Farewell Address from Tokuin Hankins
June 3, 2009
Dear Grossmont College,
First, I should like to express my gratitude to the administration, faculty, and staff for the opportunities they have given me over the past two years. My special thanks go to the students, who have been immensely supportive of me and have helped me grow in ways that I could not on my own.
After two semesters in the service as the Student Body President, I shall be passing my responsibilities onto the authority of my successor, Marc Valenzuela.
Today, I come to you with a message of farewell and valediction, and to share a few final thoughts.
Traditionally, the role of a college Student Body President has been to represent and manage the interests and concerns of all the students, especially here at Grossmont College. It is a sacred and difficult journey that the President takes in achieving this ideal. I have however, tried to expand that role to be more serving and to increase transparency and connection between the Associated Students of Grossmont College (ASGC) and the student body. Students expect their student representatives, as they do with other elected officials, to make wise resolutions of which will better shape the future of their campus to a more equitable and moral community.
My own relations with student government began as a freshman looking for opportunity to improve, in any way, the college experience for you, my fellow students, and to secure a collaborative, trusting relationship with the administration and faculty. I believe and so have assured that the business of our college should go forward from today on as a single, united, and unobstructed entity that purposefully serves all students on our campus. That is basically the whole mission of any public educational institution; which our college is becoming a champion of. So, my formal relationship with the administration and faculty, and with the teamwork of my ASGC Board, ends in a sense of appreciation that we have been able to do so much together.
However, we now enter into a perilous point in time with California’s economy becoming more unstable and erratic. With the recent failed propositions, the state falls into an estimated $24 billion deficit. The Governor has proposed cuts to our community colleges amounting to $127,100,000 in 2008-09 and $697,800,000 in 2009-10. These figures include cuts and flexibility reforms to categorical programs such as EOPS, DSPS, and Matriculation. Furthermore, the Department of Finance recently recommended that the Cal Grant program be phased out by no longer offering new awards, and possibly raising tuition.
These are unprecedented times and the prospects seem grim, but I am confident in the leadership of our administration, as well as your new student leaders, who will be defending and ensuring your success in your educational journey here at Grossmont College.
Throughout our adventure this year, our basic purpose have been to keep programs available, foster progress in awareness of cultural diversity, and to enhance opportunity for students.
Progress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the decisions of our lawmakers and it is incumbent upon us as students to speak up so that lawmakers and administrators too, can understand what our needs are. And, as former United States Secretary of Education, Shirley Hufstedler once said, “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.” With that, I challenge you all to get involved in anyway you can next semester.
For those who are transferring, like myself, or leaving Grossmont College for other reasons, my message is suggestion of the like. Wherever life takes you next, become or continue to be an advocate for positive, moral change in your community. Your words and thoughts are invaluable to the development of our country and the world.
We are fortunate to live in America, where the spirit of democracy and self value is raised to the highest pedestal.
Happily, I can say that program cancellation, course elimination, and tuition raises have been avoided this year. Steady progress toward our ultimate goal has been made. But so much remains to be done. As a transferring student to UCLA, I shall never cease to do what little I can to help the world advance along that road for community colleges, and Grossmont in particular.
So, in this my last speech to you as your President, I thank you for the many opportunities you have given me for public service. I trust that in the service you find some things worthy. As for the rest of it, I know you will find ways to improve performance in the future.
I wish the new Student Body President, and all who will work with him, Godspeed.
Beginning September, I will be attending UCLA, and I look forward to it.
Thank you, and farewell.
Tokuin Hankins
Associated Students of Grossmont College President, 2008-09