Associated Student Senate President Joey Williams was asked to step down from his post after failing to meet the academic standards required to serve.
Liz Uribe, vice president of senate affairs, presided over the first senate meeting. When the two-hour meeting was over, Uribe announced she was stepping down for personal and family reasons. This left the door open for Erika Tomatore, vice president of external affairs, to assume the role of president.
“They’re going to be two tough acts to follow,” said newly minted President Tomatore of Uribe and Williams, both of whom are no longer on the senate. “I am so sad to see them go.”
The senate’s by-laws and the Board of Governors of the California Community College’s list minimum requirements for students involved in campus governance. Enrollment in at least five units and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 are required.
Ann Fryslie, Student Life coordinator, said it’s hard to be enrolled in school, work and be president. “Joey did an excellent job during his term,” Fryslie added. “He was an excellent president.”
Superintendent-President John Romo said it was an unfortunate situation, but the college does have standards in place. Williams was committed to the senate and took the job seriously, Romo said.
“He needs to focus on his academics,” Romo said. After calls back and forth to The Channels, Williams could not be reached for comment as of press time.