Students question SE administrators

By Shamarcus Jackson/reporter

Students were ready with questions during two student forums on SE Campus Nov. 15, and administrators were ready with answers.

Most of the questions were about things the students did not understand about the campus. A small number of the questions were regarding changes on the campus. One of the first pertained to cafeteria menus and no salad bar.

Dr. Judith Carrier, SE Campus president, said the campuses do not make such decisions.

“All of the foods we serve come from an outside contractor,” she said. “And they are planning on renovating all cafeterias of each TCC campus and will include salad bars.”

Administrators said the forum was designed to raise awareness of campus events and procedures and give students the opportunity to voice their opinion about the campus.

Questions to the administrators were pre-submitted by students, and those were the first ones addressed. Rusty Fox, vice president of student development services, said administrators would try to answers all questions, but any questions not addressed would be answered on the TCC Web site.

One student asked why most SE campus events are held during the day rather than at night.

“The afternoon hours are when the campus has its highest capacity,” Fox said. “Also it’s kind of hard to get students to come back to the campus after they have already gone home for the day.”

The question topics ranged from financial aid issues to library space and security issues.

Evelyn Parkhurst of the physical education department was asked why the gym is not open on Sundays.

Parkhurst said there is not any staff on hand to open the gym because the campus is closed.

During the discussion, administrators said TCC would offer winter intersession courses at the University of Texas at Arlington campus this winter.

One result from the forum was giving the audience information about upcoming events and changes on the campus.

“ I found out a lot of things that I didn’t know at this forum,” student Amanda Torres said.

A few minutes was allowed at the end of the forum for students and faculty to talk with each other.

“Being able to sit at the same table with or near some of the administrators made the whole event seem more personal,” student Jana Moreno said.

If anyone has any questions for the administrators, they can e-mail or call and ask for an appointment.