NEWS
SPECIAL
ELAC hosted the 81 annual East Los Angeles classic. See page 3
Volume 73, Issue 8
ARTS
Students celebrate Dia de Los Muertos with altars and traditional dances.
Muralist Råul Anguiano’s artwork celebrated.
See page 4
See page 5
Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
www.elaccampusnews.com
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Former Elan arrested for domestic battery BY BRYCE RONQUILLO
ELAC works on accreditation BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer The fourth draft of East Los Angeles College’s self-evaluation summary is due Dec. 9 as part of an accreditation process ending in spring 2016. Representatives of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) will visit ELAC in to finalize the evaluation. There are four main standards that ELAC needs to meet. It must have a clear mission statement, ensure academic quality, institutional effectiveness and integrity. It must have effective student learning programs and support services. Its resources must be well organized. It must also have a well organized and involved leadership and governance. The goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education provide students with an education that meets acceptable levels of quality according to the United States Department of Education. Accreditation is handled by private educational associations. The Secretary of Education is required by law to publish a list of nationally recognized agencies. Agencies must apply for recognition through the Department of Education and must be reviewed by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. The summary is more than 300 pages long and the four main standards consist of 120 standards. ELAC received a warning in 2009. However, it was fully accredited in June 2010. The accreditation process is repeated every six years. This is a significant reference point in the current summary. Faculty Accreditation Chair Barbara Dunsheath said that SLOs are a challenge, because they are “hard to measure.” The SLO process is meant to increase student success through the improvement of basic skills classes, general education and transfer programs. Course Learning Outcomes are a part of the SLO process, and 98.6 percent of full time staff participated in a CLO assessment in the spring. The ACCJC requires schools to break
down and analyze data on its performance and progress. During an open meeting on Thursday, a faculty member expressed his concern with this requirement. He said some are concerned that they will be singled out during analysis. Dunsheath assured him that the analysis and surveys conducted during this process are meant to identify departments that need improvement and student subgroups struggling to perform. Based on data collected by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Advancement, Latinas have been identified as taking longer to transfer to a four-year university than other subgroups. In response, the ELAC Equity formed the Latina Completion and transfer academy. Entry-level math was identified as a significant obstacle for a large number of students. Dunsheath and Dean of Academic Affairs Carol Kozeracki explained that if students place higher in mathematics, they are more likely to succeed in college. They explained that a large number of students are signing up for classes and not gaining any credits. “We need to study students’ high school backgrounds. We must better prepare students for the assessment test,” Kozeracki said. A page highlighting some of ELAC’s successes will be included in the draft. “It’s like brag sheet,” Dunsheath said. Submissions include the Architecture Department’s participation in the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Design Village Competition. Los Angeles College Faculty Guild President Joanne Waddell sent out an email saying ACCJC “has failed to meet expectations. It no longer meets the needs of the California Community College (CCC) system.” She recommends investigating options for establishing a new model for accreditation. She recommends presenting a recommendation of action to the Board of Governors by spring 2016. This won’t affect the current accreditation process. All nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District will be visited by the ACCJC within a few weeks of each other, and must continue to meet the standards it sets.
