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Soccer kicks off the season with a good start

Mountaineer Pg. 15

A First Amendment Newspaper of the Mt. San Antonio College Journalism Program

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

www.mountiewire.com

Volume 76 Issue 1

Budget cuts hit campus hard

New president faces big challenges Budget cuts, cancelled classes, students turned away pg. 3

New club on campus

expressions club focuses on creative arts, dance, multimedia Pg. 8 California Dream Act nears approval p12

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Budget cuts cause unwanted changes

State community colleges make drastic adjustments in response to decreased funding Rich Yap Staff Writer The state budget crisis has left Mt. SAC with the task of keeping its promise of excellence to students while making cuts to sustain the school through the recession.

“This is my 36th year working in public education and this is the worst and the longest state budget crisis that I’ve experienced,” said Linda Baldwin, associate vice president of fiscal services.

In his letter to the faculty regarding the budget for the next fiscal year, Mt. SAC President Bill Scroggins explained that the state legislature voted to increase student fees in an effort to generate revenue, a total of $110 million in increased fees throughout the California Community College system.

According to Baldwin, while the fee increases may generate revenue for California, it does not help with Mt. SAC’s financial and budget restrictions.

“When they raise those enrollment fees, we get to keep those enrollment fees, but then they [the state] pay us less apportionment. So we get no more money. This saves the state money.

We don’t get one dime more,” she said.

As a result of the reduced funding from the state, the school is continuing to cut classes.

“Just this fall alone we’ve cut an additional 533 sections of classes,” said Jennifer Galbraith, mathematics professor and president of the Mt. SAC Faculty Association.

“It’s the way that the funding mechanism works for the community college,” Baldwin said. “Basically they [the state] pay you based on a certain cap. Anything you generate over that they’re not going to pay you unless there’s a growth augmentation.

He added, "For [the] 2011-12 fiscal year we’re getting no new growth increment. It’s a complex funding thing but we’re not cutting classes because we want to, we’re cutting them because we can’t afford to provide them for free.”

Baldwin also warned that if the state revenue does not meet the amount projected in the state budget, the state might enact “trigger cuts” by Dec. 15, which can result in more cuts in classes and another fee increases from $36 per unit to $46 come spring semester. She also

said that the other major downside to these cuts is that it will be harder for students to get classes.

“It’s terrible the way this is affecting students,” Galbraith said. “In a time when the state should be focusing on reeducating or helping them work in the future and getting a work force out there they’re actually making it harder. I feel really bad for the students.”

Baldwin said, “The problem is that the state’s been running on a deficit for so many years they have never caught up. Now they’re trying to catch up by severe cuts which is creating havoc with us and other agencies.”

Mt. SAC has taken steps to mitigate the effects of the cuts and is continuing to do so.

Baldwin said that the financial decisions are made through a campus wide effort through the assistance of the President’s Advisory Task Force (PATF) on Fiscal Planning and the President’s Cabinet to help determine what classes or programs get cut.

She also said that there are students on the budget committee and that the school encourages other students to participate on the committee, so that they can have a voice in the school’s financial planning.

According to Baldwin, Mt. SAC has continued to provide a number of services for students including EOPS and Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S) in spite of the financial restraints, whereas many other schools have cut their programs.

“Even though the state cut the budgets in half we’re still providing those services and the college is augmenting those from general fund money. I think that shows the dedication that Mt. SAC has to helping students,” said Baldwin.

The budget crisis has also impacted the faculty on campus.

“Every section we cut, we displace an adjunct faculty member,” said Jim Jenkins, 56, dean of humanities and social sciences. “[These] are technically temporary at will, employees who sometimes teach at three or four or sometimes five different schools across Southern California, driving in between, trying to make ends meet.”

According to Galbraith, the crisis has also put a restriction on the number of full time faculty. “We had 13 retirees just at the end of last year—those probably will not all

be replaced so we’re not going to be hiring as many as we’re losing,” she said.

For the full time faculty, the crisis has presented the challenge of providing quality teaching amidst personal difficulties with the recession. The Faculty Association did negotiate a 2 percent salary increase at the last Board of Trustees meeting held on Aug. 24, the first increase in four years.

According to Galbraith, “Our purchasing power has decreased—it would’ve been up over 7 percent-and we’ve only had a 2 percent in the last four years. So what I make in my actual spending ability has actually decreased.”

In spite of the salary increase, the faculty has also had to deal with cuts to their benefits.

“Three years ago we had our benefits cut and the contribution went down from the district contributing $12,000 per faculty member to $9,745,” said Galbraith. Full-time teachers have also had to take on a bigger workload to accommodate the growing number of students that are enrolling in community colleges, Galbraith said.

“When an economy gets bad, this is actually one of the places that people tend to seek out,” said Jenkins. “Whether they’re trying to get trained to get back into the workforce or they’re trying to expand their opportunities within their jobs or people who are laid off—for a lot of different reasons.”

Jenkins said that these last round of cuts has forced the college to reevaluate its capabilities and what it can do for students.

“In an overall spiritual sense, this is a place that people can come and be educated and they don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it,” he said. “It’s a gateway to four year schools, it’s a gateway to new jobs and things like that but now that resources are getting scarce, we’re actually having to choose what populations we’re able to serve.”

Jenkins said that instead of being open to anyone who wants to attend, the state and federal government’s limited definition of success unfortunately, does not cover the spectrum of students that attend Mt. SAC. Even after the economy improves, Jenkins said he thinks Mt. SAC may still be feeling the effects of the budget cuts. He said, “There is a very strong belief by most people in this system that when and if this is over, the community college system will have changed significantly.”

Letter from the Editors Welcome fellow Mounties to a brand new semester at Mt. SAC. We would like to thank you for taking the time to pick up the Mountaineer and we hope you find the stories in each issue interesting and informative.

This semester has a lot going on, with a brand new staff of editors.

Kristina and I have big shoes to fill. Former EIC Claudia Gonzalez has moved on to Cal State Northridge, and former managing editor Sabina Gallier is now at Humboldt State. We are all here to take the Mountaineer to the next level in college journalism.

Aside from the changing world of journalism that we must adapt to, we all are facing the harsh economical crisis plaguing our nation. We will bring these stories to you, and keep you updated on the changes happening on campus and in the world. We must stand together and work for a better future for those to come. Moving forward, our staff will work tirelessly to bring you the news. We hope you all have an amazing semester, and that you continue to prosper long after you leave the halls of Mt. SAC. We welcome your ideas and feedback. We also have an online site at mountiewire.com that is updated daily with all current news, videos, podcasts and student blogs. Feel free to contact us at a.serna9@hotmail.com or stop by the newsroom in bldg. 26D, room 3

Albert Serna, Editor-in-chief Kristina Gonzalez, Managing Editor

Libby Freeman/Mountaineer

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Christian Rainwater/ Mountaineer The Design Technology Center, the final project funded by 2001’s Measure R, has the money to finish, but most of the projects planned in Measure RR are on hold.

Measure RR construction delayed until 2017 Economic downturn halts all new projects

Matthew Medina News Editor Measure RR, approved by voters in 2008, allowed Mt. SAC to approve $353 million in new construction projects. Due to issues with the method of funding stemming from the economic downturn and housing market slowdown, the majority of these projects cannot go forward.

To create funding, Measure RR requested the approval of local voters to raise their own taxes. They approved it by about 70 percent, extending the tax introduced by a previous construction bill, Measure R, in 2001.

This meant that the school could sell bonds up to the $353 million goal, and it would make money to finance those bonds through a special assessment on citizens' property tax bills. This assessment charges $25 for every $100,000 of an owner's property value.

However, due to the recession, the housing market has slowed. The assessed valuation of properties in L.A. County has decreased by about 2 percent annually since 2008, according to Gary Nellesen, director of facilities.

As a result, the amount the school would be able to collect from the property tax assessment would be much lower and would not match projections made at the time when the school planned Measure RR. The school executed a backup plan in the form of a bond anticipation note. The note is a loan from a bank for about $65 million; the bank loans this money knowing that Mt. SAC will be able to repay it later with the planned bond money from Measure RR.

Using about $20 million of this money, the school is completing smaller maintenance and infrastructure projects at a lower price due to decreasing construction costs.

However, the majority of the measure's projects are large-scale tasks that require destroying an old structure and creating a new one, and those projects remain stagnant.

This includes a new parking structure, a new campus center, and numerous new buildings for specific departments.

Delayed construction has resulted in additional costs for the school. Some of the aging buildings that the school planned to destroy and replace now must receive maintenance, which is financed by Mt. SAC's general fund.

“We have to spend a lot of money just to keep some of these old buildings up to code and up to safety standards,” Nellesen said.

