A WEIGHT LIFTED american river
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Vol. 65, Ed. 6 • December 4, 2013
BOG Fee Waiver eligibility changes to be considered GRADE TRACKING COULD BEGIN FOR FALL 2016 SEMESTER By Brooke Purves brookempurves@gmail.com After class today Brian Elston, 24, will drop off his backpack at the home he shares with his two cats, hop in his car and head to Deseret Industries to start his shift as a night security guard. Elston, who works full time and attends school full time, is grateful for the Board of Governors Fee Waiver, which waives his class fees and makes it possible for him to go to school. But Elston’s BOG Fee Waiver, and the waivers of thousands of other American River College students, could be in jeopardy if the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office votes in January to impose new eligibility conditions, including academic accountability, which would go into effect in 2016 if adopted. To retain BOG eligibility, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA for all graded units, but can earn 12 credits before GPA tracking begins, according to ARC Enrollment Services Supervisor Benjamin Baird, and complete more than half of the courses for which they are enrolled. Approximately half of all ARC students have received BOGs so far this academic year, according to Chad Funk, supervisor of Financial Aid, but how many would be affected by the proposed restrictions on eligibility is difficult to determine. “We are so far out from that happening that there is no way anyone at the school is going to even take a shot in the dark to say what the effects will be on students yet,” said Baird. This proposed policy, another attempt at balancing an affordable education and student success with a sustainable education system, comes on the heels of recent changes regarding dropping of priority registration status for high-unit carrying students and a pilot program introducing additional high-demand classes at non-resident rates during intersessions at select community colleges. “I certainly hope they don’t make the BOG Waiver too hard for people to get,” said Elston, who will lose his priority registration in summer 2014, and is ineligible for federal finan-
SEE BOG, PAGE 2
A LOOK INSIDE
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American River College student Adam Felton, 22, lifts a 25-pound dumbbell while in the reclined position of his electric wheelchair.
ADAPTIVE P.E. STRENGTHENS DISABLED STUDENT’S RESOLVE By Natasha Honeywood nhoneywood71@gmail.com Be persistent, stay positive, stay ready and don’t let fear and doubt get in the way of your dreams. This is what American River College student Adam Felton tells people to keep them motivated. Felton, 22, has Cerebral Palsy (CP), but has used the American River College Adaptive P.E. center to overcome obstacles that may have stopped many from achieving their fitness goals. According to webmd.com, CP is a broad term used to describe a group of chronic “palsies,” or disorders that impair control of movement due to damage to the developing brain. CP is one of the most common causes of chronic childhood disability. The Adaptive P.E. center is a workout room located behind the pool area with equipment for students with disabilities, such as the hand cycle and the lift bar, which has no seat so students using wheelchairs can use it. Ray Maero, adapted physical education professor,
SEE PERSISTENCE, PAGE 10
ARC discovers forged transcript
FORMER RUNNING BACK DEVONTAE BOOKER LOSES DIV. I SCHOLARSHIP By Ed Gebing & Jessica Maynard edgebingjr@gmail.com jessica.r.maynard87@gmail.com
File photo
Forged transcripts of former American River College running back Devontae Booker cost him a Division I scholarship.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA Smoking on campus poses problem for police
Photos by Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
Felton lifts 120 pounds by using a modified lap pull-down machine that allows wheelchairs to roll up to it.
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BLACK TOP COMEDY CLUB ARC comedians show off their stand-up talent
A forged transcript cost former American River College and All-Valley Conference running back Devontae Booker a Division I scholarship, The Current recently learned. Booker was slated to play for the University of Utah this season, but did not meet the academic requirements, according to the official website of Utah football. In high school Booker previously had committed to play for Washington State but had his scholarship revoked after being late to take his entrance exam. He also had a scholarship offer from Fresno State the same year that was pulled after the school notified him that his high school math course did not meet the entrance requirements. As a result, Booker enrolled himself into ARC and played as a running back for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The people involved in the forged transcript were, “Devontae and someone who no longer works for us,” ARC head coach Jerry Haflich said. Haflich declined to identify the former employee, and Athletic Director Greg Warzecka said that the issue was handled properly by the school. “All the safeguards and protocols at American River College
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SEE FOOTBALL, PAGE 6
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Excerpts from three letters to the editor from students and faculty