Author Archives: Bridgitte Chan

Equity by Anoop Kaur

ਲਗਨ ਕਾਮਯਾਬੀ ਦਾ ਬੂਹਾ ਖੜਕਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਮਯਾਬੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ  ਦਾ ਮਕਸਦ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ ll
– ਜਸਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੰਵਲ
“Devotion knocks on the door of success and success fulfills the purpose of life.”
– Jaswant Singh Kanwal

 FULL CIRCLE MOMENT 💫
Equity in Higher Education
By Anoop Kaur (she/her)

What’s up, Spartans! As we slowly ease back into a new “normal,” Associated Students and I would like to welcome you back to the Spartan Voice blog, a new initiative started by our Director of Communications, Gerard William Pablo. This blog’s purpose is to communicate and clarify our organization’s values and for you, the readers, to get to know us better. I am excited to showcase more of our Spartan voices, but first, let me share my journey…

As someone with the privilege of pursuing higher education, I wanted to run for President to become the representation I sought out when I first came to San José State University. As a Woman of Color, I did not see myself in this position of leadership as A.S. President. But life, my ਕਿਸ਼ਮਤ (kismat) has led me here. My hope, at the end of my term this May, is to help more women and People of Color to feel inspired, seen and empowered to become movers and shakers in our communities.

Associated Students (A.S.) has changed my perspective on higher education, opened my eyes to new experiences, and helped me understand how I can better seek transformative change: from shifting virtually in pursuing our degrees, working during a pandemic, running a student-led non-profit organization, to learning behind-the-scenes work that powers higher education. A clear example of this is the advocacy work done by the 2019-2020 A.S. Board of Directors to fight for the credit/no credit option and seeking maximum flexibility and understanding of students’ circumstances during the pandemic which re-established my faith in leadership through compassion.

By finding myself in a position of leadership, I am able to help make visible the issues that some find invisible. I invite you all to think about the ways in which you could increase awareness about your community issues. In my position, I have been able to put a spotlight on issues that others would have perhaps ignored.

I am always impassioned by the focus on equity that I see from all of our A.S. departments. Staff and student assistants from our organization have the wellbeing of our students in the front of their minds. A.S. provides services that impact the daily lives of students, some of whom are the first in their families to attend college, low-income students, student-parents, commuter students and many more. Every student can be supported and/or impacted by services provided by Associated Students.

Thanks to past and current community-wide advocacy, we were able to foster many existing centers as well as the soon-to-be launched Student Success Centers for the Asian Pacific Islander Desi/American and Native American/Indigenous communities. These spaces on campus give me hope that SJSU is moving in the right direction and will continue to work towards creating a holistic and positive college experience for each and every student.

Being in the CSU system, equity is at the core of everything we do. A.S. in particular highlights a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds. Everyone deserves a chance to own their college experience and gain access to opportunities. Through conversations with my classmates and friends, I have seen firsthand how job opportunities and child care services through A.S. supports financial burdens and develops vital career skills. We offer scholarships and book vouchers to support student needs as well. In collaboration with 2020-2021 Director of Sustainability, Jocelyn Jones-Trammell, we created the A.S. Pursuit of Black Excellence Scholarship. As an organization we also continue to fund Recognized Student Organizations who can apply for $2,700 annually to finance their programming, initiatives and events. Our mission, plainly stated, is to advocate to build a better, safer, and more inclusive community to unite us all. As President & CEO, it is my honor to carry out this mission and represent the needs of all 36,000 SJSU Spartans.

I commend your resilience and commitment to being a Spartan despite the many challenges we have all faced. We are here to support and uplift you in your college journey. I encourage you all to take advantage of the resources available to you: get involved, take positions of leadership where possible, and build connections.

Starting as a student-at-large four years ago to now being President, I can vouch for the value of getting involved by taking advantage of research, student organizations, centers on campus, mentorship opportunities, and through A.S programs, events and services. I wish you all a meaningful college journey as fulfilling and memorable as mine!

A little business info for you: Associated Students (A.S.) is a 501(c)3 non-profit auxiliary organization whose vision is to strengthen the Spartan community through access to opportunities that inspire educational growth, personal development and innovation. While maintaining a voice for SJSU students through student government, A.S. also provides other unique services and activities to enhance student life and the broader community. With a $9 million budget, we advocate and maintain the student voice through the A.S. Board of Directors and operate nine departments, including seven student-facing departments: the César E. Chávez Community Action Center, Child Development Center, Events, General Services Center, Print & Technology Center, Student Government, and Transportation Solutions. All of our departments provide essential and distinct services to our campus. Visit sjsu.edu/as for more information. To connect with the A.S. Board of Directors and student government, visit sjsu.edu/as/boardhours.

