Volume 76, Issue 13 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, February 13, 2019 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Bill offers homeless students campus parking lot to sleep BY MELISA VALENZUELA Staff Writer Assembly Bill 302, or the Safe Lot Legislation, would allow homeless California community college students to sleep in their vehicles in campus parking facilities. The bill was introduced by assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto) January. Its purpose is to provide a temporary solution to California’s current housing crisis which has left thousands of community college students homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. According to Berman, out of the quarter of a million community college students enrolled in the 2016-2017 academic year, one in four (about 50,000) experienced homelessness. Although the long- term solution would be building more affordable housing for low-income and homeless students, AB 302 is a step that could secure a safe place for students to sleep at night. This option would only be available to students who are
enrolled in coursework, have paid their enrollment fees and are in good standing with the college without having to enroll in additional classes. AB 302 stems from another bill, AB 1995, signed by former governor Jerry Brown in 2016.
“It could impact thousands to tens of thousands in California, so I think that is a price worth paying.” MARC BERMAN
California assemblymember
AB 1995 required community colleges to grant access to campus shower facilities to homeless students who met the same qualifications.
AB 1995 and other programs such as Success for Homeless Youth in Higher Education Act, California College Promise, and federal Pell grants have been readily available to assist struggling students. The Success for Homeless Youth in Higher Education Act and the California College Promise help cover enrollment and tuition fees, but those are not the biggest expenses students face. According to a report from Assembly Speaker’s Office of Research and Floor Analysis released last summer, housing takes up about 43 percent of a student’s budget. Pell grants can be used for nontuition costs but “cover less than a third of average non-tuition costs, leaving a sizable gap that these students must fill,” according to the same report. AB 302 has yet to pass, so the law is not certain. Some major issues such as funding have yet to be discussed. “It could impact thousands to tens of thousands in California, so I think that is a price worth paying,” Berman said. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN ADAMO
Applications open to students interested in trustee position
motions, receiving compensations for board meetings and of using the Staff Writer advisory vote, which doesn’t count Applications are available to in deciding if an item passes but is East Los Angeles College students logged in the official minutes. Student trustees must know and interested in being a student trustee for the Los Angeles Community learn the needs and interests of College District Board of Trustees. their community, college district, The role of student trustee district’s students and the board’s requires participating in all open responsibilities. An election will be held to board meetings. The general responsibilities are the same as determine who will be the student trustee of the district. publicly elected trustees. “I believe last year ELAC The responsibilities are to study the issues and ask questions in only had, maybe, four students apply and one preparation of officially run,” meetings, be a said Anthony team member “This past January, Dominguez, ASU of the board and the student trustee, V.P. of Advocacy, thoughtfully helps with participate in along with three other who the student discussions in candidates from trustee election. order to properly Michelle influence the district, went to Segura Padilla, decisions. According to Sacramento to lobby on Student Activities c c l e a g u e . o rg , regulations. and laws.” as as isdi s at ab on ut t, the Community why students College League ANTHONY DOMINGUEZ ASU V.P. of Advocacy should consider of California’s applying for the website, other role, “Mainly responsibilities could include attending conferences because they have the opportunity to enhance personal knowledge to represent not only their campus i n o r d e r t o m a k e e d u c a t e d but the entire district. There are a lot of decisions made that will impact contributions to the board, and help represent the college at community many, many students.” “This past January, the student events and at the state and national trustee, along with three other legislatures. The Education Code states that candidates from the district went to the requirement for being a student Sacramento to lobby on regulations trustee is being enrolled in a college and laws,” Dominguez said. The board normally meets on of the district for at least five Wednesday twice a month with the semester units. A student trustee has the following public session commencing at 2 p.m. rights: to attend every meeting of the followed by closed session. Applications are available at governing board except for closed sessions, to be seated with the board the main campus in F5-212 Mon.and participate in discussions, to Thurs. from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and on receive the same materials as others Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and at the in the board and to receive the same South Gate campus at the front desk mileage disbursement under the Mon.-Thurs. from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. same policies as others in the board. and on Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Applications should be submitted The document “On Being a Student Trustee” on ccleague. to Student Activities, F5-212, at org says student trustees have the the main campus by 4:30 p.m. on privilege of making and seconding March 15.
BY MIGUEL BARRAGAN
CN/STEVEN ADAMO
CONSTRUCTION BLOCKADE—Blocked-off construction above the underground water tank in front of the E3 building.
Construction required after weather damages water tank BY ALEX HANDY Staff Writer
The frequent rain these past few weeks has taken a toll on the ELAC campus, especially the E3 building area. The storm brought problems to ELAC’s underground water tank. The repairs should take about three months to finish. North of E3, in the quad area, students coming from parking structure three will notice fencing around the front area of the building. Abel Rodriguez, director of College Facilities, said one of his employees noticed that the concrete
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“buckled” in December. The floor sunk a bit, so immediately he thought it was the storm water tank. That turned out to be correct. The underground water tank compressed. Rodriguez said this problem won’t harm the building itself. He also said the foundation of the building is still sturdy, and the solution is replacing the water tank. The repairs won’t start immediately due to the weather. It will begin in the next few months. Construction workers didn’t want to have a “rain out,” which would have them work in mud and would be more difficult than the project needs to be.
“You can’t see if there is another person in front of you due to the angle we are walking because of this fencing.” ISAIAH MOLINA ELAC student
Some students have actually collided with other students.
Food assistance and medical coverage
CalFresh, WIC, Medi-cal reps will be outside F5 on February 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to help with information and to sign people up. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided to those who stop by for help.
Nothing serious has occurred, but it’s still an inconvenience. “You can’t see if there is another person in front of you due to the angle we are walking because of this fencing,” said Isaiah Molina, an ELAC student. Rebecca Martinez, a student at ELAC, has a class in the E3 building and collided with another student in the walk space. “It’s just too small,” Martinez said. Molina said it doesn’t really affect him getting to his classes on time, but he understands how it can be frustrating to the teachers and students that are coming from parking structure 3.
Final meta major card sorting event
Redesign ELAC will allow ELAC students, staff and faculty to help in the process of determining meta majors, a new system of classifying majors and certificates, on Thursday from 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. in F5-201 MPR.
ASU Resource Center’s Fest
ASU encourages students to learn about the resources on campus today from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the E3/E7 quad. There will be free snacks, games, music and a photo booth.