Students from the American Medical Student Association   (AMSA) and the Mathematics, Engineering, Science and Achievement (MESA) attempted to obtain funds from the Student Association meeting yesterday and were unable to do so.

Director of Legislative Affairs Lou Martinson introduced a bill to send as many as twenty AMSA members to the AMSA conference to, according to Bill F06-17 "train students in patient advocacy, activism, and legislative training and action to benefit their fellow students and community members."

Founding President of the American River College chapter of AMSA Joubin Afshar said the bill also would, (if passed by the S.A.) enable ARC students who are AMSA members to lobby for the Health Partnership Act.

Afshar did a power point presentation asking for $16,500 to attend a conference that he said would enable "more money given to the local communities that can address the health needs of people from Sacramento."

A survey conducted by AMSA with 437 ARC students in last semester showed that 74% of ARC students don't have health care.

According to Afshar, the Health Partnership Act, being introduced next year by Senator Barack Obama and Charlie Ensign, "would enable local communities to receive more federal funding for health care needs and that decision would be left to the local health agencies."

"Since 9/11 all this funding goes to terrorism and fear of smallpox, takes away from the federal government taking money away from people afflicted by diabetes or hit by a drunk driver," said Joubin.

He criticized the council for in the past sending a mere two students to conferences while his conference was sent to three readings, three committees, and "seven jumping through hoops." He challenged the student association who had recently attended student senates and conferences to come up with proof that they had attended these conferences with detailed reports and questioned whether or not the conferences had been properly advertised to students.

According to S.A. President Scott Cunha, "every conference is put on the marquee and the flyers are passed out and there is an application process."

"There is an application process that was instituted last year, but I've yet to see it advertised on the marquee or random flyers passed out around school," said Martinson.

"My fear is that they will put this to committee and drag their feet," said Afshar in an interview in which he expressed that many times the S.A. spent their money on conferences for themselves and on limousines to attend those conferences, but often

tabled bills or sent them to committee when they were for other clubs.

S.A. Advisor Phil Sanders said because the conference was a legislative affair he would get more information to see whether they could approve the bill. He said he was concerned it "opens it up for everybody," in regards to clubs asking for money to attend conferences.

Cunha said that the bill had to be read three times and be sent to three committees because it had to be before they could vote on it. He said they were "restricted by certain laws with specific legal guidelines," and that they were "asking for legal opinion from a district lawyer."

According to Martinson the legal council for the district is Jan Sperry.

"In my opinion, it meets the requirement of legislation on the behalf of ARC students at a local, state, and national level," said Martinson.

SA representative Simon Levison introduced a bill that would use $15,835 of student representative fees to fund the MESA Project to support MESA programs at K-12 levels.

"I introduced the bill because the MESA project helps K-12 from low income families and brings them into contact with colleges," said Levison.

According to Alex Rossiter, the MESA Project, in conjunction with ARC Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is "essentially a program of college [math, science, and engineering students] helping aspiring college students. We are trying to create this program to help the K-12 MESA programs because the state abandoned them."

After they attempted to send the bill to committee, Martinson moved to make it an action item, seconded by Levison, after he shouted "there is $100,000 dollars in the S.A. account!"

Immediately, before they had the opportunity to vote, Melissa Rios, Lois Haslett and Juan Lopez exercised their point of privilege and left.

Bikrum Singh Jolly pointed out that they had lost quorum and could not vote on the matter.

Not much was established during the Student Association (S.A.) meeting Nov. 21 because there were many representatives absent and there weren't enough people to establish quorum, (meaning that there weren't enough officers there to lawfully conduct the meeting).

While quorum was accomplished at the beginning of the meeting, due to the resignation of Tali Torres and and the rules of parliamentary procedure the meeting was

cancelled after several student representatives expressed how disgusted they were with the behavior of others.

S.A. Director of Legislative Affairs Lou Martinson introduced Bill F06-14 to use student representation fees on the purchase of a snow cone machine and a popcorn machine in an effort to "entice students to get involved in clubs and participation," and avoid having to enact future legislation time and time again to rent these machines. (?) made a motion to table the bill until it was clear how much money would be spent on the equipment. Martinson agreed being fiscally responsible was important.

Torres said she relinquished her position due to the prejudices of others. She handed out and asked ARC student Jesse Smith to read a letter which said she was "deeply offended and disgusted by a student representative" who had accused her of being a homosexual. While Torres is not homosexual, she said in an interview that her sexual preference was of little relevance.

Torres also said she was dismayed by rumors SA representative Richard Guido spread that she discriminated against disabled students. Torres raises guide dogs and she herself is disabled. She also spearheaded and was the main force behind planning the homecoming dance and the diversity march, which was why she was appalled by Student Representative Barbara Swanson's remarks.

It wasn't just those statements it was because they say they want to do things for the students yet I have to see some of them do any projects for the students, they mainly want to do things for themselves."

For example, they go to conferences, but it doesn't benefit the students...using ARC students as a stepping block so they can run for Student Senate and things like this."

She said she was upset because a piece of legislation enabling ICC club members to use the public relations room was unjustifiably vetoed by SA president Scott Cunha.

"After that it was a struggle for us to get it back on the agenda to override the veto."

Torres said she felt that it was unfair for Cunha to veto the bill because S.A. members are allowed to use the room and "it shows an elitist   kind of selfishness...there is favortism."

Torres said both Martinson and Hamlett held forums for the UTP pass, Cunha supported Hamlett's meeting, but didn't support Martinson's.

Inter-Club Council President and (other activities) Nancy Djuiza called for Barbara Swanson to be removed from council for making these discriminatory remarks.