In addition, the school must extend their leases on trailers used to temporarily house classes during construction.

Construction projects planned and funded

by Measure R are continuing as intended.

The new building for agricultural sciences has been open for one semester and will soon be completed. The Design Technology Center has not yet been finished, but this is due to issues with contractors, not financial troubles.

"Some of our contractors are very good, but all it takes is one bad egg to spoil everything," Nellesen said.

To collect their money and move forward, the school must wait.

“The solution is for the assessed valuation to go up,” said Mike Gregoryk, vice president of administrative services. “We won't be able

to use the funds until about 2017."

Nellesen said. “We're doing a lot of planning. When the money comes back, we want to be able to build as soon as possible.”

Nellesen added that attempting to continue construction with less money is a bad idea because the projects are meant to use quality materials and incorporate the best available technology in order to create lasting, reliable structures.

"Our Board of Trustees is dedicated to building these buildings correctly," Nellesen said. "So far, Dr. Scroggins has been 100 percent behind this."

Mt. SAC administrators are watching federal measures such as President Obama's jobs plan announced earlier this month, which includes money to help educational institutions. The staff is not counting on the plan, because it is unlikely that Mt. SAC will be able to see this money. The federal money would go to the state and local schools must appeal their case and show how they are using some of their own money to combine with the state's contribution, Nellesen said.

The staff also has considered the possibility of another ballot measure for voters to increase their taxes again, but has chosen not to create one at this time.

“After they were so generous with Measure RR, I don't think it would be appropriate,” Nellesen said. “I think we should wait on new construction,” said.

Gina Crummitt, 34, social services major, said, “I don't think it's fair to raise taxes on people right now.”

Gregoryk added, “We don't have a choice.

We will survive.”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

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Students struggle as more classes are cut

By Alex Kchouri A&E Editor Mt. SAC is currently undergoing budget cuts that have resulted in reduced classes.

According to enrollment records collected by the Natural Sciences Division, as of September 9, 84,379 students have enrolled over a class limit of 81,689.

Vice President of Instruction Virginia Burley said that Mt SAC went through a series of class cuts over the last three years.

Burley said, “We’ve cut everywhere.”

According to Burley, the departments wanted to make sure students have enough choices so they can get all their credits for all the different general education areas. Burley said that areas involving counseling and learning assistance are not being cut.

Burley said, “When we talk about reductions in programs, it’s not something we want to do. The state says you are required to cut this many full time equivalent students because we can’t pay you to teach these students, so we try not to cut that many. ” Ambar Fernandez, 20, music major, said it is not fair to cut classes.

“Well, I think it’s not very fair for us students who try to get into more classes and we can’t because the classes are either too packed and some of the times, we can’t get into them, they’re very spaced out.”

Burley said, “They [the state] said you have to cut 1,800 full time equivalent students, well we didn’t cut quite that many.”

According to Burley, the departments try to spread out classes in a way that helps students who need career training, or transfer credit.

Kristina Allende, 41, English professor and English Department chair, said that her department suffered cuts.

“In the fall semester, we cut some of our

literature, and creative writing, and specialty courses; and now in the spring, we are cutting composition courses,” Allende said.

The cancellation of classes can make it difficult for students to get the courses they need to transfer. Burley said that it could take a student up to two years to get into a science lab class they need for transfer.

Danelle Villatoro, 20, music major, said that she waited for a year to get into a class for radiology.

“Even if you wait for a year, if the class is full, you’ll have to wait for another year,” Villatoro said.

Larry Redinger, dean of natural sciences, said that classes are being cut due to a lack of vision on the state level.

“A lot of the state’s management is pathetic so people in charge make decisions based on their little world and they don’t see the bigger picture. That’s why we are so terribly funded in public education in the state of California,” Redinger said.

Redinger added, “When you look at the K-12, community colleges, 50 states were in [ranking], 37 on a good day, 47 is probably where it really is, so funding per student for education is an issue, and they [the state] haven’t figured it out in Sacramento and they get to tell us what to do.”

Burley and Redinger both agreed that reducing the amount of course repeats to two is in the works and that students should really take their education more seriously if they want to succeed and not waste time.

As a student wanting to transfer, Villatoro said that restricting the amount of course repeats is both fair and beneficial.

The ones who go to school to just to “kick it” are simply wasting time for those who really want to learn and study,” said Villatoro.

There is also talk of a fee increase. Students like Allen Ng, 21, an environmental studies

Eugene Arellanes Mountaineer Photo of a cancelled class notice

major, has heard that that classes are going to go up to $46 per unit but that he is fortunate.

“I do complain, but I don’t think I have much of a right to complain, because I’m privileged to have the Board Fee Waiver, but some students aren’t as lucky as I am, they deserve to have an education as much as I do,” Ng said.

Redinger said that people that students should always stay optimistic. Burley agreed.

“Motivation and clear goal make a really big difference for students,” Burley said.

Delays in financial aid cause problems for students Kristina Gonzalez Managing Editor

Gia Cognata/Mountaineer Students stand in line at the Financial Aid Office.

Most students are eager for that finacial aid check to be mailed to them before school starts.

The money is needed for books, supplies, and other necessities. Students who turn in their application on time usually receive their financial aid within the first couple of weeks prior to school, but others get frustrated with financial aid services because they do not receive their financial aid within the first weeks of school.

Some have even dropped their classes.

“Since I haven’t received my financial aid on time I’ve had to drop a lot of my courses because I cannot afford the textbooks and materials that are required of me to buy, it’s very frustrating,” said J.R Byrd, 21, graphic design major. Byrd has been a student in Mt. SAC since 2008, but has noticed that financial aid has been a little slower than when he first started here as a student.

According to Director of Financial Aid Susan Jones, for the year of 2010-2011 there were 34,000 financial applications submitted. She said, “I am sure we are going to exceed last year’s number.”

Jones said that the problem stems from students who file too late and turn in documentations late.

“We cannot review the applications until all the documents are turned in. What happens is that students wait until school starts and then decide to get serious in turning in all their documents,” Jones said.

There are only eight specialists reviewing applications and making corrections for over 30,000 applicants. Jones said that the staff is busy all year long reviewing applications. Sometimes specialists work overtime to try and get through as many applications as possible.

Jacinta Quintanar, 17, journalism major, and Sergio Gonzalez, 23, history major, agreed that there needs to be more organization within the financial aid services.

Quintanar said, “They should find some kind of solution perhaps get them more training, or get financial aid to do a different process that will work.”

Gonzalez agreed: “Financial aid should set up a better organized system than what’s in place.”

Jones said the department is working on getting more organized. A system for financial aid has been set up to start in the winter to help students receive their funds more quickly. “We are planning to have the debit card system, we plan to test this program in the winter session, and have it in place in the spring if it works out, it will help get the fundings to students quicker,” Jones said.

Jones recommended that students check their portals regularly and daily to know how their financial aid is coming along and to see if there are any problems that are holding a student from receiving their funds.

She said that financial aid services are doing their best to get every single student their funds because they know how much a student needs that money.

Jones, who has worked as director of financial aid for the past 37 years, said she has seen financial aid transform drastically from when she first started. “Students should be prepared be proactive not reactive after school starts.” She said applications are available starting Jan. 1 and

by April students should be checking their portals.

“The earlier they file for financial aid the better and greater the chances are their financial aid will be in place by the time they start school,” Jones said.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

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President faces difficult times ahead, challenges staff Albert Serna - Editor-in-Chief Kristina Gonzalez - Managing Editor Beatrice Alcala - Graphics and Visuals Editor Libby Freeman - Photo Editor Matthew Medina - News Editor Mathew Foresta - Opinion Editor Sarah Venezio - Features Editor Gil Alcarez, Christy Caputo - Sports Editors Alex Kchouri, Joanne Angulo - A&E Editors Susy Hernandez, Lizette Contreras Multiculture Editors Cynthia Perez - College Life Editor Adam Valenzuela - Cartoonist Senior Staff Writers Rich Yap, Sonia Ross, Josue Velazquez, James Choy, Brittany Murietta Junior Staff Writers Eugene Arellanes, Laura Avila, Kathryn Banks, Mercedes Barba, Teresa Contreras, Julian Cruz, Maria Davila, Jose DeCastro, Lee Ellis Ii, Christina Espin, Alex Fenn, Gilbert Garcia, Daniel Garza, Aida Ghorbani, Yvanna Hernandez, Jonathan Herrera, Daniel Heimstra, Rafael Manansala, Paloma Martinez, Alex Madrano, Nicolette Morris, Janet Nguyen, Bianca Ornelas, Antoinette Rodriguez, Scott Schetselaar, Sonia Waraich, Mikela Zhao, Dillon Carroll, Ugo Ofo, Tiana Winters, Linda Rada, Marina Ramos Designers Beatrice Alcala, Matthew Gastelum, Girtha Phillips, Manny Romero, Valerie De la Puente, Harmon Huynh Photographers Beatrice Alcala, Eugene Paul Arellanos, Christian Rainwater, Sos Adame, Gia Congnata, James Fonseca, Mario Gomez, Scott Spencer, Crystal Lo, Francis John Serrano, Amanda Vanoudheusden, Samuel Vasquez, John Pineda, Mariajose Corona, Harmon Huynh, Ann Teng, Melinda Arredondo, Abigail Molina, William Hall, Cassandra Coleman, Jose de Castro, Rich Yap, Josue Velazquez, Kelvin Zapata, Garrett Garcia, James De la Rosa, Kelvin Zapata, Garrett Garcia Public Relations Team Laura Avila, Perla Ponce, Desiree Davis, Valerie De la Puente, Christopher Elias, Ebony Hardiman Sanders, Kallie Rodgers-Bell, Anika Click, Ebony Hardiman Sanders, Kallie Rodgers-Bell Advertising Manager Ariel Carmona Adviser Toni Albertson

Cover Photos: Crystal Lo, Libby Freeman.

