On November 6, the 2024 presidential election was called for Donald Trump. The Republican candidate who will be sworn into office for a second four-year term this coming year has made hostile remarks toward many communities that attend American River College.
ARC has several programs and resources that may help those students feeling threatened by the incoming Republican administration.
Whereas the U.S. Supreme Court may have removed Roe v. Wade, the U.S. federal protection for abortion rights, the ARC Student Health & Wellness Center provides sexual health resources that include family planning. This same department provides physical and mental health resources for students facing difficulties throughout the course of their academic career at ARC. These resources include TogetherAll, which offers a safe space where students can connect anonymously and support one another, as well as in-person and online therapy using their Los Rios login.
ARC Health & Wellness services is located in the Student Center, just across from the Technical Education West portables.
For the undocumented students that attend ARC, the UndocuScholar Resource Center provides several resources for undocumented or mixed-status students and their families. These resources include residency forms, California Dream Act application assistance, financial aid and referrals to other programs.
Uriel Delgado, director of Hispanic serving-institution at ARC, hopes that all students will explore the various clubs within the UNITE Center for assistance.
“I would encourage any student that is seeking any kind of support, whether that’s emotional academic, financial guidance or whatever they may need to, to come to our centers,” Delgado said in a phone conversation with the Current. “We can match them with the appropriate group that they need support in.”
For LGBTQ+ students that may feel unsafe with the political climate, the PRIDE Center offers a safe space for LGBTQ+ students and allies. Moreover, the PRIDE Center provides students with resources such as name changing assistance, assistance finding LGBTQIA+ safe transfer choices for four-year colleges and pride learning resources.
Additional classes will also be forming for LGBTQ+ students and allies hoping to expand their familiarity with the LGBTQ+ community and the associated politics, history, and culture. Sara Smith-Silverman, professor of LGBTQ+ studies at ARC, will be starting a new course at ARC, Social Justice Studies 310: Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies in the upcoming spring 2025 semester. SJS 310 will be highlighting the experiences of queer and trans people, as well as focusing on the present day politics around the intersection of LGBTQ+ communities and their relationship with immigration, disability, and the prison system.
The PRIDE Center is located within the UNITE Center alongside several minority supporting clubs. The UNITE Center can be found inside of the Student Center at the main campus at ARC.
Support for students isn’t just isolated to the students and faculty, as the administration offers recommendations to students as well.
In an email conversation with The Current, ARC President Lisa Cardoza expressed her sympathies for the students experiencing a range of emotions, knowing that students will need time to process them.
“Our priority is to offer a safe, supportive environment where all students feel heard, valued, and supported. We’re here to help each student connect with resources as we collectively process and move forward,” Cardoza said.
To find the whereabouts of support on the main campus, students can reference the online campus map to find these resources, or visit the student resources page online for further information.
No student should feel that their educational pursuits will be under threat based upon their background or identity. ARC remains an institution that supports all students from every walk of life, in the hopes that those students don’t feel ostracized or powerless during their tenure with the college.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the administration’s comments on the recent election.
