The SRJC Associated Students held their monthly meeting in the  Bertolini Senate Chambers Jan. 28 to discuss a variety of topics on this semester’s agenda.

AS President Jessica Jones gave a power point presentation updating the status of student government and detailed the opportunities and programs SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong and the board are getting behind.

 Jones also gave updates on hiring committees and reminded the student body that there are five open positions for student senate. The senate is also looking for a student to present at the Small Schools event on Feb. 8.

Bob Shireman, executive director of California Competes, was announced to be supported by Dr. Chong and may be invited to speak on the SRJC campus.

Jones presented the update of Vice President of Business Services, Doug Roberts, relaying that Gov. Brown’s budget proposal should affect policy changes by June 15.

The Wal-Mart grant of $250,000 is still pending, which is intended to benefit The Hope Center (THC); without grant money THC will close by July.

SRJC has allotted $30 thousand to Ray Gattinella’s class for developing an ad campaign spanning the use of billboards, print and online media.

The Chinese Student Exchange program is in the works, which Dr. Chong also supports. The SRJC exchange program benefits not only the students who come here, but the SRJC community as well. Fees

March in March was announced to be held on March 4, this year. Jones wanted to remind students to talk to their instructors and faculty members now. Dr. Chong plans on attending the March in March as well.

The Associated Students reviewed the FACCC conference will be held March 3 -4. FACCC is advocacy training that teaches students how to lobby their legislature. Jones will speak  March 3 at the conference, and a group of students will be selected to go into the capital building March 4 to visit with legislatures after the march concludes.

Student Trustee Michelle Dowling reported that Dr. Chong was still “analyzing” Gov. Brown’s recent State of the State address and budget proposal. They discussed the recent proposal of centralizing a data base for online courses throughout the state which will expedite student transfers to universities. She explained that with recent budget cuts, accessibility has become a common theme throughout California community colleges. This central database would allow student to “shop around” for online units.

Local businessman Stas Magaronis was in attendance and gave a small presentation on the Green Jobs Conference which is to be held Friday, March 1 in the Bertolini Center. The conference has multiple guest speakers including Congressman Mike Thompson. Margaronis stated that schools are behind the needs of the green jobs market and laid out a plan that claims to be able to put 20 million Americans back to work. The plan is called “Rebuilding the United States.” The conference starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. You can find more information on this at RTBUS.com.

A proposal drafted by  Dowling to move the Oak Leaf was reviewed at the meeting. Moving the Oak Leaf into Pioneer Hall was discussed as SRJC advisor Anne Belden said, “The special issue has to be addressed now.”

With a growing journalism program Belden said that the space now allocated in Analy Village is not just out of the way, but with the amount of students (over 30 this semester) it has become a fire hazard. “If the prompter blew up and started a fire on the wall, I would go through the window. There’s no way I would make it to the door.”