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Lauren Hassen, of Tinley Park, was sworn in as the Moraine Valley Community College student trustee for the 2020-21 school year during the Board of Trustees meeting on April 21.
Lauren Hassen, of Tinley Park, was sworn in as the Moraine Valley Community College student trustee for the 2020-21 school year during the Board of Trustees meeting on April 21. Hassen is excited to have been elected to this position and says she is looking forward to working with the Board of Trustees on behalf of the student body.
“I feel like I have a voice, not only for myself but for all of the students, which is a privilege in itself,” she said.
One of her goals is to help bring about an increase in student participation in clubs and activities, something she believes is a benefit for the students and for the college.
“I feel students definitely should be involved with clubs and student life in general. At the end of the day, we’re getting a good education, but I think once you put yourself into these clubs, activities, sports, you get to know t what the school is really about. Being involved would be a big influence on students, making them want to go to classes, study harder for a test, just do better in general,” she said.
Her goal, she says, has shifted now that classes are being offered online only, but she is developing an online community for students and hopes to have something up and running in the near future.
“I’m working on creating a discord server. There are so many things you can use it for — music, movies, games. And you can have hundreds of people involved,” Hassen said. Because students can’t be on campus right now, she believes this could be a good opportunity for students to stay connected and give them a sense of college pride.
She also plans to talk with students to see where their interests and needs lie to help where she can.
“Being the student trustee is a wonderful experience. I want to make sure everyone is equally represented, and I don’t want to disappoint anybody. I’m not only going to focus on clubs and activities; I want to be sure they all feel their voices are being heard.”
Hassen is a member of the Black Student Association and participates in the DREAM Mentor Program and TRiO, an outreach and student services program. Upon her graduation, Hassen plans to transfer to a four-year university where she will major in Human Resources Management.
“Our sincerest congratulations to Lauren for being elected to the position of student trustee,” said Dr. Sylvia Jenkins, Moraine Valley president. “It is our pleasure to have her join us, and we look forward to working with her as a liaison for the student body.”
