Protestors dressed as zombies march against budget cuts. See page 3
Volume 70, Issue 8
Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
www.elaccampusnews.com
ELAC honors Bailey’s contributions By LUIS D. MARQUEZ Contributing Writer Students have had access to the Helen Miller Bailey Library since the semester started, but the college held a rededication ceremony last Thursday. The ceremony brought current and former campus and district leaders, Bailey family members, students and community members to celebrate the contributions of Helen Miller Bailey to the community of East Los Angeles College. Students now have access to a state-of-the-art facility where they can learn. The audience heard ELAC interim-President Farley Herzek, Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Daniel J. LaVista, LACCD Board of Trustee Scott Svonkin, and an appearance by former president Ernest H. Moreno during the ceremony. Herzek stressed that libraries positively affect a community. “Libraries are like fueling station for the minds, and the greatest aspects of a library is that you can fill your mind for free,” he said. LaVista then spoke of the importance of libraries in education. “Libraries are a place for solitude and reflection. In these times, the opening of a library should be celebrated,” LaVista said. He believes that libraries help young people and teaches them leadership. Svonkin added the importance of libraries as he said that ELAC students deserve to have an “incredible” library as those at UCLA, Harvard and Yale. Now that ELAC has one, he hopes students will use it to its fullest. Svonkin stressed the importance of Proposition 30, so that there could be more funding for schools as ELAC and projects as the renovation of the Helen Miller Library. “This is for you. Tax dollars at work, the right way,” he said. LaVista also spoke about Bailey contribution to this community. “Helen Miller Bailey was a renaissance woman, a person who strongly believed in philanthropy and generosity,” LaVista said. He also said it
State
Measures at a glance
Wondering what’s on the ballot? Here are a few propositions to notice.
Proposition 33:
Proposition 33 would allow insurance companies to set prices based on whether the the driver previously carried automotive insurance. This allows a discount for drivers with prior coverage, and an increased cost for drivers without history of continuous coverage. A yes vote would mean insurance companies could offer new customers a discount based on the number of years in the previous five years that the customer was insured.
Proposition 35:
see RIBBON, page 3
By VIVIAN RAMIREZ Staff Writer
CN/OLIVER BLANCO
SNip, SNIP— Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustee Scott Svonkin, left, former ELAC President Ernest Moreno, interim-President Farley Herzek and LACCD Chancellor Daniel LaVista release the red ribbon used at the reopening ceremony of Helen Miller Bailey Library last Thursday.
Elans vote on student representation in Sacramento By BRIAN VILLALBA Staff Writer The Associated Student Union held an election to determine if East Los Angeles College would add a representation fee to the student registration costs last week. If the student representation fee passes, $1 would be added to registration costs. The money would fund ELAC representation in the Student Senate of the California Community Colleges’s (SSCCC) general assembly. Since 2009, the student representation fee has not passed in five elections. The first two
elections did not meet the two-thirds majority that is required to add the representative fee. In the elections since then the two-thirds majority was met, but there was not enough total voters to meet the minimum voter turnout requirement. The election last week had sufficient votes to meet the voter turnout requirement. The results of the student representative fee election are not available. ASU Faculty adviser, Sonia Lopez said “We have enough total votes.” As of election day, ELAC was the only Los Angeles Community College District college that did not fund student representation. The SSCCC’s purpose is to
Proposition 35 would increase prison sentences and fines for human trafficking convictions, would require convicted human traffickers to register as sex offenders and would require registered sex offenders to disclose internet activities and identities. A yes vote would give longer prison sentences and larger fines for committing human trafficking crimes.
Proposition 37:
Proposition 37 would require labeling food sold to consumers made with genetic material changed in specified ways, and would prohibit marketing such foods as “natural” with some exemptions. Voting yes on this measure would force California to specifically label genetically engineered food as such.
Proposition 40:
Proposition 40 would allow the Citizens Redistricting Committee to draw up new State Senate districts in California. A yes vote approves the redistricting. Rejecting the redistricting would result in a one-time cost of $1 million to the state and counties.
INFOGRAPH BY BRIAN VILLALBA
News Briefs
Missing paperwork could delay financial aid
Avalanche Way closes due to construction
Parking and through traffic on Avalanche way, the road leading east and west into the school from Bleakwood Avenue, will be closed starting today and ending Friday due to construction.
represent students’s interests at the California Board of Governors and the Chancellor of California Community Colleges, both of which officially recognize SSCCC as an official representation of California community college students. The general assembly consists of 113 represented schools who discuss and propose resolutions ranging from seeking adequate funding priority from the state budget to “Gangnam Style” fundraisers. In the SSCCC fall 2012 preamended resolution packet, one of the resolutions is the “Gangnam style” fundraiser. The resolution would consist of executive officers accepting donations on behalf of the SSCCC for executing a “Gangnam Style dance.” The resolution goes so far as to assert that the dance will be done in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. “The student rep fee assures meaningful representation,” ASU President Jennifer Estrada said. The next general assembly is Nov. 2-4. ASU is sending five representatives, which will cost $1,125 for registration. Additional costs for hotel and transportation vary, but would also be paid for by the student representative fee. ASU had planned on not going to SSCCC general assembly in Sacramento, but Mission College donated funds to ASU. This semester ASU was forced to pull from general funds and the charity of Mission College to maintain representation to Sacramento. The student representative fee would allow ASU to replenish the general funds.
New sign hits ELAC
The eastbound lanes on Floral Drive and southbound lanes on Collegian Avenue will be closed on Friday from 6-10 a.m. because a new ELAC sign will be delivered to be installed adjacent to the new parking structure.
Online Scoop
The Financial Aid Office urges students to check their district emails for notifications of missing financial aid paperwork that may delay disbursements. Emails may also include new information affecting AB-540 student financial aid. Some students may still be waiting for financial aid disbursement due to missing paperwork or additional information not yet submitted to the FAO. “In terms of disbursement, we didn’t see any delays,” Financial Aid Director Lindy Fong said. “The only difference is that normally we disburse on the second day of school; this year we just disbursed at the end of the (first) week (of school),” Fong said. The FAO has already processed see DELAY, page 3
For these complete stories visit elaccampusnews.com.
CN/AMANDA MAYBERRY
Students and faculty unite to rally for awareness of Proposition 30 at East Los Angeles College yesterday.
CN/TADZIO GARCIA
Garfield Bulldogs and Roosevelt Rough Riders take on the 78th annual East LA Classic football game last Friday.
Winter 2013 priority registration dates
ELAC campus-based priority registration will be Nov. 13-16 in-person only. Registration appointments will be mailed out on Monday. Web-based districtwide registration starts Nov. 19.
Corrections:
In Vivian Ramirez’s article entitled “Cal States await Prop 30’s outcome,” election day was printed as being Nov. 5 when really it is Nov. 6, next Tuesday.