Bakersfield College is viewed by many as a steppingstone toward the next big thing. Many students come and go without stopping to think about campus improvements; however, that was not the case with former BC student Tina Carroll, who passed away on Feb. 3 because of a blood-clot complication, according to John Carroll, her father.
Tina attended BC from 1995 to 2000. She received the President’s Award and the Alumni Association Award, Carroll said.
“She always had a smile on her face, no matter how much pain she was in,” he said.
Tina suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. According to the arthritis foundation’s Web site, “Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflamation … of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.”
She was diagnosed with the disease at the age of two , John Carroll said.
“I want students to know that she was here, sometimes in a wheelchair. She always gave up herself,” Carroll added.
Tina played a major role in the installing of “blue lights” with her involvement with the BC student government association, called ASBC at that time, and with various committees on campus.
The “blue lights” are security call-box systems that are displayed all over campus for use in case of an emergency. John A. Medvigy, who was the last sophomore class president at BC in 1995, met Tina and worked with her in establishing the lights.Medvigy said the petitions to have the systems installed began in 1995 and with Tina’s persistence they were set up in locations around campus.
“Tina understood the need of [the blue lights] at BC,” he said, adding that Tina produced a petition with over 20 pages of students’ signatures in favor of the installation of the blue lights.
“She asked the questions nobody wanted to answer,” added Medvigy. “She cared for a lot of people; what was good for one was good for many, and I feel honored to have called her a friend. It’s not a title I give out too often.”
Tina was also a member of the Kern Political Education Foundation and met BC history professor Jack Brigham, who according to John Carroll was “Tina’s favorite teacher.” Tina was also a student of Brigham’s.
Brigham remembers Tina as a student who “did her work, she missed class due to her illness, but she was very inspirational and cooperative.” Her father added that she “fought to keep her good grades.” Brighman also said that Tina was, politely, a “fireball who never took no for an answer.”
Sgt. Chris Counts said the “blue lights” are used about 20 times a month, “mostly for directions.” Counts also added that the lights are used to report suspicious activity and for medical aid.
He said that the installment of the “blue lights” is a benefit to the campus. He described them as a “great tool” and the “installation of more is a possibility at any given time.”