Students and faculty of Cosumnes River College work together to take charge of current issues and improve the world we live in, one responsibility at a time.

The CRC Social Responsibility Committee focuses on “hot issues right now,” said SRC Chair and English as a Second Language professor Sandra Carter. “We bring up issues early before they become news in the newspaper.”

From bullying to sexual orientation, the committee enforces social awareness, said committee member and history professor Jason Newman.

“We talk about topics and ideas that aren’t developed in the curriculum or the classroom,” Carter said.

It was the “openness of possibilities” the committee offered that compelled Carter to join the SRC.

“I didn’t have to focus on one thing,” Carter said. “We learn about areas on which I can educate myself and others and improve the world we live in.”

Every two weeks, the committee meets to discuss and organize upcoming events, guest speakers, shows and films pertaining to social issues, Newman said.

Currently the committee is showing a series of 30 minute videos by Stanford University neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky every Monday at 12 p.m., which discuss methods to reduce and cope with stress, Carter said.

The committee also hosts the Share Fair, where non-profit organizations educate students about their services, Carter said.

For Newman “the anti-war focus drew me in,” as the committee addresses the importance of political issues on campus, Newman said.

Newman’s most memorable moment was when Vietnam Veteran Rev. Roy Bourgeois came to campus and spoke about his opposition of the U.S. army training facility for Latin American soldiers.

Around 300 people from the local community attended the event, many of them being victims from Latin America, Newman said.

“The turnout was great. For me it was a home run,” Newman said.

Through various speakers, events and discussion, students and faculty become educated on local, national and international affairs.

“As teachers, we don’t always have the opportunity to reach out and learn other perspectives outside our discipline,” Carter said.

Carter enjoys the opportunity to interact with nationally known people.

“We’re able to shake their hands and hear them speak,” Carter said enthusiastically.

Carter addressed the importance of the knowledge students and faculty gain from various speakers and presentations.

“You have to be educated before you can act,” Carter said, who hopes to get more students involved.

Whether it’s designing flyers or assisting with events, students can help in a variety of ways.

The faculty on the committee welcome the “student perspective” and work to help sponsor student ideas, Carter said.

Many student ideas develop into organized events on campus, such as the Freethinkers Organization gathering which featured philosopher Matthew McCormick who spoke on the topic of Atheism.

“The committee looks for students who are socially concerned and want to get involved with fixing social problems we face in our society,” Newman said.

Whether you’re a political science professor, biologist or history major, “we all come together and help,” Carter said.