Volume CX Edition 5
Osha follow-up:
Shockandawe
March 22, 2006
Published since 1949
A progress report for the Biology department The good thing about the alcohol is that it’s considered to be safer compared to the Rampage Reporter formaldehyde. “That is a faculty issue with respect It’s been almost a year since Fresno City to how they conduct the experiments they College was issued a citation from the Califor- require,” said Doffoney, “It’s a discussion we nia Division of Occupational Safety and Health continue to have, but the first agreement we for unsafe chemical levels found in the air of the have is with Cal OSHA, and that’s something Math, Science, and Engineering building. you don’t violate.” “The college has been actively engaged Other research is being conducted to in responding to Cal Osha, and to the faculties find another fixative that is able to provide a concerns, and to the board and to the public,” higher-quality specimen. said Dr. Ned Doffoney, president of FCC. The Biology department is looking into According to an article printed in the another fixative called, “Perfect Solution.” Fresno Bee (“Fresno City College building Zwi Reznik, president of the American cited again,” June 30, 2005) the state Division Federation of Teachers, said he knows that talks of Occupational Safety are ongoing, but he is satisand Health fined the State fied with the progress that Center Community Colhas been made so far. lege District a combined A chemical hygientotal of $22,400 which ist position was created to stemmed from an origiguide the administration nal group of violations toward making informed in April of 2005, and a decisions. group of additional violaIn the Chemistry floor tions were incurred later lab rooms, FCC updated in June. their chemical inventory list What has been and disposed of unnecessary done to remedy the situchemicals. They modified ation? How are students, chemical storage shelves, faculty, administration vaults, and the fire suppresand staff being effected? sion system in those vaults. The fines are beAn independent AC in the ing appealed by the State vaults was modified, along Center Community Colwith a new fume hood. lege District, and are still In the Biology floor waiting to go before a lab rooms they completed judge. This process is the installation of exhaust expected to take an adduct modifications. An ditional 6 to 8 months to HVAC system of air balPhoto by Clare Frederick ancing and exhaust fans was complete. A hood helps rid the air of chemical fumes. Because of the Cal installed. Fume hoods were OSHA violations, FCC had to enact a no form- balanced on the biology floor. FCC was also aldehyde policy for their biology department. contracted to evaluate and certify stand-alone They are required to use specimens now that fume hoods in biology prep areas. use isopropyl alcohol as a fixative. The quality Staff training is also on-going. Air of specimen is compromised when alcohol is monitoring was recently conducted as early as used. The tissues become brittle, making it hard a couple of weeks ago, to assure to continuance to decipher between layers. of safe air levels throughout the building. “There are serious problems with the “We feel very good with the actions we quality of specimens,” said Scott Porteus, Biol- have taken,” said Douglas Brinkley, business ogy department chair, “The quality is poor.” chancellor for the SCCCD. by Clare Frederick
Photo by Jennifer Schmidt
Men’s basketball coach Vance Walberg after his Rams are dispatched in the state tournament.
Rams bow out in state tournament semifinal by Quinn Robinson Sports Editor The quest for a repeat for the Fresno City College men’s basketball team came to a screeching halt in the COA championship tournament as the Rams lost in the state semi-finals to eventual state champions Fullerton College 71-67. The night before, FCC was rolling on
all cylinders as they played San Bernardino and jumped out to a 56-40 halftime lead and then cruised in the second half to a 86-73 win to put them one step closer to their second state championship in as many years. That win sent the Rams into a matchup with a Hornets team that was having it’s best season in recent memory, piling up 36 wins against zero losses. continued on Page 7
FCC’s wide world of registration consideration by Joseph Rios Rampage Reporter Registration can be a hassle. There’s a whole book of classes to choose from, it’s full of numbers, names, majors, schedules, times, and days – you almost have to have a degree in registration science to understand it all. Registration began March 20 for currently enrolled students, new students and transfers can register by appointment starting May 15. Regular registration ends at 1 p.m. Aug 12. Deciphering the nearly 200 page Schedule of Classes book is tough enough. Then try hammering out a plan for which classes to take; it can be like performing brain surgery for some. Countless students crowd student services before every semester. They glance over their book, pick random classes, Office: (559) 442-8263
make sure they don’t conflict with work and aren’t too early in the morning, and file behind the multitudes waiting near the registration counter. Then after two years of classes at Fresno City College, they wonder why they haven’t graduated or why they are not eligible to transfer to a UC or CSU. What most students don’t know is that there is help. “That’s why you see a counselor,” said Homer Greene an Educational Advisor. “You see a counselor to make sure you don’t get off on tangents.” “It’s a guarantee you’ll be able to transfer to a CSU or a UC.” Too often, students get in a rush, they procrastinate, and they listen to the wrong advice. They take what a friend took, what an older brother or sister took, and they listen to their advice instead of seeking it from the ones who know. Following all of this false informaAdvertising: (559) 442-8262
tion leads to wasted time in class, wasted money, and useless courses that can have little to nothing to do with your major. “Each student is unique,” said the Department Chair of Counseling Renee Harris. “We’re going to help create a plan to fit your needs. Students like to listen to what their friends tell them. But what is right for one student, might not be right for another.” Diversity might as well be Fresno City’s middle name. FCC Rams are not, for the most part, just students. They’re athletes, they’re mothers, fathers, plumbers, nurses, bankers, teachers, and mechanics – all trying to fit school into their already busy schedules. Counselors understand this, which is why they recommend that students make an appointment to see a counselor before see Registration p. 3
Fax: (559) 265-5783
photo by Joseph Rios
Kesa Channoy and Boson Olubeko thumb through a registration booklet.
e-mail: rampage-news@fresnocitycollege.edu