the students they represent.

Another major concern for all students is the ridiculously high book prices. If there is any problem in which the ASG can assist with, it’s this. Student governments in the past have had noble ideas about informing students about cheaper avenues for books and setting up book boards, but bottom line, we still pay. That’s why we’ve taken real action to get FREE BOOKS for TERM CHECKOUT so we don’t have to pay over and over for the same books. What’s also different about this idea is that to minimize the cost for the ASG, we want to buy the books from students to give a little back. This is a concrete “take it to the bank” plan we’re doing for the student body.

What we are looking forward to be doing over the summer as president and vice president is to work with the Neighborhood Saints and their Textbook Loan plan. I would like to see the ASG create a grant to fund 20 percent of textbook loans from those students in the most financial need. There’s a real plan to help those that need it the most.

All in all for this campaign, we ask you, the student, to look beyond the rhetoric, fliers, posters, and promises and look to action. If you vote for us, you will see a more energetic student government, you will see daily action on student concerns, As Benjamin Franklin said, “well done is better than well said.”