[media-credit id=200 align="alignnone" width="300"][/media-credit]On December 1, Metro administrators announced their decision to separate from The Phoenix Center at Auraria (PCA). They determined that Metro could provide the same services internally.

The school has not been successful at providing the services, as of this date. The persons responsible for this tragic experiment in student services maintain that the decision was solely about finances — that they have the students’ best interests in mind and want to provide the same services at no extra cost.

I believe that this is not even remotely about fees. We pay fees for the Health Center as well as an immunization fee. From students I have spoken with, a student fee for the PCA has support. Why were we, the students, not given the choice to vote for a fee?

The Director of the Health Center, Mr. Monaco, is quoted as saying he has “tried to prepare a program that stands as an equivalent to the Phoenix Center.”

This is where I get angry, mad — no, I get really pissed off.

I am a student seeking my degree in Human Services with a concentration in Domestic Violence and am pretty sure I don’t get that degree until I pass several classes and garner at least 120 credit hours in my specific field. I have completed more than 40 hours of specialized training designed to help me be competent as a Victim’s Advocate, as well as monthly trainings and debriefings to help me be there 100 percent for anyone who gets up the courage to call PCA’s helpline.

As a volunteer for the helpline, I answer the phones at all times on the days I have it. It is hard enough to summon the courage to reach out to a stranger for help, but Mr. Monaco would have you call his victims assistance program and speak to a “well prepared” staff member.

What does “well prepared” mean? In essence, Mr. Monaco and Metro State administrators are collectively telling me that I am wasting my time and money to earn a degree in a field that anyone can do as long as they are “well prepared.”  I disagree.

There is a simple solution to this issue. Put it on a ballot and let students decide if we want to pay $2 per semester for a service that only the Phoenix Center at Auraria can provide. I am asking that you put the choice back into the hands of the people who need and use the service, the very intelligent and able student body of Metro State.

Deborah Caruana is a sophomore at Metro and volunteers at the Phoenix Center at Auraria.

Tags: Phoenix Center at Auraria, Victim’s Advocate

People: Monaco