Volume 78, Issue 5 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, october 14, 2020 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Honored ELAC football coach dies BY ZASHA HAYES Staff Writer
Retired East Los Angeles College football coach Al Padilla was an exceptional man with a personality to match. The former ELAC coach died on Oct. 4 due to kidney problems. Padilla had been struggling with kidney problems for the past few years and spent the last days of his life in the hospital. He sadly died in his sleep at the age of 90. Padilla was a resident of Monterey Park when he started working at ELAC in 1970 at the age of 40. He was hired to be the head coach of the football team and retired in 1995 after 25 years of coaching. "He was one of my best coaches. He was my coach for the high school senior all-star game and at ELAC. He was always fair and in a good mood. He wasn't your typical coach," former football player and former Editor in Chief of ELAC Campus News Curtis Taylor said. Hrair Shekerjian, a long time friend of Padilla and former ELAC counselor and his family, described him as a friendly and outgoing person with anybody and because of that, people were drawn to him. Shekerjian said, “He was a very positive person. He liked hard work, and agreed with setting goals for oneself; he always thought that
COURTESY OF ELAC'S PRESIDENT OFFICE
CELEBRATING THE GREATS— Al Padilla smiles at an ELAC game that is in his honor, for his service as a coach and pillar of the community. athletics were good, but finishing your education was so much more important. Even so, he was well respected with both his high school team and college,” he said. Before ELAC, Padilla played football and baseball at Roosevelt
High School and eventually advanced to being a player at Los Angeles City College. After LACC, he transferred to Occidental College and gained the title of most inspirational player. Padilla became a member of Occidental College’s Football Hall
of Fame in 1972. Padilla graduated from Occidental with a bachelors in Physical Education and Kinesiology. Padilla began his coaching career at Black-Poxe Military School in 1953 and coached at Garfield High School preceding his career as a
college coach. He left the school "Most people think that it is the after winning the league in 1961 coach who is the key to the success with his high school players. of the team. But I can say from P a d i l l a b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e personal experience that a head community was everything. One of coach is only as good as the players the ways he showed this belief was he has in his squad and the ability when he co-founded the Booster of the coaching staff to teach these Club for the football team. players how to play. One person Parents were the main people cannot run the whole show," Padilla he encouraged to join, as a way said in an interview with Campus to interact with their children. News in 1975. However, Padilla welcomed anyone He stepped down from head who was willing to join the club coach in 1977 and gave the position with open arms. up, only to take on the position of A direct result assistant head of his leadership coach for the and coaching next few years. "But I can say that a skills were shown He was also head coach is only as the head coach when the ELAC’s football team won the ELAC good as the players he of the California baseball team Championship in has in his squad and the from 1982 to 1974. ability of the coaching 1984. Padilla was The Padilla staff to teach these soon after given family now the title of the of his players how to play.” consists 1974 California wife Dora, Community daughter Lisa AL PADILLA IN 1975 College Coach of Former Coach of ELAC football team and son Steve. the Year, and was Padilla's oldest named the coach son David died of the year in 1975. a year before him due to a stroke. During the football season of There will be no funeral service 1975, Padilla explained how a team due to the pandemic. works. The family will be having a He also revealed how much work private ceremony. not only he has to put in, but also However, they hope that after the those around him to keep a team pandemic passes they will be able united and together: much like a to host a memorial service. family.
Budget Cuts threaten student tutoring hours BY LEONARDO CERVANTES Staff Writer
The Learning Center lost a grant that will start to affect staff by winter, which will result in fewer tutoring hours. It has already lost some CALWORKS tutors when migrating online. Math tutors were not cut, but now they are down eight tutors and have decided to reduce their hours. Some tutors graduated and their positions were not filled. It also gives students individualized attention that they don't get in classrooms. With a tutor, a student can slowly go step by step on any issue. It also helps keep students on track during vacation breaks. All of the East Los Angeles College learning labs are currently tutoring online due to the COVID-19 virus. It was a mandatory switch from on-campus tutoring to online for all tutoring services. All centers offer tutoring sessions and some centers are offering workshops, like writing strong topic sentences and APA format via Zoom. If any student is struggling in class and needs help, he or she can visit the ELAC tutoring website. Administrators are working within the budgets that they have to provide the best services available. Dean Gina Chelstrom said through AB705, ELAC has been given additional funds to support math and English this fall and spring, a total of $389,742. However, such funds are only guaranteed for one year. "The Learning Center will not be able to recieve an CareerTechnical Education (CTE) funding for accounting, business and law. This will affect tutoring
News Briefs