The Mountaineer is a college newspaper published by the students in journalism classes at Mt. San Antonio College. The views expressed in this newspaper do not reflect the views of the adviser, administration or the Board of Trustees of the Mt. SAC district. The Mountaineer is a First Amendment publication.

Phone: 909-594-5611 ext. 6123 FAX: 909-468-4106 Building 26-D, Room 3220

Albert Serna Editor-in-Chief Dr. William Scroggins took office as the new president of Mt. SAC on July 1. Scroggins, the former president of College of the Sequoias, replaced Dr. John Nixon who retired.

In an article published on the Mt. SAC website in May, Mt. SAC Board President Judy Chen Haggerty said, “Bill Scroggins brings a wealth of experience as a leader in higher education and is well-versed in the issues and serious fiscal challenges facing the state’s community colleges today.”

Chen Haggerty added, “He is also committed to our values of educational quality and student success, and he embraces our culture of excellence.”

During a May interview with the Mountaineer, Chen Haggerty said, “We do need someone who can take us further [as a college], and that’s why we chose Dr. Scroggins.”

Adjusting to a new school is tough for many students; learning new names, finding the correct classrooms, acclimating to the general student population are all things that new students must face when arriving on a new campus.

The challenge can be even greater for a new school administrator. College of the Sequoias is five times smaller than Mt. SAC and has a different student population. Scroggins noted the differences between his former college and Mt. SAC. “Well, it’s smaller, 13,000 students compared to 65,000 students and a college is a business; the bigger the business, the more complex the business so there is certainly more going on here,” Scroggins said.

College of the Sequoias is located in Tulare County in the Central Valley, an agricultural area that Scroggins said is the third poorest county of the 58 counties of California.

“Poverty is quite an issue there. The population is almost 60 percent Hispanic and many are new and first generation students,” Scroggins said.

He added that the structure of colleges is the same from place to place but the culture is different.

“A successful president tries to integrate to the culture, instead of changing it,” Scroggins said.

Aside from the differences, Scroggins also comes in at a trying economic time for all community colleges, with Mt. SAC facing steep budget cuts.

Currently, all California community colleges, including Mt. SAC, are facing deep cuts in their budgets due to lack of state funding, leaving administrators to deal with the fallout.

According to an e-mail sent out on July 8

by Dan Troy, vice chancellor of fiscal policy in the California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, $400 million in cuts will be made to base apportionments for the 2011-2012 school year.

Prior to leaving office, Nixon formed a plan of action that would carry the school through the end of the year, relaying heavily on reserves and decreasing enrollment for new students, as well as offering retirement incentives to faculty. “[We took a] 6.2 percent budget cut which translates to 6.2 percent less students accepted,” said Scroggins. “Sometimes the public may have a less informed opinion of why we have less classes offered.”

Scroggins said he plans to continue with Nixon’s plan as well as implement some of his own, which include getting the school to be more energy efficient and relying on the Mt. SAC Foundation to generate revenue for the school. He added that there may be some areas of the college that are overstaffed and some that are understaffed, which may need to be adjusted.

“We will probably not replace full time faculty for the next three years,” said Scroggins. Aside from the budget, Scroggins said his priority is to get to know the campus. He has been speaking to deans and faculty.

Even thought Scroggins said he knows that running a college is like a business, he said that faculty is our capital and listening to them is his priority.

“I’ve talked to student leaders on campus, at least once a week I walk around campus and talk to people,” said Scroggins. “The message was clear, [we] don’t have enough classes.”

Scroggins said he is also looking at ways to better serve students, for example, by offering affordable textbooks for students. Scroggins said he plans to work with the Sac Book Rac to make it easier for students, referencing programs like book buyback and book rentals.

Scroggins also met with Dean of Enrollment Management Dr. George Bradshaw to discuss enrollment.

“We’ve spoken on multiple occasions,” said Bradshaw. “We’ve had banter back and forth to talk about enrollment, things of that nature in a professional capacity.”

Bradshaw also commented on Scroggins as a leader and new president.

“He seems committed to helping people and he’s very knowledgeable about enrollment and how we report data," Bradshaw said.

Kylie Martinez, 21, communications major, had some thoughts on Dr. Scroggins as an incoming president.

“He seems to be very qualified and [I] trust the hiring committee’s decision,” said Martinez.

“I expect him to continue pushing Mt. SAC to be one of the best community college in Southern California.”

She added, “Budget cuts are a big issue at community colleges and I would like everyone at Mt. SAC to help out, [but] I know Dr. Scroggins or any one person doesn’t have the ability to change anything alone.”

Crime Blotter 8/1/2011-9/7/2011 Battery Vandalism Theft Sexual Battery Grand Theft Auto Reckless Driving Student Misconduct Burglary to Motor Vehicle Assult with a Deadly Weapon Drug Possession Hit and Run Personal Injury

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Bachman sucks, not just politically Albert Serna Editor-in-Chief Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is not a legitimate political candidate for office. Her views on gays have no place in politics or anywhere that involves interaction with normal people.

Bachmann was a frontrunner for the new grassroots political fraction of the GOP, calling themselves the Tea Party, sometimes referred to as “Tea baggers,” and gained political momentum with her hyper-conservative views on various topics, including gay rights, and stepping further, gay life.

Bachmann has clearly stated her views on various political commentary shows and in interviews with mainstream media.

In 2004 during her reign as senator of Minnesota, Bachmann attempted to pass an anti-gay marriage bill using such phrases as, “If you’re involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it’s bondage. It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement.”

Bachmann went on to say, “Don’t misunderstand. I am not here bashing people who are homosexuals, who are lesbians, who are bisexual, who are transgender. We need to have profound compassion for people who are dealing with the very real issue of sexual dysfunction in their life and sexual identity disorders.”

To me, someone in an office of power, say for example that of commander in chief, should not talk about a group of individuals whom she would swear to protect yet refers to as dysfunctional.

Bachmann has the right to believe whatever she wants, and as a journalist I respect that right, but as a gay man I would be offended if someone told me I did not have the right to speak my mind. However Bachmann takes it a step further. She has

integrated her personal/ religious beliefs into politics, and the last time I checked there was a separation of church and state.

Another point about Bachmann’s political campaign and bigotry toward the gay community is her support for her husband Marcus Bachmann’s reparative therapy center.

Bachmann’s husband runs a clinic for reparative therapy of gay and lesbian people, a place where gays are told how to change their sexual orientation.

In the Summer of 2010, he even reffered to gays as being “barbarians” saying, “We have to understand: barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined. Just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn’t mean that we are supposed to go down that road.”

What is funny about Bachmann’s husband running this center is that, mainly on gay news blogs, there is running speculation that he is gay. Now I do not know the man, and I’m not going to speculate whether or not he is, but if by some chance her were gay, it could fuel the fire of bigotry

Adam Valenzuela/MOUNTAINEER

in Bachmann’s campaign.

If Bachmann were like any other candidate for the GOP nomination, she would still generate disdain, simply because that is how it works; one party smears the other.

Whether it is right or wrong is up for debate, but she should know better to not let her personal bias into a race that could affect millions of lives.

Bachmann would not make a suitable president because she is not open to all the people she would take an oath to represent.

She takes it beyond bigotry and harbors hate in her cold smile. She is someone I do not want leading me or my fellow gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans.

Students’ votes equal student power Mathew Foresta Opinion Editor There is a reason why the politicians in Sacramento can so easily make cuts to community colleges and increase student fees, and that reason is that students refuse to vote.

