Student leaders at Grand Rapids Community College reconvened for the winter semester on Jan. 15. Student Government and the Campus Activities Board, joined by the Stay Rooted Gardening Club, shared their plans for the new semester during their Wednesday meeting.
Student Government, led by new president Maria Choi, shared that they will be tabling a week before the town halls during the semester to help make students aware of the meetings.
“We are just planning on giving out refreshments, popcorn and sharing information about town hall. That’s going to happen all semester,” Choi said.
Choi additionally shared that on Feb. 13 Student Government will be tabling for sexual health awareness and giving out roses for Valentines’ Day.
Due to the resignation of the previous Student Government President Alex Miranda, Choi has stepped up as the new president. She previously served as the treasurer, and Student Government is now hiring to fill that position. The application closes on Friday, Jan. 17.
“The last two years as president was an amazing experience, and I have no regrets,” Miranda stated in a text message to The Collegiate. ”I’m glad what my team and I were able to accomplish.”
During the meeting, Choi also gave the treasury report and shared that there is currently $29,940.10 left in the student activities budget, unchanged from the December town hall.
In other news, CAB introduced a new secretary, Jenna Shearer, following the resignation of former secretary Amelia Haywood.
“With CAB, I plan to use my organizational and communication skills to encourage student engagement to the fullest extent,” Shearer said. “… I look forward to collaborating with students and faculty to speak back on what events they would like to see around campus and what ways CAB can improve.
This semester, CAB has already hosted two events in the first two weeks back on campus. Students enjoyed a bingo night on Jan. 15 and comedians Ben Palmer and Caleb Elliot came to campus on Jan. 16.
In February, CAB will be hosting Valentine’s Day card-making on the Lakeshore Campus on Feb. 10, followed by Valentine’s Day card-making and bouquet-making on the main campus on Feb. 11. To round off the Valentine’s Day celebrations, the winter dance will be held on Feb. 13 at the John Ball Zoo.
Students interested in volunteering at CAB events were encouraged to email Shearer at JennaShearer@grcc.edu.
“If there’s any kind of interest in events, if you have a specific job you want, we can always figure something out for you,” Shearer said.
She also mentioned that volunteer forms on RaiderConnect will soon be easier to find. As of right now, the form is accessible from the documents tab but it will soon be under the forms tab.
CAB Advisor Allysa Gamez also shared that she will be providing students with resources for stalking awareness, as January is stalking awareness month. Gamez will switch her focus to Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February. On Feb. 5, GRCC will be hosting Dr. Lori Bednarchik, award-winning professor and program developer, for a conversation on setting boundaries titled, “Am I being clear? A crash course in boundary setting.”
Lidia Lopez, President of the Stay Rooted Gardening Club, shared that Stay Rooted will soon have a finalized event calendar for the semester, but they look forward to putting on a pot painting event later this month.
In February, the academic governing counsel will review the code of conduct with the proposed policy to be presented at the next town hall, taking place on Feb. 12 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
