by Erik Squire – Student Senate President, Education Major

Student Senate Synopsis

Hello and welcome back SMCC! The Student Senate is going to be doing some pretty amazing things this semester, and we just wanted to take some time to let you know about them.

For starters, we have been collaborating with our Automotive Program so we can offer

free/cheap car services to SMCC-goers. This means that you can bring your car to campus to have some servicing done on it; stay tuned for more info on this great opportunity!

Also, last semester the Student Senate was working on a proposal to change “Columbus Day” to Indigenous Peoples Day” for the entire Maine Community College System (MCCS), so as not to honor an infamous man, but rather remember the natives of the Americas.

This semester we will be reaching out to the other student senates from each community college across the state to ask for their support in our proposal to the MCCS.

Another objective that the Student Senate has this semester is to promote student connectedness by hosting social events on campus for all students to attend. The idea behind this is, many students find it difficult to make connections and start friendships their first semester, and these connections can be vital to academic success. The more we feel a part of the community here at SMCC, the more likely we are to stay here and be successful. We are also encouraging each academic department to host their own social events so that students of the same majors (and possibly of the same interests) can meet each other, collaborate, and start meaningful relationships.

Lastly, the student Senate would like to start our own Campus Kitchen. This community service model utilizes a kitchen on campus (in our college’s case, possibly Sedexo’s kitchen), and then our students repurpose food from the community and make that food into healthy meals for the community. The goal is to help feed our students better so that they can focus on their academic work, instead of worrying about what and even if they’re going to eat. Campus Kitchens have been implemented in many colleges across the US, if SMCC is successful in implementing our own, we will be the first college in Maine to have done so!  

Though these aforementioned ideas have the potential to be great, none of them could be possible without people who care about others and work together to take positive action. If you think you might be someone who wants to work towards a better college community, then please consider joining the Student Senate. We meet every Wednesday at 4:30-6pm in Jewett Hall Auditorium. Also, if you are part of a student organization on campus, please consider representing your club at the Senate so that you can request funds for your club.

For more info please contact: eriktsquire@smccme.edu

Best regards SMMC!