Palo Alto's Student Senate is a group charged with protecting student rights. Their objective is to bring all student concerns to the attention of the College's decision-makers.

Senators attend all types of meetings to discuss issues

that concern students, including a meeting with their adviser every Wednesday at 1 p.m.

“If any student has something they would like acknowledged by those higher up, the Student Senate would like to know about it,” said Mary Jane Guel, president of the Student Senate, who is majoring in social work.

Guel and her fellow officers plan to meet with the Chancellor once a month to discuss the needs of the students at Palo Alto. In their last meeting with the Chancellor, the Student Senate brought up issues such as the American Disabilities Act regulations, the need for more furniture and getting a Student Recreation Center established.

The Auxiliary Enterprise Committee is another committee they meet with to monitor contracts of vending machines, the bookstore and food service providers.

“In the past, the Student Senate was instrumental in the Book Adoption Policy, which set guidelines on how often instructors can change books,” said Fermin Ortiz, Student Senate Adviser and Assistant Professor in the Math Department.

They also meet with the Student Affairs Council, which deals with all student affairs, such as class schedules and tuition. Another meeting they attend is the Program Review Council, which reviews everything and everyone on campus. They even meet with the President's Administrative Council.

Besides these and other committee meetings, the Student Senate at Palo Alto also meets with other Senate members from San Antonio College, St. Philip's College and Northwest Vista College.

The Student Senate's presence at these different meetings is important because of the voting which sometimes occurs.

A new policy, which would have put a student who drops classes on probation, was defeated because a Student Senate member opposed it.

“We are trying to work, go to school and take care of our families, and they do not see all that,” Guel said.

Leandro Esparza, Director of Student Activities, said: “Unfortunately, there is no payment for Student Senate members, other than the $500 stipend the president of the Senate receives once a year.” All members of the Student Senate are volunteers. “It takes work, time, commitment and initiative on the students' part, but most of all, it takes their interest,” said Esparza.

According to the Student Senate Constitution, everyone taking three semester hours is considered a Student Senate member. “Whether students choose to get involved is up to them,” said Guel.

Currently, the Student Senate is made up of the President Mary Jane Guel; Vice President Janet Ramirez; Secretary of Public Relations Jason Mancillas; Secretary Iris Ramirez; Secretary of Instruction and Curriculum Gloria Jose; and the Secretary of Student Activities Orlando Hernandez.

Two seats are presently available. Cesar Hernandez recently stepped down from his position as Treasurer, and the position for Secretary of Campus Operations is also vacant. Anyone interested in becoming a Student Senate Officer is welcomed to apply.

“I think that a student should take advantage of this opportunity to join the Student Senate because it is a great way to meet new people and it challenges you to see what you are capable of doing as a leader,” said Janet Ramirez, Vice President of the Student Senate. Contact Student Activities at 921-5289 for more information.