I am a senator for the Mt. SAC Associated Students, and the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. At a recent meeting a colleague advised us that if we went to talk to our state assemblyman or senator, to not make the threat that students would remove them from office if they did not support the cause of community colleges.

I was surprised by this, and asked why we shouldn’t do this. I was told that less than 4 percent of community college students were registered to vote, and threatening a politician with the student vote was like threatening someone with a Q-tip.

I have some personal experience with this. During the Associated Students election last spring both groups of candidates worked

tirelessly to get students to vote for them.

The window for voting was four days. In the end only 980 students voted. It was a low number considering Mt. SAC, according to the college website, has over 40,000 credit students as of 2008-2009. This number has increased.

With students so apathetic to an election happening on their very own campus it is little surprise that they do not vote at the state or local level.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau only 49 percent of Americans ages 18-24 voted in the last presidential election, and that was a considerable increase from only 47 percent in 2004.

This disturbing trend of voter apathy amongst students has led to politicians ignoring the problems of students and higher education. Times are hard and are about to get even harder; fees are set to go up to $46 in the summer of 2012, and colleges are facing more class cuts than ever before.

Unfortunately we live in a society where only two things matter to politicians, and that is how to get money and votes for their campaigns. Some groups have worked

this system beautifully to their advantage.

Politicians are often afraid to touch large entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare due to high numbers of seniors voting and the efforts of groups like the AARP. Students need to start building this kind of political capital. Once students start voting the politicians will listen. Oftentimes local and state elections are decided by hundreds of votes.

I believe that if the student demographic could swing even one state legislator election it would put every politician in Sacramento on notice. This would give organizations like the Student Senate for California Community Colleges the leverage they need to truly advocate on behalf of the students.

When students cast off their apathy and find their voice at the ballot box it will make conditions better for all those who attend community college in California. By registering to vote students are changing their voice from a Q-tip to a bazooka. Every student must be part of this process. Every student has the power to make a difference.

Every student can and must vote.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

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Campus Cafe offers new food, choices Lizette Contreras Staff Writer The Campus Cafe has remodeled its interior and added a variety of food options.

Subversions, Pizza Spot, Castillo’s Mexican Grill, Chef ’s Corner, Cafe Courtyard and Simple to Go are just some of the new restaurant food options that the Campus Cafe offers in partnership with Sodexo, a leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the country.

Michael Jackson, food services director, recently joined the staff and has been working on the improvement of the food served on campus.

Jackson brought in new ideas, such as opening a new dining area next to the Campus Café.

“Behind the building, there’s going to be a whole new dining side with multiple concepts,” Jackson said.

He also said that he wants to have a much bigger Campus Cafe building which he said he hopes to see up and running in two years.

The great amount of students going in and out of the Campus Cafe has impressed Jackson.

“The first week was crazy, because I’ve never seen so many kids in my life,” Jackson said.

Jackson said he plans to continue to improve the food on campus to coincide with the feedback that students give him.

“I hope to get some feedback from people (to see) if they like it because I’ll be doing some surveys as we go along,” Jackson said.

The Campus Café is not the only thing that has changed its food on campus. The Mountie Grill has also changed its menu and name. The

Sos Adame/MOUNTAINEER

Students wait in line at the Campus Cafe. new WOW Café and Wingery serves wings, chicken, hamburgers, salads and rice bowls.

Toni Albertson, professor of journalism, was not thrilled with the changes at Mountie Grlll.

“They no longer have my favorite grilled cheese sandwich and taquitos,” Albertson said.

Rachel Platt, 20, a pre-law major, has tried food from Subversions at the Campus Cafe.

“The food is really good, it’s just a little pricey,” said Platt.

Prices of the new food at the Campus Cafe range from $1 to $8 along with daily specials.

For 89 cents, you can buy a roll, 99 cents gets you lime rice, pinto beans, chips and salsa, and cinnamon crispa.

Yvette Reynoso, 21, cashier, who works at Common Grounds inside the Campus Cafe said, “ I think its fantastic.”

She said that she enjoys eating on campus and has tried most of the new food sold there since the prices are reasonable and the food is fresh.

“Everything is made ready that same day; that’s what I like about it. I think people should definitely give it a try,” Reynoso said.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

dancing to break the mold

Students busting moves

Albert Serna Editor-in-Chief

Members of the newly formed Expressions club show their skills outside of the music and performing arts building. Several members demonstrate various dance techniques for onlookers. All photos by Libby Freedman.

Clockwise from top right; Rahkeem Reyes, fire tehnology major, Robert Torres, 21, business major, and Thanh Duang, 20, radiology major

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Get your freak on!

Joanne Angulo A&E Editor

As the summer months approach, students look forward to sunshine, relaxation and some good old-fashioned treats. The Los Angeles County Fair delivers treats and food, all wrapped up in a unique experience.

The Los Angeles Fair began in 1922 with a few food stands and now is host to 300 food venders. A favorite is Charlie’s Chicken, whose specialty is the art of deep fried foods. For over 25 years, Charlie’s Chicken has been creating unusual fried treats that attract thousands of people to the fair.

“We are first on Yahoo and second on Twitter,” said Matt Bognos, 20, manager of Charlie’s Chicken.

Bognos has worked for the family business for over six years. He travels to the San Diego Fair, Orange County Fair, Los Angeles County Fair, and the Big Fresno Fair. The deep fried Kool-Aid balls made its debut this year.

Between the Del Mar Fair and the Orange County Fair, over 250,000 deep fried Kool-Aid balls were sold.

“The deep fried Kool-Aid balls taste like cherry cake,” said Maria Angulo, 23, child development major. “It was surprisingly good.”

Other popular deep fried battered items include fried Twinkies, fried Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich, deep fried Oreos and deep fried Klondike Bars. Most items on the menu range from $5 to $8.

“I love sweets, but the fried Oreos were way too much for me,” said Victavia Kelley, 19, film major. She added, “ the richness was overwhelming.”

Jasmine Sierra, a 29-year-old business major, looks forward to the foods.

“Each year, I look forward to the new wacky fatting foods to enjoy with my family,” Sierra said.

Rich Yap/MOUNTAINEER If interested in going to the fair, Mt. SAC students get in for free on Pictured: Deep fried Klondike Bar, Deep fried Kool-Aid balls.

Sep. 22.

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10

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 , 2011

Beatrice Alcala/MOUNTAINEER Spaulding talks to his U.S. history students on Sept. 19 in Bldg. 26D about how England ruled the 13 colonies.

Beloved history professor says goodbye, but not farewell Professor Ralph Spaulding is retiring after 42 years of teaching history at Mt. SAC

Cythina Perez College Life Editor

Funny, smart and passionate are words used to describe Ralph Spaulding, 66, professor of history.

“Professor Spaulding inspired me to write my senior thesis in history,” said Matthew Foresta, 21, Associated Students interclub council senator-senator pro-temp.

“He has reignited my passion for history.”

After 42 years of teaching history at Mt. SAC, Spaulding is passing the torch and saying farewell to his position.

“Either I must love it or I must be crazy,” he said.

Spaulding said he has been thinking about retirement for a couple of years, and now was the perfect time to do it. He said he has no regrets and that ‘it is better to trade a player one year too soon than one year too late,’ a famous quote of the Dodger’s General Manager Branch Rickey.

Spaulding said he loves his job and is confident about his teaching.

“I’m not being cocky but I’m damn good at what I do, and still am,” Spaulding said.

Spaulding reflected on some of the highlights of his career. He recalled a female student in the late 1990s that enrolled in his class. She was legally blind and suffered terrible headaches but was determined to transfer to a university to get her bachelor’s degree and become a historian. However, she could only take about two classes per semester because that was all she could handle.

It took her six years to finish but she finally transferred and was accepted into California State University at Fullerton and received her bachelor’s in history. Spaulding attended her graduation ceremony.

“That’s what it’s all about, she did it,” he said.

He added that although she may have

never been able to teach due to her physical conditions, “nothing stopped her.”

Spaulding also said that being asked to speak at one of Mt. SAC’s graduations was a “big deal.”

For the past four years he also served as chair of the history and art history department.

He also served on Academic Senate in the 1980s, was recognized as Educator of the Year in 1994, and has received numerous of letters and e-mails from students who were accepted into schools like Fullerton, Berkeley, and Stanford, all

Ralph has provided leadership in the times of turbulance.

-James Stone, professor of political science thanking him for making them work so hard.

“These were nice things that happened unanticipated. Not bragging, but it’s just nice to be recognized,” Spaulding said.

He said that a con of his job is having to let people go from their jobs.

