 "Photo: Estrella Gutierrez")
 "Photo: The Accent")
Davis Jones is a 26 year old ACC student running for place 5 on the ACC Board of Trustees.
He expects to win.
“I’m a proponent of positive thinking,” said Jones. “I’m certainly going in humble; I’m going to do my best.”
Jones believes that the main value he will bring to the board is the unique perspective of a student.
“I’m not coming as a politician,” said Jones. “I’m not coming from a Democratic club. I’m not coming from a Republican club. I’m coming as a clear voice from ACC representing the students – representing the customers.”
Jones feels that currently the board members are too similar to one another. The board is full of PhDs and later adult professionals that are lawyers or educational administrators, said Jones.
“We need diverse perspectives to address complicated issues,” said Jones. “Having another PhD on the board, that’s just like ordering a bowl of rice and putting a little more white rice on it. All you’re going to get is more rice.”
Recently, students have heard talk that the board might move the add/drop deadline to before the first day of class. Jones feels that this is a practical example of the impact of not having student representation on the board.
Jones knows what it is to have a busy schedule; he is currently taking 18 credits. He feels like ACC students are already required to have a high level of organization, and that the board doesn’t need to move the add/drop date.
“I think that that’s something we certainly need to work on together versus getting bullied into having a drop date that doesn’t suit the students’ needs,” Jones said.
As with this issue and others, Jones understands that he won’t be able to go in and immediately change things.
“The bottom line is that this is a board of nine people. I will humbly listen to the perspectives of the other eight members of the board,” Jones said. “I will say that I will fight for the student view.”
Jones is looking at the financial future of ACC with a skeptical eye.
“As our enrollment is doubling, our state funding is definitely not doubling, so it is putting a pinch on our money,” Jones said.
As a counteraction, Jones would use his place on the board to reach out and get money for the school.
“As a person in a position of trust, I would use that position to motivate certain parts of certain institutions to consider Austin Community College as a recipient of private funds,” Jones said.
Jones desires a more practical education at ACC. He wants the college to integrate with local businesses for the benefit of the students.
“We need to have local business leaders in the college telling students what they need in order to get a job, and what opportunities are out there,” Jones said. “Don’t give me a degree in water management if I live in a desert.”
During his campaign process, Jones has been in communication with the trustees.
“The board has been good about informing me about issues facing the board,” Jones said. “In that sense, they have been very supportive.”
Jones encourages people to be part of the upcoming election.
“Tell your friends and family that there is a strong voice coming from the students, and we need their support in getting it heard,” Jones said. “It starts in the ballot box on May 8.”
Be the first to comment on this article!