The Wright Times

Issue date: 9/1/09 Section: News

Recently elected student trustee Antony Chungath represents Wright College at the board of trustees meetings held at the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) District office downtown. On Sep. 18, Wright hosts an SGA (Student Government Association) Leadership Conference for returning members in the Atrium located in the first floor of the Events building.

Wright Times: How often is a new member put into office?

Antony Chungath: Every year, one school from all seven CCC's gets to send a student to the board. Every year it rotates, and this year is Wright's turn.

WT: What goes on at these meetings?

AC: The board is presented resolutions to vote on. These resolutions affect students from all CCC's. Also, if the board has any questions for administrators they would ask so at the meeting, or if any student would like to address the board, this meeting would be the best place to do so.

WT: How are Wright students affected by the decisions?

AC: Students are directly affected by the decisions made at these meetings. For example, the tuition rate hike that was approved was done so at this meeting, among many other issues. Thus, I strongly encourage students to become more active and attend these meetings.

WT: What do you do to help students?

AC: What I do to help students is LISTEN. My job is to help student leaders at each CCC with any issues they have, also listen to them and the entire student body and take their problems and convey them to the board.

WT: What advice do you have for the new students at Wright?

AC: My advice would be GET INVOLVED. It doesn't have to be SGA (but I strongly encourage that), they can join The Wright Times, or any of the organizations or clubs Wright has. If students get involved, I believe they would enjoy their time at Wright and create friendships that will stay with them for a long time, as I have.

WT: What should students expect this coming year?

AC: A more effective and active SGA, one that will work towards opening a better dialogue with administrators and find solution to their problems.

WT: What have you accomplished so far?

AC: One of my major accomplishments so far is conveying the issues of textbook prices to the new Chancellor [Deidre Lewis], letting her know how this severely affects many students' ability to perform their best in school. She has expressed interest in sitting down with student leaders to see how we can tackle this issue together.

WT: What steps have you taken to fulfill your promises?

AC: At our regular district SGA meetings I gather information from student leaders to bring to the table what their school is doing to address the textbook problem. I did this so we can learn from each other and improve communication between each CCC. Truman currently has a great textbook exchange program. I want to see how we can bring that to Wright. Also Wright has a great way to raise money for scholarship, I want to see how can we spread that to all CCC.

Any students interested in reaching Chungath regarding any issue can email him at achungath@student.ccc.edu or stop by the SGA office in Room S106.

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