Bakersfield College’s Student Government Association was one of the poster children, or model for the American Student Government Association’s website.
A picture of the 2006-2007 team was displayed.
Out of 519 member schools including four-year universities BC’s faces were chosen to represent.
“I think they chose us because of our status,” said Dean of Students Don Turney.
“Our students are very active, they participate on national and regional levels.”
The SGA was the highest-rated host college for the West Coast and was chosen for the first time to host the Community College Student Government Training Conference last fall.
“We’re the only community college to host this kind of event in the country,” said Ash West, next year’s legislative liaison.
According to SGA members and Turney, they feel as though their involvement is what made them recognizable on a national level.
“We probably got recognized from going to conferences as well as holding them,” said General counsel member Leah Crane.
“It’s a good way to communicate and exchange ideas with other schools.”
Turney feels as though students have a strong voice on campus and that the ASGA knows community college leaderships is a tough “gig.”
“It’s a commuter campus,” said Turney. “Students don’t want to get involved with things on campus, they have other responsibilities.”
Or it could be because everything that BC’s SGA does is pushed though this paradigm, “What’s best for our students? What can we do to become the best?”
“It was flattering,” said Crane. “We’re one out of 519 member schools and to get recognition is pretty cool.”
Though, no matter what, the SGA has worked to become the best, bringing in consultants from the ASGA to evaluate everything that they’re doing.
Figuring out what they’re doing right and working on what is not yet ideal.
“It’s continuity, the fact that we worked so hard to be inclusive and include all students,” said Turney.