PC extension students curious about ASC elections
Mallory York
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: News
All full-time students from Peninsula College sites on the North Olympic Peninsula are eligible to vote in the Associated Student Council elections. That includes the Port Townsend and Forks extension sites as well as the main campus in Port Angeles. If they have a 2.5 or higher grade point average and are enrolled in 10 or more credits, students from any of these sites may run to become a member of the ASC themselves as well.
Though many are eligible, extension site students do not participate in the ASC elections. ASC Adviser Rick Ross said that there is no interest shown by the Port Townsend or Forks extension sites. "We haven't ever heard that a student at either of those sites wants to vote."
The ASC made an effort to get the extension site students to vote in the past, Ross explained. Informational fliers were sent to both sites, and people were standing by at each location to collect ballots. Not a single student at either extension site voted, said Ross.
"There's no participation here that I'm aware of," said Port Townsend extension site registrar Maggie Hinshaw, although she noted that the students are encouraged to participate by the Port Townsend campus Dean of Instruction, Jackie Jardine-Moore.
A similar response came from Forks campus's receptionist, Annie Carver. "I don't think anyone here in Forks votes," said Carver, "At least not in the last four or five years."
The absence of voting at PC's extension sites may not be due to lack of interest, however. "Our students would like to know how they could vote, and would like an opportunity to meet the candidates," said Carver, explaining that she had spoken to students on the Fork campus and that they seem interested in voting, but don't know how. Carver said that the Forks students would like to meet the ASC candidates; they suggested having the candidates come to Forks for a forum so that extension students could meet them and feel like they knew who they could vote for.
Though many are eligible, extension site students do not participate in the ASC elections. ASC Adviser Rick Ross said that there is no interest shown by the Port Townsend or Forks extension sites. "We haven't ever heard that a student at either of those sites wants to vote."
The ASC made an effort to get the extension site students to vote in the past, Ross explained. Informational fliers were sent to both sites, and people were standing by at each location to collect ballots. Not a single student at either extension site voted, said Ross.
"There's no participation here that I'm aware of," said Port Townsend extension site registrar Maggie Hinshaw, although she noted that the students are encouraged to participate by the Port Townsend campus Dean of Instruction, Jackie Jardine-Moore.
A similar response came from Forks campus's receptionist, Annie Carver. "I don't think anyone here in Forks votes," said Carver, "At least not in the last four or five years."
The absence of voting at PC's extension sites may not be due to lack of interest, however. "Our students would like to know how they could vote, and would like an opportunity to meet the candidates," said Carver, explaining that she had spoken to students on the Fork campus and that they seem interested in voting, but don't know how. Carver said that the Forks students would like to meet the ASC candidates; they suggested having the candidates come to Forks for a forum so that extension students could meet them and feel like they knew who they could vote for.
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