Supporting the ASO

Interim president reflects on history-breaking student protest

Sydney Grossman / Roundup

As students rallied by chanting “enough is enough” on the corner of Winnetka and Victory, Pierce College’s interim president, Joy McCaslin was waiting to share her thoughts on the walkout while in a meeting.

Acknowledging the student government’s efforts for hosting the ‘Enough is Enough’ rally, McCaslin was pleased that the Associated Students Organization (ASO) were doing their job.

“The student government role is to bring issues to the student body,” McCaslin said. “Anything they can do to bring awareness is a good thing and I support their right to do that.”

After an automated mass email was sent Friday, March 11, McCaslin had contacted Kathleen Burke-Kelley, Pierce’s president and Los Angeles Mission College interim president, to inform her on the happenings at campus.

After several attempts to reach Burke-Kelley, no response was gathered from her on her thoughts and feedback on the protest. Still, McCaslin continued to show her support of the rally.

“We, the admissions, are doing everything we can to protect classes and do as little cutting as possible to classes,” McCaslin said. “We don’t have control over the fees, that is set by the state, but we will do everything we can to protect the schedule.”

McCaslin persisted to share her thoughts on duties being upheld on campus. While the staff is fighting to keep the course offerings consistent, it is still important for students to be aware of what can be affecting them.

“This is certainly an issue that affects and is important to students,” McCaslin said. “When it has to do with cutting classes and fee increases, I am glad to see leadership there.”