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sebastian cazares College of the Canyons COC Board

Former ASG President, Local Activist Sebastian Cazares Announces Run For COC Board

After graduating from College of the Canyons, former College of the Canyons Associated Student Government (ASG) President Sebastian Cazares is running for a seat on the COC Board of Trustees, officials said Monday.

Cazares is now running to represent Santa Clarita Community College District Area 3, currently held by Steve Zimmer, for the General Election in November.

“My goal for this campaign is to inspire young people to take an active role in their community,” Cazares said. “Now more than ever, we need a voice, not just on school boards, but in local government, in general.”

As ASG President, Cazares presided over a nearly $1 million dollar budget and a variety of services critical to ensuring the success and well-being of the COC community, according to his campaign.

“My experience made it clear to me that there are changes that have to happen at the trustee level in order to truly empower our students and the campus community,” Cazares said. “That’s why I’m running for trustee, to make sure that the needs of the whole COC community — including veterans, disabled students, and the Latino students who make up almost half of our  student population — are being met.”

Cazares also advocated on behalf of students at the California State Capitol in Sacramento and served on the Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee for Measures E and M. Additionally, Cazares has served as a proxy for the Santa Clarita Community College District Student Trustee, voting in students’ interests each time, according to a statement.

“Community colleges often serve some of our most vulnerable community members,” Cazares said. “That’s why we have to work to close the equity gaps that keep persisting at COC, like the fact that African American students at COC are disproportionately, negatively impacted when it comes to issues like transfer rates to four-year institutions and math and English transfer credit completion.”

Cazares discussed equity measures in place at COC, with committee members trying to tackle the multi-faceted issue based on just numbers alone, not taking into account the student experience.

“Students are much more than data and spreadsheets, they are people, they have stories,” Cazares said. “I personally know these students and want to share their voices as a member of the board.”

He noted although there is a student trustee on the board, that position does not have a formal vote and can only cast an “advisory vote.”

Some of the other issues Cazares outlined as properties in his campaign include, student homelessness, lowering the equity gap and the response of the college to COVID-19.

“This is my hometown,” he said. “I have a unique perspective that the board needs.”

Cazares launches this campaign with the endorsements of the College of the Canyons Faculty Association (COCFA), Santa Clarita Community College District Trustees Dr. Edel Alonso and Joan Macgregor, and recent Student Trustee Basil Aranda, among others.

“I’m not interested in neat talking points,” Cazares said. “Instead, I’m focused on bringing the personal experiences of the many COC students I served, in addition to the workers who ensure the school’s success, to the forefront through this campaign for the COC Board of Trustees.”

For more information on Cazares visit his website here.


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Former ASG President, Local Activist Sebastian Cazares Announces Run For COC Board

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About Devon Miller

Devon Miller was born and raised in Santa Clarita. He joined KHTS Radio as a digital marketing intern in September of 2017, and later moved to news as a staff writer in December. Miller attended College of the Canyons and served as the Associated Student Government President. Miller is now News Director for KHTS, covering breaking news and politics across the Santa Clarita Valley.