Michael Roman, president of the Student Governance Council, along with 13 members of other STLCC campuses, attended the American Student Association of Community Colleges’ (ASACC) conference
Meagan Roth-Roffy
-Staff Writer-
While many students were holding on to the last moments of spring break, Michael Roman, president of the Student Governance Council, along with 13 members of other STLCC campuses, attended the American Student Association of Community Colleges’ (ASACC) conference held in Washington D.C.
According to the ASACC web site, it is the only national group that specifically focuses on community colleges, representing more than 12 million students.
The conference, which was held March 20-23, focused on promoting leadership in student governments and helping those in leadership roles advocate for their student population.
Roman said the conference was beneficial to his role on campus.
“I gained some new tools in this arena at the ASACC conference,” Roman said. “I gained confidence and wisdom through experienced speakers. I gained knowledge and skills through workshops. I advocated for students in Missouri and around the country by lobbying congressmen and I learned and shared ideas with peers from all over the United States.”
Keynote speakers included Ralph Nader, attorney, author and four-time candidate for president of the United States, and current ASACC Public Policy Advisor Frank Mensel, former chair of the ASACC trustees and one of the founders of ASACC.
Roman was able to discuss some of the current issues Meramec is facing with Mensel, including discontinuation of Stephen Petersen’s, Ph.D., employment.
Mensel offered Roman a quote: “When you take away the heart of the school, you take away its soul.”
The quote prompted Roman to address the board of trustees at the last board meeting on behalf of SGC, stating that Petersen was the heart of the STLCC-Meramec.
Roman also brought back some new ideas for the campus. The first is to have a non-voting student member on the board of trustees.
Roman said he intends to create this position by meeting with all campus presidents, the chancellor and board members to suggest an amendment to the Constitution.
“We already have a positive start because our SGC has shown interest and commitment by having council member Charlie Hartman attend meetings regularly,” Roman said.
The second idea was to sign a one-year contract with a reputable company to allow online voting access to students on issues, such as the MoPIRG Reaffirmation Committee’s planned vote.
Those who attended the conference also got to meet with the liaisons to their congressmen.
“It is good for our congressmen who support us with educational legislation and funding to hear personally from those whom they invest in,” Roman said. “We let them know that their past and present investments were not wasted and their future investments will provide a return of educated, voting taxpayers.”
