Social Equality Club appears in front of Board of Trustees to fight for Summer Classes

At Wednesday Board of Trustee’s meeting the Social Equality Club gave a presentation in an effort to convince school administrators to increase the amount of classes added to the Summer 2014 semester to 100.

The club members were fired up and students, teachers and community members showed up to show support for the club’s goal.

The crowd of supporters was so large that many had to stand in the aisles, with others standing outside with signs.

The club had been asked to place on the agenda so they could be allowed to speak to the board, and were given the chance to show research they had done concerning the college’s finances.

“We’ve broken down the budget, and how much (the school has) in different accounts that could potentially fund the extra courses that we’re asking for”, said club president Jennifer Ovalle.

A club member Earvin Chavez laid out the research the club had done, including the college’s accounts and other resources.

Later in the night Chavez told the board that “”it is possible to add these 100 classes considering the fact that we done it in the past.”

After the presentation students were given a chance to speak to the board members and talk about how the lack of classes has had a negative impact on their school career and life.

Students talked about how they had been stalled or hindered by the lack of general education courses available.

Board member Marissa Perez said that the college should be doing more and that it was taking too long for students to graduate.

 ”We really have gone a long way from what the mission of community college is.” said Perez.

Many board members were sympathetic, but were not sure if adding classes was possible or even a good idea.

Some cited monetary reasons and others are worried if the class will fill up if made available.

Cerritos College Vice-President Joanna Schilling also mentioned that the school has a procedure in place where students who need certain classes to transfer out can fill out a form and be given priority.

Nothing was voted on tonight as the issue was placed on the agenda for discussion, but a vote will take place in the future.