“I am the person that had to tell three part-timers that they no longer have a job.

It’s not fun, but it’s part of my job,” he said.

James Stone, professor of political science and colleague of Spaulding said that Spaudling is an advocate for faculty and students. He remembered how hard Spaulding fought the budget cuts for faculty and students, and how he made everyone feel equally respected.

“Ralph has provided leadership in the time of a lot turbulence.”

Spaulding is excited about his upcoming free time and said he plans to do things he

never had a chance to do. The first thing on his list is traveling.

“I want to go to Greece, spend my Christmas in London, and I want to see the leaves change colors in the fall in England,” Spaulding said.

Although he is retiring, he said it is not a farewell but more of a “see you later.”

Spaulding said he plans to work on campus eight to 10 hours a week but pointed out that it not a volunteer position, because if it was, it might not taken as seriously.

He said he wants to mentor new faculty, create curriculum work, and other various activities.

“They could pay me a buck, I don’t care.

And if it is a significant amount I’ll donate it back, but it’s really not about the money.

I just want a mutual commitment on both ends,” he said.

He said that everyone at Mt. SAC is like family, something he realized when his wife died in 2003. That afternoon, Rita Cavin, former vice president of Mt.SAC, came to his doorstep with bags of groceries and other necessities. Also, past president Christopher O’Hearn sent him a note telling him that he understood that it was a difficult time but whatever he needed was available to him.

“These are things that don’t have to be done, but they do them,” he said.

Professor of History Bill Jones is happy for his colleague.

“I am delighted for Ralph, he has given this school so much at every level, teaching great classes, being a tremendous colleague, and being a real mentor to younger faculty in the department,” Jones said. “I can’t think of any single faculty member I know who’s done so many different kinds of things here. He’s developed curriculum, he’s been a mentor to students both in and outside of the history discipline.”

Jones added, “He’s a person who fell in love with community college teaching once he got into it. He will be missed.”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

11

Harry Potter’s magic comes alive on campus Sarah Venezio Features Editor Have you ever wished that you could find a way to make astronomy more interesting?

Look no further than Mt. SAC’s Randall Planetarium, run by supervisor Heather Jones.

Jones has been organizing educational star shows for students and interested stargazers alike.

“The Magic of Astronomy,” scheduled throughout October and November, was created with a little inspiration from a favorite boy wizard.

“It’s all about the astronomy of Harry Potter,” said Jones, who has been in charge of the Planetarium and all of its shows since March.

It has been 14 years since JK Rowling’s world-changing Harry Potter series hit the shelves, marking her as one of the most prolific authors of our time. So prolific, in fact, that her HP empire, including merchandise and movie sales tops $15 billion. She’s cast her spell upon millions of people, young and old alike, turning them all into loyal “Potterheads,” allowing them to get lost in her stories as a way away from their daily lives. While it may seem like many of her themes and names came out of thin air to fill her fantasy world, much of the inspiration was found in the night sky.

Jones understands the power of Potter and promised the magic of Harry Potter along with a few surprises.

“There are several constellations, star names and references hidden all throughout the series that we reveal in this show,” Jones said.

“The Magic of Astronomy” debuted in August after a month of preparation, with a full house for both performances. With shows running on Oct. 14-15, Jones “highly encourages attendees to dress up in Potter fashion,” as it will only add to the fun. Plus, who doesn’t want

Courtesy of www.harry-potter-movie-buzz.com to run around Mt. SAC in Hogwarts gear for a day?

Some students have already shown an interest in the demonstration.

“It’s worth going to because they’re not entirely similar and people that don’t even like Harry Potter may still like the Planetarium,” said child development major Brooke Dicken, 19.

Aviation major Cory House, 23, was just as intrigued by the show’s premise and said the planetarium is stirring an interest in astronomy.

“The Planetarium is doing a good job at trying to make astronomy more interesting for students. It’s a pretty dry topic most of the time,” said House.

General admission is $6, while children get in for $4, and for those who haven’t fallen under Potter’s spell, the Planetarium puts on plenty of different themed shows to satiate the curiosity of any would-be astronomer.

“Stars of the Pharaohs,” “Wonders of the Universe,” and “Halloween Happenings” are also scheduled for the next several months, the dates of which can all be found on the online schedule.

“Students who have an idea for their own galactic adventure in the Planetarium, with a little training, can even produce their own planetarium show,” said Jones. If anyone is interested, Jones’ contact information can be found on the Planetarium page on the Mt. SAC website at www.mtsac.edu.

Dance student shines on hit television show Sonia Ross Staff Writer

Tim Agler/Mt. SAC Jordan Casanova performing during the Mt. SAC repertory concert.

Setting fire to the stage with her white-hot dance moves Jordan Casanova, a professional dancer and former Mt. SAC student proved she could groove on the Fox hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.”

With sidekicks to die for, Casanova has been called hot, fierce, enviable, and a jazzy sexpot, but the enigmatic dancer has had her fair share of criticism.

“I would go to an audition and I would get type casted like you’re cut, you’re too short, you’re too Latin looking, you’re not thin enough. I never fit the part and it was really frustrating,” she said.

Open auditions for season eight of “So You Think You Can Dance” were held in March at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.

Though thousands auditioned for the chance to compete on the hit TV series, Casanova was one of the select few chosen.

“I got there at 5 in the morning just waiting to audition and when we finally got in it was so overwhelming.”

Judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Tyce Diorio were noticeably overwhelmed too. The usually chatty judges sat nearly speechless when it came time to comment on Casanova’s fearless performance to Beyonce’s “Naughty Girl.”

“I had absolutely no faith in myself because I watched the show and I saw the dancers on there and I was like I don’t know if I could do that, but I auditioned for the show and I completely surprised myself,” Casanova said.

Cool under pressure, Casanova catapulted to the stage and into the homes of viewers nationwide with brave stylistic choices, focus

and tenacity.

“It was super intimidating auditioning for the show in the first place. I never thought I would make it past the L.A. auditions.”

Critics describe Casanova’s various performances on season eight as perfectly synced, absolutely gorgeous, powerful, and mesmerizing. Casanova’s journey to stardom would take her farther than she first expected. Not only did Casanova make the first cut, she would go on to place among the fiercely competitive top eight contestants of the season.

“Making it to the top eight was a big jump for me, that was a lot to handle. Bringing in the guest judges you kinda have to zone it out of your head, if you get worked up about it, it just adds a lot of pressure. It was a lot of fun and I met a lot of cool people, having them sit there and being able to even watch me was amazing.

Casanova has been dancing and performing for 11 years. She has performed in countless competitions, won various awards, and has hundreds of thousands of YouTube hits to her credit, but for Casanova eight is the magic number.

“For me when I first walked into the studio I saw that there were all these girls doing splits and turning and I was only eight years old, one of the youngest and newest. I walked in and they told me you’ll never be able to do that and I was like okay well watch me,” Casanova said.

Long before her debut on “So You Think You Can Dance,” her star quality did not go unnoticed. Amy Nakamura, dance frofessor and dance department chair, said, “There are certain people that just have a certain presence and a certain confidence, we in the dance world call it inspiring.”

12

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 , 2011

Libby Freeman/MOUNTAINEER

Students hopeful as CA DREAM Act nears approval Josue Velasquez Staff Writer The California Legislature has approved a house bill that will grant undocumented students financial aid. Known as the CA DREAM Act, Assembly bill 131 was first presented by Assemblyman Gilbert Cedillo [D-Calif.] in 2006. However, the bill has failed to become law since its introduction in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

“The CA DREAM Act has passed the state Senate and assembly four times and been vetoed four times by former [Republican] California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,” said Mt. SAC alumnus Justino Mora, 22, political and computer science major at UCLA. “It’s clear that the people of California desire to continue to invest in the higher education of students because in the longrun it will create a more educated workforce, strengthen California’s economy and competitiveness in the global markets, and generate the much needed tax revenue that the state needs,” he added.

Mora was one of over 25,000 undocumented students who graduate from a California high school each year. According to californiadreamact.org, these students face a challenge when they are accepted to “premier public colleges and universities” and are unable to fund their education because they do not receive financial aid.

The CA DREAM Act would relieve many of these challenges by making students eligible for the Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOG), grants administered by the University of California and California State University systems, and Cal Grants to those who meet the in-state tuition requirements. The BOG waives enrollment fees for students and the Cal Grant is a seperate financial aid program administrated by the California Student Aid Program. However, Cal Grants would only be available to undocumented students if funding remains after all California residents and eligible students receive their awards.

Because of the competitiveness of the grants, it poses the question of whether or not the bill will give false hopes to undocumented students.