Social Justice by Diana Victa and Alejandra Romo

CELEBRATING SOCIAL JUSTICE ICONS CHÁVEZ, HUERTA, AND ITLIONG
A Call to Action for Civic Engagement and Advocacy

On Thursday, March 17, the Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center(CCCAC) will celebrate its inaugural Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong (CHI) Day. The three individuals who went on to inspire many others during their lifetime are the root of the celebration and inspire us every day at the CCCAC. CHI day will be an annual celebration where we not only celebrate but, more importantly, call to action their legacy.

To understand the importance and significance of CHI day, we have to understand who the three individuals are and why we are celebrating it. The conditions in which farmworkers have worked in has never been fair but the fight for their rights was initiated by all of these monumental figures in history. In 1966, Filipino members of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee joined forces with Latino members of the National Farm Workers Association to form the United Farm Workers (UFW). With leaders such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong, they pushed to mobilize farm workers to advocate for more equitable policies, such as immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay, and other worker protections. CHI saw farmworkers as essential to the reason food, the staple of everyday life, is on our table.

Some of the UFW achievements include the first contracts to provide rest periods, drinking water, toilets, hand-washing facilities in the fields, the banning of pesticide spraying while workers were in the field, and protective clothing to guard against exposure to pesticides. In the fight, Chicano and Filipino farm workers united to become one of the greatest forces in history.

At the CCCAC, we find inspiration in the work and values of Chavez, Huerta, and Itliong. Chavez quotes, “The fight has never been about the grapes, the fight has always been about the people!” We promote this very motto at the CCCAC by centering on our core values such as community, empowerment, solidarity, and civic engagement. At the center, we offer a variety of services that serve people.

    • Through our K-12 mentorship programs, we are able to close the education pipeline for BIPOC youth of San Jose by encouraging education.
    • Through our Campus Community Garden, we have not only helped to provide for food-insecure students but also empower students to critically think about and take action on environmental justice issues.
    • Our In Solidarity program equips the SJSU students with a new understanding on social justice issues and how to become the next generation of leaders.

We have truly become a student hub on campus where people learn to take action on the social justice issues they are most passionate about. The CCCAC is a space where Spartans can feel united and connected to social justice work as inspired by CHI.

We invite you to join us at the inaugural CHI Day to celebrate and honor the work of Chavez, Huerta, and Itliong on Thursday, March 17 from 11am-1pm on 7th Street Plaza at San Jose State University. We not only celebrate their legacy but also remember the cause! When we say “viva la huelga” (long live the protest), we acknowledge the triumph of the grape strike! There will always be a cause and we will always fight for it.

The CCCAC is located in the Student Union, 1st Floor, Suite 1550. Connect with us in Insta @sjsucccac and @sjsugarden. Visit us on the web at sjsu.edu/cccac and sjsu.edu/garden.

Advocacy by Alan Nguyen

Alan Nguyen is a student assistant in Transportation Solutions, a department within Associated Students, SJSU. In this latest Spartan Voice by A.S. Blog, Alan shares his story on Advocacy, one of eight Core Values in the Associated Students Strategic Plan. Read more about our organization’s values in the A.S. Strategic Plan here

“I have always had a strong passion for public transportation. It started when I was little and has continued throughout my teenage and adult years.”

For my generation, advocacy is an essential form of public engagement. It allows us to voice our opinions and to influence people and our leaders for the betterment of society. I guess I inherited the same interest from my grandfather who moved from Vietnam to the US in the early 1900s. He took various forms of public transportation across the San Francisco Bay Area, including VTA and BART, to travel to Oakland and San Francisco during his free time. His visits to the city reminded him of his younger days in Vietnam, where he worked as a civil engineer building public transportation infrastructure in various cities across the country.

“I highly encourage every Spartan to take sustainable forms of transportation…”

I currently work as a student assistant in Transportation Solutions (T.S.) department. Before joining T.S. in Fall 2021, I never had any prior experience working for a department that advocates for alternative transportation. I highly encourage every Spartan to take sustainable forms of transportation rather than driving their own vehicles. They’ll help reduce parking demand on campus and ultimately help fight climate change. We need to significantly reduce all carbon emissions, including what’s produced by a massive number of cars on the road.

My job has been fulfilling because I have developed a more robust understanding of how the 27 public transit agencies in the Bay Area work. Additionally, I have helped my fellow Spartans by providing trip plans, contributing to multiple transportation projects, organizing outreach events, and more. Working at T.S. is an amazing opportunity for me to network with like-minded individuals who share the same passion when advocating for environmental sustainability.

“I act as a liaison on behalf of my fellow Spartans.”

