Department Chair of Philosophy and Women’s and Gender studies Professor Ana Torres-Bower presented the ASCC Senate with a relocation fund for part time Faculty Honorarium for collaboration on a Gender and the Chicana/ Latina Experience course.

Torres-Brewer says that this course will help students prepare to take responsibility for their academic success and roles as engaged citizens who are committed to make a difference as members of their communities.

In addition to that another important outcome from this initiative is the increase of Women’s and Gender Studies Associate in Arts-Transfer degrees.

“71.1 percent of the student population here in Cerritos are hispanic tradition or culture so of course it’s important to understand the gender behaviors and our values through the lenses of the Chicana/Latina Experience,” Torres-Bower said.

She added that the Women’s and Gender studies department had over 43 events this semester celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Women’s History Month educating students about the importance of gender equality, labor fairness, employment opportunities, and economic justice.

They received a lot of positive feedback from students and that’s how they decided to develop a course on Gender and Chicana/Latina Experience.

The initial request for this fund was for $370.

Senator Linda Sanchez was excited ASCC Senate approved this fund because she thinks there needs to be more women empowerment and educate both men and women today’s society treatment of gender influence its economic, social, and cultural politics.

“We need to empower women and we still need to educate not just women but men too, they have a sister or maybe a daughter one day and we need to show them and start making a change.”

Sanchez was part of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program and says she benefit from it, she added that the professors do a great job educating students, they put a lot effort into it and thinks this new course will benefit students a lot because there is still double standard in today’s society.

Senator Eduardo De La Rosa worked with Professor Ana Torres-Brewer and wrote the legislation and he’s glad the fund was passed.

De La Rosa is concerned that the program expenses should be covered by district and not the student government.

“I’m a bit concerned that the responsibility for paying; something like that doesn’t fall on the senate, that should an expense that should be covered by the District and academic program,” DeLa Rosa said.

He added that even though he wrote the legislation and wasn’t in favor of it he wanted to give an opportunity to the the Women and Gender studies program to come forward with their fund and have a platform to support it.