Mora said that the CA DREAM Act will not give false hopes to undocumented students attending public colleges and universities because the state is able to allocate funding for all those students who meet in-state tuition requirement.

He said that even if there are not sufficient state-funds for undocumented students, they will have access to non-state funded scholarships.

“The CA DREAM Act is a huge victory and will open the doors to higher education to hundreds of hard-working, dedicated, and intelligent undocumented students,” Mora said.

According to californiadreamact.org, the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2012 and undocumented students must meet all the requirements that follow: “1. [Attend a] secondary school in California for three or more years; at least one year of which shall have been at a California high school 2.

[Graduate] from a California secondary school or attainment of the equivalent thereof. 3. If undocumented, the filing of an affidavit with the college or university stating that they have applied for a lawful immigration status or will apply as soon as they are eligible to do so.”

However, while the bill sits on the governor’s desk, some say that the state cannot afford to fund the education of people who are in this country illegally. Opponents have also decried it because of the current economic status of the state and because the state will be spending more money. In a Los Angeles Times article on Sept. 1, opponents of the bill such as Republican Senator Doug La Malfa said that “It’s against the rule of law for benefits to be given out to people here without legal status. People are just insulted.”

According to a New York Times article on Aug. 31, “[The CA DREAM Act] is expected to cost about $40 million, according to an analysis by the State Senate, about 1 percent of the state’s total $3.5 billion budget for college financial aid.”

Mora, who has been involved in the immigration movement since 2009 and has worked with organizations such as Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success at Mt. SAC and UCLA, and the CA DREAM Network, said that many people are misinformed about the bill. “Those who argue that it is unfair to fund the education of immigrant students are misinformed, uneducated about the issue, or driven by negative emotions and biases,” Mora said.

The Immigration Policy Center states that immigrants in California pay “$30 billion in federal taxes, $5.2 billion in state income taxes and $4.6 billion in sales tax each year.”

“What people lose sight of, is that these

individuals shop, contribute and pay taxes… and those income taxes that are taken out and given both to the federal and state level don’t come back to these individuals,” Juan Carlos Astorga, director of TRiO Programs said. Astorga said that it is very unfortunate that the undocumented population does not have access to those tax funds after everything they have contributed.

“Sometimes people say ‘this amount of dollars is what they are going to steal from us,’ but we have to wait a minute and talk about the bigger picture and what they contribute to us,” Astorga said.

In the past months, Astorga has been focusing his doctoral research on the community of undocumented students at Mt. SAC. He has been looking at the leadership and educational achievements of these students who are undocumented, and is looking to document their lives.

“What I’m looking for is to really get the stories of their lives and speak to their experiences. What the trajectory was when they came to the United States. How did they negotiate the transition? And what the every day realities they face from checkpoints, to how they are going to pay their classes,” Astorga said.

Astorga hopes that once the CA DREAM Act is signed by the governor, he would like to see the campus make plans to create funds that will be accessible to undocumented students.

“A lot of conservative individuals are up in arms about what they say is ‘illegals having access to our financial aid,’ which is not the case. What it is, is that we are providing and adding to acknowledge the existence of our students and creating a supportive environment on the campus but also state level.”

Gov. Brown has until Sept. 30 to sign the CA DREAM Act into law. And while supporters of the bill wait, undocumented students like Karla Estrada, 20, biological anthropology and political science major continue to call Gov. Brown’s office in support of the bill.

“For right now the most important thing is to make phone calls to the governor of California since there is a surplus of individuals that are against the bill.” Estrada is more than confident that Gov. Brown will sign the bill. “Jerry Brown has stated that he will sign the CA DREAM Act once it is in his table… I am very confident that he will sign it, in fact, I’m almost sure he will,” said Estrada.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

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Libby Freeman/MOUNTAINEER

El Acta del Sueño a un paso de ser aprovada Josue Velasquez Staff Writer La Legislatura de California aprobó una propuesta de ley la cual otorgaría a estudiantes indocumentados ayuda financiera.

La propuesta llamada el Acta del Sueño de California, medida de la asamblea 131, fue presentada por primera vez por el asambleísta demócrata por Los Ángeles, Gilbert Cedillo en el 2006. Sin embargo, la propuesta de ley no ha logrado ser firmada desde su introducción en el 2006, 2007, 2008 y 2010.

“El Acta del Sueño de California fue aprobada por el Senado del estado y la asamblea en cuatro ocasiones y ha sido vetada cuatro veces por el ex gobernador republicano Arnold Schwarzenegger,” dijo Justino Mora, 22, estudiante de ciencias políticas y computadoras en la universidad de UCLA. “Está claro que el estado de California desea seguir invirtiendo en la educación superior de los estudiantes, porque en el largo plazo se creará una fuerza laboral más educada, fortalecerá la economía de California y la competitividad en los mercados globales, y generara la cantidad de impuestos que el estado necesita,” agregó Mora.

Mora es uno de más de 25,000 estudiantes indocumentados que se gradúan de las secundarias de California cada año.

De acuerdo con californiadreamact.org, estos alumnos se enfrentan a un reto cuando son aceptados a “los colegios públicos y universidades distinguidas “ y no tienen los recursos para financiar su educación, ya que no reciben ayuda financiera.

El Acta del Sueño de California podría aliviar muchos de estos retos haciendo que los estudiantes sean elegibles para la forma de Junta de Gobernadores [BOG] cual es un programa que elimina los cobros de matricula, becas administradas por los sistemas de las Universidades de California y las Universidades Estatales de California, y el Cal Grant para aquellos que cumplan con los requisitos del estado. El programa del Cal Grant es administrado por el Programa Financiero para Estudiantes de California. Sin embargo, el Cal Grant sólo estaría disponible para los estudiantes indocumentados si hay suficiente fondos después de que los residentes de California y los estudiantes elegibles reciban sus becas.

Debido a la competitividad de las becas, se propone la cuestión que si la ley propuesta daría falsas esperanzas a los estudiantes indocumentados.

Mora dijo que el Acta del Sueño de California no daría falsas esperanzas a los estudiantes indocumentados que asisten a colegios y universidades públicas, porque el estado siempre asigna suficientes fondos para

todos aquellos estudiantes que se matriculan.

También dijo que si no hay suficientes fondos para los estudiantes indocumentados, ellos tendrán acceso a becas no financiadas por el estado. “El Acta del Sueño de California es una gran victoria y le abrirá las puertas a la educación superior a mucho estudiantes indocumentados que son trabajadores, dedicados y inteligentes,” dijo Mora.

Según californiadreamact.org, la propuesta de ley entraría en efecto el 1 de julio del 2012 y los estudiantes indocumentados deben cumplir con todos los requisitos que siguen: “1. [Asistir la] escuela secundaria en California por tres años o más, por lo menos un año cual haya sido en una escuela secundaria de California 2. [Graduados] de una escuela secundaria de California o su equivalente. 3. Si son indocumentados, registrar por escrito una declaración con el colegio o universidad indicando que han solicitado estatus migratorio legal, o aplicarán tan pronto como sean elegibles para hacerlo.”

Sin embargo, mientras que la ley propuesta se encuentra en el escritorio del gobernador, algunos dicen que el estado no puede o debería financiar la educación de personas que están ilegalmente en el país. Los opositores también han condenado la ley por la mala situación económica actual del estado y porque el estado gastaría más dinero. En un artículo de Los Ángeles Times del 1 de septiembre, los opositores de la ley propuesta como el senador republicano Doug La Malfa, dijo que “es contra los reglamentos de la ley dar beneficios a personas que se encuentren en este país sin estatus legal. La gente está insultada.”

Según un artículo del New York Times el 31 de agosto, “[El Acta del Sueño de California] costara alrededor de $40 millones, según un análisis realizado por el Senado del estado, cual es solamente un por ciento del presupuesto de $3.5 mil millones otorgado a la ayuda financiera para estudiantes.”

Mora, quien ha estado involucrado en el movimiento de inmigración desde el 2009 y ha trabajado con organizaciones como la Coalición de Los Ángeles por los Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes (CHIRLA), Mejorando Sueños, Igualdad, Acceso y Éxito [IDEAS] de Mt. SAC y UCLA, y la Red de Los Sueños de California [CA DREAM Network], dijo que mucha gente está mal informada sobre la ley propuesta. “Aquellos que argumentan que es injusto financiar la educación de los alumnos inmigrantes están mal informados y educados sobre el tema, o son impulsados por emociones negativas y prejuicios,” dijo Mora.

El Centro de la Política de Inmigración afirma que los inmigrantes en el estado de California pagan “$30 mil millones en

impuestos federales, $ 5.2 mil millones en impuestos estatales y $4.6 mil millones en impuestos de venta cada año.”

