*UPDATED 11/1/12 12:42 PM* It was previously reported that Sen. Hugo Garcia was drinking; now our source tells us this is not true. It was removed from the online story.
The Associated Student Government unanimously accepted the resignation of two members of the executive board who resigned abruptly.
Executive Vice President Caitlin Mack and Legislative Vice President Rachel McKinley tendered their resignation letters on Friday and Monday respectively.
Their actions fueled speculations that the resignations are tied to allegations of misconduct in connection with ASG’s participation at the California Community Colleges Student Affairs Association (CCCSAA) conference in Los Angeles from Oct. 19 to 21.
However, Mack and McKinley have said they resigned for “personal reasons.”
Sen. Monique Reyna, ASG’s spokesperson, acknowledged that there is an ongoing investigation about an alleged misconduct involving the use of alcohol and other substances by ASG representatives.
“There have been different rumors, but as it stands right now they’re only rumors,” Reyna said, “These rumors are being investigated and will be dealt with by administration, such as Dr. Villa.”
Reyna added that she didn’t believe either resignation had anything to do with the rumors surrounding student conduct at CCCSAA.
Despite Reyna’s denials, many students who attended the conference, including ASG President Nathan Alonzo admitted that some Fresno City College delegates consumed alcohol and used other illegal substances. What is still in contention is who drank and the degree or severity of their conduct.
A conversation took place outside of the college bookstore between two Rampage reporters and ASG members, President Alonzo and Senators Alex O’Casey, Sarah Hayes and Desteni Battle on Tuesday evening.
During the conversation, Sen. O’Casey confirmed that she did, in fact, drink alcohol and urged Alonzo to admit that he did as well. Alonzo would not.
Alonzo then asked the small group of senators whether or not ASG should come forward with what happened at CCCSAA; O’Casey and the others agreed that it would be best to be open and honest about their mistakes.
They agreed to hold a press conference with all of the members who violated the code of conduct agreement they had signed prior to the event. They also vowed to be honest with the student body about their actions.
Other students who had attended the conference are telling stories of rampant abuse of alcohol and other substances during the conference, but few have been willing to come forward publicly on the record.
Sen. Nathan Squire did not say specifically if there was any misbehavior by the FCC delegation, but did say that the event was full of “college kids being college kids,” and “student leaders finding out if they’re leaders.”
Former Legislative Vice President McKinley who attended the conference, said, “There was alcohol present at the conference, but we don’t know who drank it.”
Drinking alcohol in gatherings such as the CCCSAA conference is forbidden, according to both the FCC and CCCSAA rules. Before departing to the event, students signed a binding code of conduct document, acknowledging that they were aware that alcoholic beverages and drugs are strictly prohibited.
The document also contains the following additional reminder. “California State Education Code and SCCCD prohibit alcoholic beverages being consumed during a college function regardless of student’s age.”
The FCC delegation seems to have ignored the warnings, according to many who attended.
David Thammavongsa, member of the Sustainable Action club and Rampage reporter, attended the event as a representative of Inter-Club Council. He is one of the few to openly admit to using alcohol and express remorse for his wrongdoing. Thammavongsa said he is willing to speak openly about what he did and what he saw.
Thammavongsa admits to buying himself “a beer,” and drinking with Senators Jose Chavez and President Pro-Tempore Rene Villa. He said Villa bought alcohol for Chavez who is under the age of 21.
“I guess I felt peer-pressured,” Thammavongsa said. “I didn’t go on the trip intending to drink. If I had, I would have just not gone to CCCSAA and drank at home.”
He also says he witnessed Sen. Squire and Sen. Richard Alvarez smoking marijuana, but says he was not involved in that activity.
He said that on the first night of the conference, Alonzo was observed to be “under the influence” while on the dance floor. Other sources say that Sen. Battle “was drunk the entire weekend.”
Alonzo denies that he was drunk at any point during the conference.
Sources other than Thammavongsa confirmed that Senators Alvarez and Squire were seen openly smoking marijuana on a smoking patio at their hotel.
Others have said that McKinley and Mack were drinking, but Thammavongsa could not confirm that. McKinley said Mack was photographed holding a bottle of alcohol, but claimed they didn’t drink.
At a cost of $10,158 to ASG’s Student Representation fee, 18 people from FCC went to the conference including, President Alonzo; now-former LVP McKinley; now-former EVP Mack; Trustee Mike Wilson; PPT Villa; Region V Delegate Edward James; Senators Chavez, Alvarez, Mia Chennault, Squire, O’Casey, Hugo Garcia, Hayes, Battle, Emily Rivera, as well as two representatives from FCC’s ICC, Jan Bensen and Thammavongsa.
ASG Advisor, Student Activities Director, Sean Henderson attended the conference with the students. According to the CCCSAA guidelines, each advisor signs an agreement to “be present the entire time” that students are at the conference site; “support the policy regarding possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages and illegal substances as stated on the Student Conference Attendance Agreement form” and “support the policy for good behavior throughout the duration of the conference.”
Henderson explained that one of his responsibilities “is to serve as a chaperone,” but that “It’s important to note that all students here are adults; that being the case, they’re on their honor.”
He also said he was busy with his participation at the conference and was not watching the students around the clock.
“Any relationship requires some amount of trust. These are representatives that you elected. I’m hoping that you trust them as much as I have to trust them,” Henderson said. “I’m not capable of staying awake for 72 hours or being in 10 rooms at the same time; they are adults.”
FCC’s Student Standards of Conduct clearly prohibit drugs and alcohol, specifically, “Unlawful possession, use, sale, offering to sell or furnish, furnishing, or being under the influence of, and controlled substance listed in California Health and Safety Code Section 11053.”
Some ASG members maintain that they believed that what happened “after hours” was their own business.
Dr. Chris Villa, vice president for student services disagrees. In an interview conducted earlier this semester, Villa explained that the Student Standards of Conduct apply to students who are off campus.
“If a student is on a field trip sponsored by the college, something like a club activity or a conference,” Villa said, “if it’s an event where they are expected to represent the college in any manner… the code of conduct covers student behavior in those instances.”
The CCCSAA student agreement states that alcohol and drugs are not permitted “at any time during the conference, including after formal activities, and all hours of the night and morning.”
CCCSAA holds a statewide conference once a year to which student government representatives and club leaders and other members from ICC attend to learn more about the role of student government and student leadership.
ASG is scheduled to attend another conference, General Assembly. The conference is this weekend, Nov. 2 to 4, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The event is presented by the Student Senate of California Community Colleges (SSCCC).
Sydney Excinia, Jesse Franz and Kaitlin Regan contributed to the reporting of this story.
