WCC students, faculty and staff and the Windward community will have a chance to discuss some of the state’s most pressing issues with Gov. David Ige at a town hall meeting Monday, Oct. 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in ‘Ākoakoa 101-105.
Students are especially urged to attend the event, co-sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Hawai‘i-Windward Community College (ASUH-WCC) and Ka ‘Ohana. The governor will talk briefly about strategic initiatives his administration is working on, then respond to questions from the audience.
“This is an honor and an opportunity for us to educate ourselves about issues in our state and on our own campus,” said Jessica Spencer, ASUH-WCC president.
Spencer said she wants to learn how the state can expand affordable housing, especially for students struggling to make ends meet.
“We see students who are doing well in school but have to drop out because they have to choose between work and school to survive.”
Kelli Acopan, ASUH-WCC vice president, added that the town hall meeting will provide a way to present student concerns directly to people who actually make the decisions.
“Sometimes people may feel their voice is insignificant so they complain but don’t know what to do about it. This is a chance to be heard.”
ASUH-WCC encourages students to contact them on Facebook with issues they’re concerned about or drop their questions for the governor in the box in the Pālanakila lobby.
“One of our main goals is to hear from constituents — especially young people — about their concerns for the future,” said Gov. Ige. “I wanted to take this discussion directly to Windward since Mike McCartney and I were able to help the college launch its master plan years ago.”
McCartney, now the governor’s chief of staff, was a young Kāne‘ohe state senator in 1991 and chair of the Higher Education Committee while Ige was education chair in the House.
Together, they rallied WCC students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community to persuade the legislature and Gov. John Waihee to provide funding for new classroom buildings for Windward and Maui CCs.
by Ka ‘Ohana, News Staff