“Lo que la gente pierda de vista, es que estas personas compran, contribuyen y pagan impuestos... y esos impuestos son repartidos al nivel federal y estatal y no regresan a estas personas,” Juan Carlos Astorga, director de los programas TRiO dijo. Astorga dijo que es muy lamentable que la población indocumentada no tiene acceso a los fondos de los impuestos después de todo lo que han contribuido. “A veces la gente dice ‘esta cantidad de dólares es lo que nos van a robar,’ pero hay que esperar un minuto. Hay que hablar de la imagen más grande y de lo que ellos nos aportan,” dijo Astorga.

En los últimos meses, Astorga ha concentrado su investigación doctoral en la comunidad de estudiantes indocumentados en el colegio de Mt. SAC. Ha estado observando el liderazgo y los logros educativos de los estudiantes que son indocumentados, tratando de documentar sus vidas. “Lo que estoy haciendo en realidad es obtener las historias de sus vidas y hablar de sus experiencias. Sus trayectorias cuando llegaron a los Estados Unidos. ¿Cómo negociaron la transición? Y la realidad que enfrentan todos los días como los retenes, a cómo van a pagar sus clases,” dijo Astorga.

Astorga espera que una vez que el Acta del Sueño de California este firmado por el gobernador, le gustaría ver que el colegio empiece hacer planes de crear fondos que serán accesibles a los estudiantes indocumentados.

“Muchas de las personas conservadoras están enojados porque dicen que los ‘ilegales van a tener acceso a nuestra ayuda financiera”, lo cual no es el caso. Lo que es, es que estamos ofreciendo y añadiendo a reconocer la existencia de nuestros estudiantes y creando un ambiente de apoyo al nivel del colegio y estado.”

El gobernador Brown tiene hasta el 30 de septiembre para firmar el Acta del Sueño de California. Y mientras que los partidarios en favor de la ley esperan, estudiantes indocumentados como Karla Estrada, 20, estudiante de antropología biológica y ciencias políticas sigue llamando la oficina del gobernador Brown. “Por ahora lo más importante es hacer las llamadas telefónicas al gobernador de California, ya que hay un exceso de personas que están en contra de la ley.” Estrada está más que segura que el gobernador Brown firmará la ley propuesta.

“Jerry Brown ha declarado que va a firmar el Acta del Sueño de California una vez que esté en su escritorio... estoy muy segura de que él la firmará, de hecho, estoy casi segura de que lo hará,” dijo Estrada.

14

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Students can join a club, get involved Susy Hernandez Multiculture Editor Students can get involved on campus, make friends, and improve their college applications in one simple step: by joining a club.

There is a club for everyone, from anime to chemistry, to Spanish and Culture Shock.

Students can find out more about what types of clubs are available by visiting the club booths that will be set up at the Join-a-Club day on Sept. 22-23 on Miracle Mile. Each club does their best to set up a great presentation to attract students.

“We’re making posters, flyers, and we will have a surprise for all the students. We are hoping that a lot of people would come and join,” said Spanish Club President Joanna Mendoza, 20, psychology major.

Since each individual club has its own criteria, club members set their own expectations and standards and do what they feel will draw students.

“They can be as creative as they want, for example the Robotics Club may have robots on display and the Art Club can have samples of art they have done,” said Maryann TolanoLeveque, 35, director of Student Life.

Joining a club is simple. The only requirements are that the student must be enrolled at Mt. SAC and all student fees must be paid. There is no limit to how many clubs a student can join but a student can serve as officer in only one club.

To start a club on campus, a student must complete a Club Information Sheet and develop a constitution for the club. Guidelines

for developing a constitution available in the Student Life office. According to the “Procedures for Starting a Club” sheet, “Club officers must be enrolled in a minimum of five credit units, have a cumulative 2.5 GPA, and have paid the current Student Activities fee.”

A club may not form if a similar club already exists. Also, the club must be advised by a full-time college employee.

Throughout the semester, club members plan activities for students to enjoy. For example, the Spanish Club celebrates Hispanic Heritage by involving Mt. SAC’s Spanish classes in the event.

“We are presenting Hispanic arts and crafts and we will be hosting a dance for all students,” said Mendoza.

The Culture Shock club has planned the diabetes walk and the canned food drive, among other events.

“We try to raise money and then walk the actual walk supporting healthy living as well as finding a cure for this disease,” said president of Culture Shock Tyerra Ten, 21, zoology major.

The canned food drive gives families that do not have the means the opportunity to have holiday dinner.

“With the holidays coming up there are a lot of families that don’t have the means of making the comforting meals we have come to expect and love. Realizing that we try to make those dinners possible without breaking the bank,” Ten said.

Ten said she has gained more than she expected from Culture Shock.

“Culture Shock has helped me to be more open minded. This club has given me skills

Dear Drabby

that I can use throughout my life. Every semester is different, but the thing that stays constant is the sense of family that we leave with,” Ten said.

According to Tolano-Leveque, partaking in clubs can be very beneficial to students.

“Research shows students that are more connected with their school are more likely to be successful. For example, if they feel connected and involved they will most likely reach their academic goals,” Tolano-Leveque said.

Aside from the benefits clubs offer academically, clubs can also be a medium for making friendships.

Lizbet Sanchez, Spanish Club Adviser, said that joining a club is a great opportunity to make new friends, make connections with other students, learn new things, and be involved in extracurricular activities.

“To put it simple, joining a club and being active in it is like adding all the good toppings to your ice cream, or ‘the salsa to your tacos’! It adds a lot more meaning to your overall college experience,” Sanchez said.

For Mendoza, being president of the Spanish Club has done more for her than just given her friends, it has given her selfassurance.

“The club changed me. When I first started I was shy and I didn’t talk that much.

I really did not think I was going to be an officer but look at me now- I’m the president of the Spanish Club. The club has given me motivation and more confidence in myself,” Mendoza said.

For more information about Join-a-Club day, call the Student Life office.

The Crazy World of Adam Valenzuela

By Sonia Ross Dear Drabby, Are you ever in good mood?

Drabby: This is me in a good mood, I am in a good mood, we cant all be Christie Brinkley, on second thought… you wont understand that reference. Well we cant all be uhh, umm, Britney uh… no she was crazy and on drugs, um, uh….Ok you caught me.

Dear Drabby, Do you ever actually help people?

Drabby: Don’t know, this is more of a one way medium, everything goes out but nothin comes back in…..Its probably for the best.

Dear Drabby, My boyfriend invited me to a concert. I thought it would be just the two of us but his best friend was there. He reserved 3 tickets and when we walked to our seats only two of the seats were next to each other. The other seat was in a totally different row in the nose bleed section. He and his best friend sat together and I sat alone, I was sooo bummed. On the Brightside he did buy my ticket and it was a band that I really liked but I would have liked to have seen it with him. Should I talk to him about it? I am upset, but I don’t want to sound ungrateful. Signed, General Seating Row PO’d Drabby: Dear General Seating, Enough Said.

THE H377 UP THAT’S WHY!!!

If you would like to write to Drabby send your whine mail to: askdrabby@ymail.com

Administration’s cuts to the custodial staff puts students in a CRAPPY situation.

15

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Three-peat is a possibility James Choy Sports Editor After a storybook ending from an amazing 2010 state championship season, the Mounties have returned to aim for higher goals—in this case, winning a third straight state title.

Thirteen of those Mounties who tasted that championship experience are back and so far, have started where they left off.

With the season already six games in, the Mounties have continued their winning ways with a current record of 4-0-1, and are a week away from the beginning of conference play.

The team’s first match of the season began last month with a 3-1 victory over DeAnza College in a two-day tournament that took place at Mt. SAC. The Mounties started well in their young season but found some adversity when they were held scoreless tying with the current No. 1 team in California, Hartnell 0-0.

Despite the continuous attacks at the goal, the dread of the players coming into the season complacent was something that Mounties Head

Coach Juan Sanchez wanted to avoid.

“The players are coming off a championship season and the key is for our players to stay focused because one bad play can cost them the game,” Sanchez said.

The hot weather in the past month has played a factor with the team’s intensity, Sanchez said.

“We were thinking if the motivation or attitude was an issue,” he said.

But earlier this month, the team took a two-game road trip to San Jose and responded well showing traces of last year’s championship performance by beating two of the state’s topten teams, West Valley and Evergreen by a score of 3-1 and 2-0.

Mounties co-captain Jaime Torres said despite the problem of finishing attacks, the team is more offensively aware and capable to be stronger.

One thing that has not changed is the team’s defensive identity, he said.

“We still make defense our

See Soccer P. 16

James Choy/Mountaineer Sophmore forward Luis Fuentes smashes a header during the Mounties victory against DeAnza College 3-1 on Aug. 26.