My goal is to go above and beyond what’s expected in my role. For example, my manager recommended me to get involved in outreach events with Seamless Bay Area, a non-profit organization that aims to reinvent and transform our fragmented public transit by building a diverse movement for change and promoting policy reform. This can result in a unified, world-class, equitable, and widely-used Bay Area transit system. I act as a liaison on behalf of my fellow Spartans by attending public meetings, voicing my concerns as a frequent public transit user, and pushing for a better transit system that is streamlined and affordable for students.

“Together, we can build a better Bay Area!”

We all have an important role in society: the need to address the seriousness of climate change and what we can do to help mitigate this for future generations now calls on our spirit of advocacy! Together, we can build a better Bay Area and ultimately, a better world, by becoming more informed, getting involved, acting, and influencing people around us. I want to continue using my passion for public transportation and the environment as a means of becoming an everyday role model for my fellow Spartans!

To contact Alan Nguyen and the T.S. team and to learn more about programs, events, and services:

Transportation Solutions
Diaz Compean Student Union, 1st Floor, Suite 1800
In-Person Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Tel: (408)924-6242; e-mail: transportation@sjsu.edu
Instagram and Twitter: @ts_sjsu
ts.sjsu.edu

Life Long Learning by Carole Dowell

Carole Dowell is the Executive Director of Associated Students, SJSU. Here, in the inaugural blog release of Spartan Voice by A.S., Carole shares her thoughts on Lifelong Learning, one of eight Core Values in the Associated Students Strategic Plan. Read more about our organization’s values in the A.S. Strategic Plan here. 

“What you knew yesterday got you to where you are today. However, today is only the starting point for tomorrow.” – *Gary Burnison

I was not a straight-A student in high school. I didn’t like reading; school books were so hard for me to get through, and I could not remember much about what I was reading. I didn’t really like school for that matter except for PE. Sports was what I excelled at, no matter which one. I learned the rules as quickly as I could, went to bat, and put 100 percent into it. It was the perfect arena for me to be competitive and so it become my number one focus. In actuality though, I was doing just the bare minimum and getting by academically to finish high school.

Fast forward to college, I moved from my home in France and went to CSUN to pursue an undergraduate degree in Business. Attending an American University to get a degree became a goal of mine. I was motivated and excited for a new adventure halfway across the world.

With English as my second language, trying to understand the professor, the class, and taking notes all at the same time was a challenge. I had to focus on a basic understanding of the lesson, leaning on my books and notes, do my homework and pass the tests! This was learning at a whole new level for me. It took an entire semester to get used to taking notes in class in English while listening to the professor at the same time. 

But I was getting better and more comfortable with it. I took English 101 in the Pan-African Studies department my first semester. I had to read books quickly and do reports. Remember, reading wasn’t my thing! Ha! Well, I suddenly found myself enjoying reading a lot! This was the beginning of my relationship with books, connecting to the stories and reflecting upon what was shared. This led to a realization: Here I was at 20 years old, in a new country, in school and getting excited about, of all things, books! I was learning to better myself! 

“Be aware of not just what you know but, more importantly, what you don’t know.” – Gary Burnison

It’s a misconception to think that we learn only in the classroom and once we graduate, it’s over. After school, we get a job and learn as much as we can about it: the duties of the position, the processes, and the systems, and the people. The longer we’re at a job and the more we do it, the more comfortable and better we become at it. I’ve taken it upon myself to do more than the minimum; to get ahead of the curve, bring new ideas and solutions in the ways of doing things. 

When I mastered my job – meeting expectations and improving performance — it felt great. As it became routine, I knew I was ready for a new challenge. This was my internal sign to move forward with what’s next in my professional journey.  

I believe we all learn through our experiences, be these be positive or negative ones, but what we choose to do with the learning is up to us! I chose to keep moving forward in my journey because my experiences helped me to grow and develop as a person. The more mature I get, the more opportunities I have to pick and choose what’s next in my journey. In Higher Education, I see staff as educators and lifelong learners because, as our students change, the needs and expectations change too. Professional staff continuously adapt to these changes to best serve students and help them succeed in life in college and beyond. 

This is what we at Associated Students strive to do: continuous improvement — revising, refining, stopping, adjusting and starting services and programs to best fit the needs of our current students. We keep up with the trends in the field by reading journals, attending workshops, asking students for feedback, and communicating with our networks of colleagues. We want to exemplify the value of Lifelong Learning. 

Learning continues way beyond the confines of the four walls of a classroom or a Zoom call. I have evolved both personally and professionally in the years following CSUN. But each step forward has been the result of lifelong learning. We can be mediocre and get by, sure, but I challenge you to aim for excellence and learn every day! We, students and professionals, deserve the bounty and rewards that learning through life can bring us! 

*Gary Burnison is CEO of Korn Ferry, a management consulting firm based in Los Angeles. He has written a number of books including The Leadership Journey, among others.