Student leader not shy about getting involved

Story and photo by David Mendez

The first words out of her mouth after introductions were, “I’m shy.” Her body language supported her claim.

But however shy she claims to be, Sugey Lopez doesn’t hide how strongly she feels about, well, anything.

Sugey (pronounced “sue-hay”) Lopez, 26, is in her third semester at Pima Community College and her first term as West Campus Student Government president.

Sugey Lopez, West Campus student body president

Her administration’s fingerprints are evident from the moment you walk into Student Life offices and see volunteers wearing blue and orange “Get Involved” shirts.

Lopez designed the shirts, as well as blue fliers advertising Welcome Week events, which ranged from free popsicles to an iPod Touch giveaway.

It’s all part of Lopez’s strategy on how best to spend her time as president.

“We want to do it big,” she says. “I don’t feel people knew student government was here in the past.”

Lopez wants to institute a feeling of community. She would like students to feel as comfortable on campus as she does, and to not have to search for that feeling. To that end, she’s spearheading an effort to make all students feel included.

She notes she’s a member of many groups: a Mexican national, a graduate with multiple degrees and a lesbian. In fact, she moved to Tucson to be with her girlfriend, a former PCC employee.

Her sexuality turns out to be a motivating factor, in part because of her family life. She was raised in a religious family and realized two weeks after her 21st birthday (and two weeks before leaving on a religious mission) that she was gay.

“I was told, ‘You had so much potential when you were straight,’” she remembers. “What changed about me?”

Her goal: “I want to prove that, no matter who you are, no matter what you’re like, you can still make a difference here.”

She says Welcome Week Fall 2010 was a larger affair than in previous years. The second week of school included karaoke, a hypnotist, two organization fairs and free massages.

Similar events will be discussed for the future, with “discussion” a key word. “We’ve already been getting great feedback” regarding Welcome Week, she says, and would like to hear from students on what they’d like to see next.

She invites students to attend Student Government meetings. The first takes place Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. in the Student Life offices located near the cafeteria.

Lopez also wants to involve faculty by organizing educational events. She hopes instructors will give extra credit to students for attending.

She hopes campus clubs, athletics and student government can work together to support each other.

“I will try my best to work with sports and with music,” she says. “We can’t reach everyone by ourselves…we’re not supposed to be alone.”

West Campus isn’t all that’s on her mind, either. Given the opportunity, Lopez would “love to do a mega-event” with Pima’s other campuses.

“I would like to join forces with them,” she says. “After all, we’re all Pima. We all have the same name.”

Lopez is currently enrolled in Pima’s nursing program. “I always wanted to pursue a career in medicine,” she says.

For now, Lopez continues to work at her classes and helps publicize student government through activities such as handing out Welcome Week fliers to classmates.

“What I like is that people are starting to know me, goingm ‘Hey she’s in my class,’” Lopez says. “It’s better to start with one or two, instead of a hundred.”

So maybe she is shy after all. But if you get the chance, don’t hesitate to talk to Lopez about ways to improve West Campus.

“We want students to tell us what they want and need,” she says. “The college needs to care for students.”