Gil’s Sports Musings: The NFL

Gil Alcaraz Sports Editor Well if it isn’t that time of year again!

After months of eager anticipation, the NFL season has finally found its way into our homes and definitely into our hearts.

Although it’s still early and there’s still plenty of football left to be played, I’m going to take this time to reflect a little on what we’ve seen so far and what could be just around the bend.

First off, I couldn’t be happier with the fact that we didn’t have to endure another “Favre Watch” this season.

The man has already retired more times than Michael Jordan and has more injuries than the guy on the Operation board game, so why he was still even out there last year was beyond me.

Please, put your No. 4 Favre jerseys away and never take them out again, the NFL is no place for grandpas.

Apparently the Carolina Panthers’ rookie quarterback, Cam Newton isn’t as bad as everyone thought he was going to be.

In his NFL debut, he broke the record for most passing yards, 422, by a rookie quarterback in his first game, passing up future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning.

I know it’s only one game, but the kid clearly has talent and shouldn’t have been written off because he was a little snot during his days at Auburn.

Speaking of Peyton Manning, his

Indianapolis Colts are headed for disaster without him at the helm in 2011.

After three neck surgeries in 19 months, it appears that the Colts may never get their savior back behind center before the season comes to an end.

Poor Kerry Collins; the guy had half of his butt in the recliner before the Colts called him out of retirement and now he gets to quarterback for a no-talent team that might not manage more than five wins this season.

What’s all this hoopla about the Philadelphia Eagles being a “dream team?”

First off, you have to consider the source.

Eagles’ newly acquired backup quarterback, Vince Young, tagged the team with that phrase and has since done his best to humble the statement. Sure, the Eagles had an impressive haul during free agency, including the signing of All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

However, what’s the point of having all of that talent if you don’t have an offensive line to block for it. All you believers will be rethinking the whole “dream team” thing when the Eagles are 9-7 in January and barely miss the playoffs.

One more point to make about the NFL and then we’ll move on to other, less exciting sports.

This offseason, the NFL decided that it would be beneficial to create a new rule that moved kickoffs up five yards. According to the commissioner, it was a way to promote player safety and reduce the amount of injuryinducing collisions during kick returns.

Well thank you NFL for that brilliant idea, now there are twice as many touchbacks and twice the amount of drives that start at the 20-yard line.

Not only will that nullify some of the top dual-threat talents in the league like Cleveland Browns’ Josh Cribbs, but it will also take jobs away from the hard-working no-names of the NFL who make a living on special teams.

Since when was football about being safe?

In case you missed the news, the NBA is currently in a lockout. Both sides are worlds apart and seem adamant about avoiding each other at all costs. I don’t know about all of you skeptical people out there, but that sounds promising to me.But don’t worry because once the lockout comes to an end, the Los Angeles Lakers will be ready to go with Phil Jackson leading the charge.

Wait... What?! No Phil Jackson? Ok, never mind. I guess it’s time I became a Clippers fan.

I’ll meet you at the local sporting goods store and we can all buy Blake Griffin jerseys, because we all know that Kobe Bryant is on a slippery slope to becoming a has-been.

Oh yeah, and before I forget, the MLB playoffs are almost here.Doesn’t really matter because some East Coast team is going to win it again and every California team will be watching from the comfort of their homes.

California sucks at baseball, the Lakers dynasty is crumbling and we have no football team in Los Angeles (yet). Awesome.

So there you have it, folks. My first rant of the new school year is finally over. You can now put down the paper and digest.

16

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Mounties hoping to continue their winning ways Gil Alcaraz Sports Editor After you win two national and state championships in a row, there’s a bright red target hanging around your neck.

Although that seems like a less than ideal situation, the Mt. SAC football team and head coach Robert Jastrab, who was named the 2010 National Community College “Coach of the Year,” are embracing the bounty that’s been put out for them.

If anything, it gives them a reason to leave everything they have out on the field week in and week out.

Last season, the Mounties finished with an unblemished 13-0 record.

After battling their way through the junior college playoffs, they faced off against the City College of San Francisco in what could only be considered domination.

They came away with a 34-7 victory and earned the right to celebrate the end of the season at the top of California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) rankings.

They were the only team out of all 140 US JC/CC teams to finish undefeated on the season.

In addition to winning their second national championship in a row, they also earned their fifth consecutive trip to the California state title game that season.

With the No. 1 CCCAA ranking heading into the new 2011 season, expectations were sky-high for a team that has only one returning starter from their 2010 championship team.

However, with a 23-game winning streak heading into the season, the Mounties will hoping that youth could keep it alive and hopefully extend it to 36 games before the season comes to a close.

Despite their lack of experience at the college level, they’re ready to take on anything that their opponents throw their way.

P

cal Poly Pomona

Whether or not their preparation is enough to make up for their lack of starting experience is still to be determined.

“At this level the turnover is so great, it seems like every year you start out with a new team,” Jastrab said. “We only have one returning starter on offense and defense this year so it’s a lot of new faces. I think we’re talented but they gotta grow up and play as a team and not make the mistakes that young teams make.”

Despite the obvious issues that the Mounties will face throughout the 2011 season, there’s no lack of confidence from Jastrab. He knows that his group of young football talent has what it takes to win games in 2011, but will need to find cohesion if they hope to get back to the highest level of success.

“It’s just a young football team,” Jastrab said. “In a sense I like it too because if they want to be successful they are going to have to

field goal to seal the victory.

Considering the fact that they’ll be matched up this year against all four of the teams that they had close games against, they’re going to take any win they can get this season whether it’s by 30 points or one.

“A win is a win,” Jastrab said. “In this day and age, you’ll be happy to take the win, however it comes.”

The Mounties still have several tough matchups ahead of them this season.

With the likes of Saddleback and Pasadena still looming further down their regular season schedule, there will be plenty of time for them to prepare for what should be some challenging competitions of gridiron grit.

Now going into his seventh season as head coach of the Mounties, Jastrab should have no concerns about his ability to lead this team to victory.

Since 2005, he has an overall record of 62-13

James Choy/Mountaineer The Mounties come in the 2011 season having won 23 straight games without a loss. With the pre-season No. 1 ranking, the Mounties look to building a dynasty by hoping to win their third consecutive state and national champion.

play as a team.”

Throughout the early weeks of the season, this young team has had its fair share of ups and downs.

Despite coming away with an undefeated record after two games, not everything has been as easy as a two-time national champion would expect.

Struggles or not, the Mounties have gotten off to a quick start and are getting plenty of production from their starting lineup.

“It’s a young football team and we knew that there was going to be a learning curve,” Jastrab said. “We’ll just play from here and hopefully we get better each week.”

Although the Mounties will definitely have a tough road to another national championship this season, there was no lack of struggles during the 2010 season either.

Four of their 13 battles in 2010 were won by four points or less, including a game against Pasadena that relied on a last-second

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and a phenomenal mark of 48-6 since 2007.

In response to their performances on the field, Jastrab’s players have received over 100 transfer scholarships to four-year institutes around the nation. Just this past weekend, over 20 former Mt. SAC football players hit the field at the top level of NCAA football play, the Football Bowl Series (FBS).

Despite all of the obstacles that stand in their way, the Mounties will have all the opportunities that they need to make it back to the 2011 national championship game. With a plethora of young talent and a coach who has had his fair share of success at the junior college level, there’s no reason to believe that Mt. SAC won’t be at the top when the season comes to an end.

The biggest concern will be whether or not their young, inexperienced players can grow up in time to find the confidence and cohesiveness that they need to overcome those obstacles.

The Mounties next game will be on September 24 at Riverside Community College at 6 PM. Their next home game will be on October 1 against Bakersfield Community College.

Cont. from Soccer P. 15 number one priority and that’s what we’re banking on this season to repeat as state champions,” Torres said.

With most of the team comprised of sophomores, having that experience is something Sanchez values.

“It’s easier for our guys to understand what we preach,” Sanchez said. “I’m a big believer in fundamentals. We’re always working on our skills and tactically working on making adjustments. ” Keeping the guys focused, humble and working hard is something that is emphasized, Sanchez said.

Another element of that championship makeup is also credited to the work of the assistant coaches.

“They are a huge, huge part of the success,” Sanchez said. “I been with them for the past six seasons and they emphasize all the right elements in coaching—the honesty, the hard work, not cutting corners and the chemistry rubs off on the players.”

The Mounties will face Santa Ana at home this Wednesday with kickoff at 4 p.m.

James Choy/Mountaineer

Sophomore Cameron Deen hopes to be the next line of quarterbacks to help the Mounties to the state championship for the 2011 season.