LaGuardia Community College - LaGuardia Yearbook (Long Island City, NY)

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Interviews by Vincent Bontey Foculty Advism for the Yeotbook. wtth Joseph Shenket, Ptesndent oi LoGuotdto Community College: Luis Merchant Stu- dent Acttvtttes Committee Coordtnotor ond Presi' dent of Student Government 198284, and Bryan Lezomo Presudent of Student Government, 1984 Prestdent Joseph Shenket wtth his collectton oi International dolls Question I. What mojor innovations, changes and contributions have been mode under your odmInisttotion? Joseph Shenker. The major changes and innovations have been the Cooperative Education Ptogtom, the quarter system, the Program for the Beet, the Middle College and many others that we can list: but I think the major contribution is the realization that LoGuordio hos mony different publics it's supposed to serve. We ore not aimed otjust the high school gtoduores or just the individuals who are in- terested in business programs or people who are adults returning to education otter, perhaps, roising 0 tomin or wherever it might be We have to develop different types of programs all having the some quality educotionol core to them but different structures, end that is a statement of the philosophy of the CoIlege. Luis Merchant: As President of Student Government from 1962-1984, the major chonge and innovation thCh I feel that I hove mode was the structuring of on organization, namely Student Government, in such 0 fashion that it commands the respect of the entire college com- munity. As 0 result, the College hos coiled upon Student Government for various types of endorsements and close sponsorship of pro- grams, such as Africon-Ameticon History Month which is sponsored by the Third World Faculty, Student Government, and the Student Activities Committee, These programs have been more successful because they are being managed properly and they are more QUOIIIOTIVGI Bryon Lezomo: I thtnk the current administration hos mode three very productive, innovative changes The ftrst one is the reactivation of the Col- iege Rodio Station which had been out for several years. The second is the Ethiopian Reiief Progrom for LoGuordio. We were able to generate more than six thousand dollars for this humonitorion project. AnOther oreo which hos been innovative. in 0 sense, has been the producttve and cohesive network of programming and services among students, student clubs and orgonizotlons, Student Act tivities and Student Government. The administration before us had finally connected the Oteos, and what we did wosjust continue that, make it a little more productive, opening the doors to more student involvement In different things tvoter registration. com- munity Involvement, etcl

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10 Lefr t0 nghl Luvs Merchant Coordinator 0' me Swdem Acnvmes Committee Governmenr: 0nd Presudem Joseph Shenker m a fnendly chor Bryon Lezomo Premier of Student

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12 Questionll How has LoQuordio changed your life and affected your personal career? Joseph Shenker: I don't know if it has changed my career. I have been extremely satisfied personally by being part of LoGuordio because it is so flexible. so changeable and so dynamic that I never get bored. It is fun being here. It's fun working with the students and working with the faculty because they are creating so many intellectually and administratively challenging programs. This year we introduced Nursing and Physical Therapy Programs and we received funding for the Program for the Deaf, and I am sure next year there will be another ogendo. It is professionally and personally rewarding for me. Luis Merchant: When I come to LoGuordio, I had been seeking a school that was involved with Dietetics because I had 0 dream of being a chef, so I signed into the Program. As I student Amwg': $31239 Coordinator delved into it further, I found out that it wasn't exactly what I had onticipoted. What I had found more in- teresting, to me, was my involvement with Student Government which required business and management skills. Subsequently, I changed my curriculum from Dietetics to Business Administration which was more related to what I had been doing, and the excitement that come from that has inspired me to continue my career in business, specifically in the public sector, and I found out that I really enjoyed working with people. Bryon Lezama: LoGuordio has changed my life 0 lot. My reasons for coming to LoGuordio were not those of traditional students - for the Cooperative Progrom end the typical degree-gronting programs. I originally intended to go to Boston College for Music, but I got ojob at 0 local radio station. I felt I should stay in New York and study communications while work- ing in a college radio station. LoGuordio wos reocrivoting its station and that's why I chose this College. I wound up getting involved with clubs which afforded me 0 unique opportunity to develop leadership skills at the some time. Then, from there, I got involved with Student Government which entails budgets and fiscal accountability among other skills. My major now is Business Monogement. Question III Hos your administration been as effective as you foresaw or onitcipoted it to be? Joseph Shenker: I think the structure has reached most of the goals that I hod in mind. I feel Ieost successful in the area of obtaining space. The College has for outgrown the success of our programs and the need of space for our programs has for outgrown our ability to provide it. We desperately need more space. Four years from now, with the Equitable Bog building acquisition and perhaps the closing of the street between the two buildings e with an arcade for the students to sit and chat with each other, have 0 Coke or o fronkfurter - will give us the type of space we need.