Students debate California's future Day of Politics creates opportunities to discuss laws and engage community

JORDAN NATHAN Reporter @JNathan_Roundup

The future of California was up for debate at the Day of Politics where more than 200 people interacted with students, faculty, and government officials and discussed state and national issues that affect citizens.

The Great Hall was crowded for the event on Thursday, Oct. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring former mayor Mike Feinstein, assemblymember Matt Dababneh, state senator Henry Stern and political science students.

Host Denise Robb said she was happy with the turnout.

“This is the most politically active I have seen students being on this campus,” Robb said. “It is unbelievable.”

The theme for this semester was California's future. Events included: student debates on issues involving the government's role in healthcare, the increase of refugees and the travel ban, and what to do about gun control and gun rights.

Sen. Henry Stern, who attended and hosted a Q&A session, said he enjoyed the Day of Politics and advised California citizens to become politically active.

“I am really excited about a day of politic,” Stern said. “ Politics is a really compelling and attractive platform. What we are building in this state is a really good engine for good. You can get involved and help

[From Faulty promise, food frustrations, pg. 1]

However, faculty is unsure of what actions to take if students don’t meet enrollment requirements.

“Do we let them make up those units in spring? We’re still trying to figure out that piece because they do get priority registration,” Armenta said.

Another requirement students must complete is attend a peer-topeer meeting twice during their first semester. With 800 students and us make our community better.”

Day of Politics was organized by the ASO, UCLA Government Relations, the Political Science Society, the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society, the Vegan Society, and the Pierce College Republicans, Democrats, and the Young Americans For Liberty.

The three main events were:

“Our Situation with our Southern Border,” “Money in Politics and Electoral Reform,” and a Q&A session with Stern.

UCLA representatives were at the event to encourage students to transfer to the school. And a table was set up to register students to vote. The Young Americans for Liberty also passed around a survey that would help determine one’s political philosophy.

Assemblymember Matt Dababneh introduced the student debates at the beginning of the event. Debaters from the Pierce College Democrats, Republicans, and the Young Americans for Liberty went on stage to voice their opinions.

Each student from their respective group expressed how they felt about healthcare, the travel ban, gun rights, and the potential border wall.

During the “Money in Politics and Electoral Reform” portion, Sylvia Moore and Dan Vicuna of Common Cause and former mayor of Santa Monica Michael Feinstein spoke. Topics involved gerrymandering, money and its only 16 counselors to execute this requirement, it’s become difficult for them to track who is attending.

Political science instructor Denise Robb said during the meeting that she had problems with Pacific Dining catering service for Day of Politics.

Robb said that since she began organizing Day of Politics, she never had an issue with catering services on campus until this year.

“Since 2011, I always used Ofir who was our regular guy. He had Falafelicious, and we always had so much food leftover that people in facilities would have some. We never effects on the political spectrum, and current government issues that affect California. During the second half, the audience was allowed to ask questions.

Jon Christensen, an adjunct assistant professor at UCLA, introduced Stern’s Q&A segment. Christensen asked questions prepared by UCLA and Pierce students. Issues discussed had a problem with food,” Robb said. “I was required to use the food we have now because we have a contract with Pacific Dining. This was my first time using them, and we ran out of food.” Robb said she wanted to know how to prevent this from happening again.

College Outcomes Committee

Representative Jennifer Moses suggests that there’s a way around using Pacific Dining for future events.

“The key is telling them exactly what you need, exactly when you included: environmental changes in California, what California can do to support DACA, and sanctuary cities and what the state is able to do about them. A topic that appeared to interest the audience the most was how California is standing up to the federal government.

Dababneh said he was glad that Pierce was having the Day of Politics event, and wanted everyone need it. Tell them this is what I had in the past, I’ve had this many falafels and this much salad at this price, can you do that?” she said. “And if the answer is no, have them get that in writing.” After Robb commented on Pacific Dining catering services, members of the senate voted on the StudentSuccess Integrative Plan. The Student Success Committee (SSC) and Support program (SSSP) worked on the plan prior to it being ratified. The state of California is pushing the Student Success Integrative Plan which involves three