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By Matthew Maloney
Mike Reyes, Vice President of PPCC Student Government, discusses
the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) conference held earlier this semester in Salt Lake City.
What is the ACUI all about?
It’s a worldwide organization that helps the people involved in their college unions. It’s helping PPCC develop new programs, such as MTVU – a college based music program – as well as adding a few more new pool tables, and the new DDR (Digital Dance Revolution).
What does the Student Government intend to get out of this particular conference?
It’s mostly leadership training for new members of the Student Government, while senior government members give presentations at the education sessions.
What in involved with these education sessions?
The ones I attended had WE-LEAD (Western Encourages Leadership Education and Development). It’s a two and a half day course on leadership for Student Government members. There were other courses about diversity. Others were for programming – or how to set up campus programs similar to what Megan Boyle (Coordinator of Student Activities) does. Basically the whole thing is a discussion board for community college issues.
What, or who, is paying for this trip?
It’s comes out of the Student Government budget. That money comes from tuition fees, which people see on their receipt. It’s part of the Student Government fee. This trip cost about $750 this year.
Do you feel positive about this conference? Do you feel that a lot will be done?
Yes. On the previous two conferences we started Stop the Hate (a campus awareness program). We’re expanding the Recycling Program. The best part is the chance to sit down with other Student Government officers and discuss issues to see what works for them that might work for PPCC.
Most of the stuff we do does not require additional funds. It’s basically a chance to exchange ideas and bring those ideas back to our respective campuses, so we can pass it on to others, thereby increasing our effectiveness as Student Government officers.
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