Student Leadership Council Serves and Leads at Linn-Benton Community College

Photo courtesy of LBCC

With 17 Student Leadership Council officers coming and going, the Student Life and Leadership office at LBCC hums with constant activity.

The SLC is the governing body of the Associated Students of Linn-Benton Community College which advocates for students and communicates student desires and concerns to the college administration. It also provides students with opportunities for networking, social interactions, and outreach activities.

“We’re a group of students trying to enhance the college experience for LB students, with clubs, activities and volunteering,” said SLC finance director Caleb Hedin, a freshman.

Hedin keeps track of the SLC accounts for the ASLBCC, which amounts to around $44,000 to spend for the 2017-18 school year.

“Students come to us, if they need help funding a school-related activity, such as $40 to put posters around campus, to start a new club, or to pay for new monitors,” said Hedin.

Hedin said the account has even provided a few thousand dollars for students to attend conferences.

“Anything that will enhance the college,” said Hedin.

Barb Horn, Student Activities coordinator and advisor for the SLC, said the officers vote and make decisions for how students’ money will be spent.

 “They try to get the most bang for the buck. They’re great stewards of the money,” said Horn.

SLC can also help with basic needs like food insecurity. According to Horn November’s food drive event provided for more than 150 student families’ Thanksgiving meal, which included breakfast.

Food is also available at the Linn-Benton Lunch Box, LBCC’s food pantry run by SLC officers and funded through proceeds from The Hot Shot Café, a campus co-curricular. Horn said six or seven families take advantage of the food pantry every week.

Another form of assistance offered to students through the SLC is the upcoming energy assistance program event planned for Jan. 30. SLC events planner Jacob Senske, a freshman, is one of the officers trying to get the word out through LBLive and posters placed around campus.

 “A real goal right now is trying to find ways to introduce ourselves and what we are doing to provide help to students,” said Senske.

 Students also come looking for community outreach opportunities, where they will find community outreach director Marta Nunez. Nunez, a sophomore, is often the first to greet you when entering the office.

“I’m the BFF that sees students through community events they want to plan,” said Nunez.

 If students want to get involved in volunteering opportunities, Osvaldo Galvez, a sophomore, is the one to see. Galvez assembles and organizes volunteers for one-time events or to staff the Hot Shot Café. He can also pair a student volunteer with an SLC officer to learn job-specific skills in a more involved student leadership experience.

SLC President Brian Ixtlahuac encourages students to voice their ideas and concerns. They can stop by the office or attend student government meetings, which are open to all students and held throughout the month.

“When it comes to the SLC, if there is ever a problem that presents itself, we want to make sure that students know they can come talk to us and know we are here to help them,” said Ixtlahuac

At a Glance:

What:     Student Leadership Council, Linn-Benton Community College
Who:      Brian Ixtlahuac, President
Where:   LBCC, Forum Building Room 120
When:    Meetings held Mon, Tues, and Wed check website for times and locations
Contact:  Brian Ixtlahuac, SLC president at slcpres@linnbenton.edu