in those areas beginning winter make ends meet, so a budget session," she said. cut would hurt them financially. There are currently If 100 is cut, the Learning n o a d d i t i o n a l f u n d s t h a t Center could potentially cut administrators are aware of tutoring in chemistry, physics, at this time psychology and to further sociology. support the Cuts to the labs. Reading and So far there Writing Center have been no would not only “The program 100 cuts toward be detrimental Fund is the general for the English tutorings. “The centers epartment, fund for academics D have not been which has affected by and could be the most embedded tutors any budget affected, if there are for 60 classes, cuts in the but, it would any cuts.” Liberal Arts also affect and Sciences departments that Division,” assign written Chelstrom assignments; GINA CHELSTROM said. such as the social Dean of Learning Support Services There have sciences, history, been repeated p s y c h o l o g y, warnings to sociology or art be prepared history. for at least a 10% cut, due to the The Modern Languages current budget crisis. Department and the ESL Compared to last year, ELAC program would be affected if has been budgeted roughly the the language lab's budget was same amount of funds per lab reduced. through LAS. The entire Math Department “The program 100 Fund is the would be affected if the Math general fund for academics and Center's budget was reduced. could be the most affected if Whenever there is a general there are any cuts,” Chelstrom budget shortfall, student support said. services are highly vulnerable This would especially affect to cuts because student workers the Language Lab and the are the first ones who will be Learning Center. Cutting the laid off. support centers would have Vice President of Liberal Arts a significant negative impact and Sciences Ruben Arenas on ELAC students from all and Vice President of Student departments, so administrators Services Julie Benavides are trying to avoid it as much have been very hands-on and as possible. supportive during these difficult If there are any future cuts times since they both oversaw from and of the funding sources lab funding. it could potentially affect the Arenas, Benavides and the rest labs. of the directors are in a dilemma Budget cuts toward tutoring because they must make a tough will be detrimental to students decision on tutors. that are trying to succeed in their endeavors. Student workers depend on tutoring hours to
Drive-thru flu shot clinic
Flu shots are free regardless of health insurance or not. This event will take place in the parking structure P3 near Avenida Cesar Chavez on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, pregnant women, children and high risk people are advised to stay away.
CN/ DANIELLA MOLINA
PRIDE IN SCHOOL— Members of the LBGTQIA+ speak about the new policy that is being passed by the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees.
New bill of rights redefines policies voted on and received a unanimous decision “yes” from all board Staff Writer members of the meeting," Kahla A virtual ceremonial signing said. of the LBGTQIA+ Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights will be occurred during the board meeting. implemented in the coming weeks The Los Angeles Community throughout the district. College Board of Trustees met to The LACCD and American discuss the new LBGTQIA+ bill of Federation of Teachers Local 1521 rights and commemorate educators Facility Guild members collaborated that passed away in recent weeks. to sign an agreement on Zoom. E L A C LACCD sociology Chancellor Professor Rin F r a n c i s o K a h l a w a s a "I haved lived my life as R o d r i q u e z guest speaker an out lesbian and as i n v i t e d on the topic. “I participants am a product somebody, as someone t o v i e w t h e of community who puts themself out virtually signed college. I started agreement there for other people w h i c h , w a s longer than, probably most displayed on a to come and feel of you. And I shared screen via supported.” have lived my zoom. life as an out “What this RIN KAHLA lesbian and as does is it ELAC Sociology professor somebody, as captures the someone who excellent work puts themself out there for other by our faculty colleges, our people to come and feel supported. district administration in reaching I am emotional because I never a tentative agreement for the thought I'd live to see this,” Kahla next three years as it relates to said. our bargaining agreement. Our "A long awaited accomplishment successor agreement with AFT for the district, faculty and students. 1521-A. We are very, very proud of with the new Bill of rights was this,” Rodriguez said.
BY DANIELLA MOLINA
Respiratory health: breathe easy
The Student Health Center is having a discussion on respiratory health on Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to noon. Link to participate https://bit.ly/EMPF2020
Election anxiety
These agreements define LACCD employee rights and student interest regulations in the Los Angeles Community College district. “I want to thank our partners who moved with us every step of the way to create this document that is our 15th bargaining agreement,” AFT President Joanne Waddell said. East Los Angeles College Interim President Alberto Roman thanked the negotiation team members of East Los Angeles College representatives. “It’s always been an honor and pleasure to work with our faculty. We have a very collaborative way of doing business. I actually think we had a really good outcome in this round of negotiations. Both for faculty as well as the district. But most importantly in the best interest of our students,” Roman said. LACCD President of the board Andrea Hoffman announced the names of fellow educators who died in the recent weeks. They had a moment of silence toward the end as a sign of respect to the deceased. Law Professor David Jordan from Mission College, Dr. Alma Salazar who served as the executive Vice President of UNITE LA and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The Student Health Center is teaching students how to cope with election anxiety on Oct. 19 from noon to 12:40 p.m. Link to participate https://bit.ly/EMPF2020