Dotti Cordell, Director of the Student Health Services Clinic, addressed Associated Student Government on Friday, Aug. 31 about why she thought the student health fee should be raised.
She told the members of ASG about the importance of having a clinic that can stay open for more than four hours a day and how raising the health fee would help the clinic to offer more services and low cost or free medications for those who need them.
She explained that the current health fees paid by students are just enough to cover staff salaries and leave very little room for them to buy important equipment that could benefit students.
The City ASG, along with both Mesa and Miramar ASG, will vote on how much they would recommend to raise the student health fee this spring and take their final suggestions to the District Board of Trustees who will ultimately decide whether or not to raise the fee and how much it should be raised.
According to Cordell, the budget for health services is so low that higher fees and passing Proposition 30 would likely be the only way the clinic could continue to provide all the services they offer now.
The ASG also touched on the importance of Prop. 30 during the meeting and how they want to educate students about this issue in the next few months.
ASG Secretary Ana Rivera said that the main goal of ASG this semester was to “…advocate and raise awareness for Prop. 30 and Prop. 37.”
“People need to vote for those who can’t vote for themselves,” said Rivera.
“The ASG is here to address any issues that might affect the student body,” Rivera added.
Rivera explained that ASG does more than support clubs on campus and wants to help educate and inform students of issues that might changes their lives.
Prop. 30, Prop. 37 and the rising of the student health care fee were the main topics discussed during the meeting.
Proponents of Prop. 30 claim it is designed to raise taxes on the top two income brackets in California and increase sales tax in order to raise money that California could provide to public schools and community colleges.
Prop. 37 would require food manufacturers place labels on any food that is genetically modified, according to Rivera.
The City ASG meets weekly from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Fridays in room D105 and is open to the public.