ACCREDITED • Confirms institution has met educational standards • Students have access to federal, and sometimes state, financial aid • Assists with going into a profession • Degree holds value
UNACCREDITED • Quality of education is questionable • No financial aid eligibility • Unable to transfer credits to another college or university • Degree holds no value to other institutions or employers
Staff Writer Former East Los Angeles College and current University of Miami defensive tackle, Michael Wyche, was arrested last Wednesday by South Miami Police on charges of misdemeanor domestic battery. Wyche, a redshirt senior for the Hurricanes, is suspended indefinitely from the team and awaiting trial. He has a hearing scheduled for Nov. 18, and is facing a maximum of one year in jail if convicted. This incident occurred on Wyche’s 23rd birthday. An article written by Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post states that Wyche was arrested at 4:50 a.m. after an argument with his girlfriend of five years Michael turned violent. According to the police, the argument was over sleeping arrangements. His girlfriend told police that she was pushed against the wall by Wyche and thrown on the bed multiple times. Her clothing was torn and she was treated for minor injuries on the scene. The two have a young daughter. It is unknown whether the child was present during the altercation. Wyche was a three star recruit according to 247sports.com and played at ELAC during the 2013 season. He recorded 26 tackles, four sacks, five tackles for loss and one interception as a sophomore. Former ELAC head coach and current offensive line coach at EL Camino College Compton Center,Steve Majarro said he was very surprised to hear about this because of Wyche’s personality. “Michael was nothing but a great kid while he was here (ELAC). He was always so happy. He would do community service with
us (football team) and acted as a father figure with the kids,” said Majarro. Wyche did not have a consistent home growing up and was involved with drugs and street life as well. “Michael had every right to be a bad kid because of his rough upbringing, but he wasn’t. He came to ELAC, got his degree and transferred to a great football program that typically doesn’t take players with a bad background. That’s why I’m so surprised to hear this news,” Majarro said. Wy c h e h a s played in games this season and has yet to record any statistics. He has spent a majority of his time on the practice squad. H e h a d originally committed to the University of Southern California, but Wyche after head coach Lane Kiffin was fired midway t h r o u g h t h e s e a s o n , Wy c h e committed to UM. In an unpublished interview with Campus News, Wyche explained his decision to decommit from USC. “I think it (UM) is a better situation for me,” Wyche said. “I would go in as a veteran, which means I could be helping others. It is also close to my family.” Wyche also held full-ride scholarships from Arkansas State University, Troy University, Oregon State University and Washington State University. According to Majarro, Wyche was considering going to University of Louisville as well because it was very close to his girlfriend and daughter. Wy c h e i s o r i g i n a l l y f r o m Chesapeake, Virginia where he attended Oscar Smith High School. Before coming to ELAC, he attended College of the Canyons and Mt. San Antonio College.
ASU officers delegate budgets, plan for future events BY STEPHANIE GARIBAY Staff Writer Associated Students Union officers held a meeting to discuss funding requests, the food giveaway for ASU students and to charter in clubs. The transfer center made a funding request for its Transfer Student Success Conference being held on friday. The Transfer Student Success Conference is a one-day student preparation event for students interested in university transfer. The event will include workshops for students that can help them with their personal statement and their transfer applications. “When you’re sitting in front of
News Briefs
the application, it’s hectic, you’re nervous, but the Transfer Center makes it really easy. I had a low GPA and they made the process so much easier for me,” Paola Herrera, a representative for the Transfer Center said. Last year 150 students attended, and 327 students attended last semester. This year, an estimated 350 students will attend. “I’m really hoping ASU can support us not only in some of the funding, but by being involved and collaborating with us because I look at ASU as a mechanism to help students get motivated,” Maunel Haro, a representative for the Transfer Center said. The Transfer Center originally asked for $4,886, but settled for
$2,428 at the Budgetary Affairs be involved just as they have been Committee meeting in the past, which is f o r u n s p e c i f i e d “I’m really hoping why we are asking reasons. for your help,” Haro ASU can support said. The ASU board members had the The money given us not only in ability to change the t o t h e Tr a n s f e r some of the amended amount, Center will be used funding, but by but could not go over for food given at the the original amount being involved.” event to attract more of $4,886. students to attend. “I know this is ASU board a Transfer Center members also event, so my discussed this year’s MANUAL HARO question is why ASU food giveaway. Transfer Center doesn’t the Transfer This year’s give representative Center fund this?” away will include ASU Executive Vice burritos and aguas P r e s i d e n t Yo r e l i frescas. Contreras said. An unspecified “Because we really want ASU to vendor will be bringing in the food
Veteran’s Day The Veterans Resource Center and Veterans of ELAC Club will host a Veteran’s Day celebration on Nov. 10 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the G3-Auditorium Foyer, and a flag raising ceremony on Nov. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. next to the football stadium.
Choreography project
and it is the responsibility of the ASU board members to prep and hand it out. Because of this, the board members participating in the food giveaway will be required to receive their California food handler’s certificate. “Everyone who wants to help has to watch a video, take a test and pass in order to be able to participate,” said ASU president Romel Lopez. The giveaway will take place on Nov. 10 for the main campus and Nov. 18 for the South Gate campus at 11 a.m. The exact location was not specified. The meeting also helped charter in ELAC clubs. Some of the clubs included the ELAC Amateur film club, that will help teach its members the
The Dance Department is presenting a concert choreographed by members of the Let’s Dance Company on Nov. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. in the S2 Recital Hall.
essentials of film. The club meets every Monday and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 in room P2 201. Another club chartered in was the Adaptive Innovative Perspective. The purpose of this club is to take students out of their comfort zone and meet new people to become more sociable. “We recently did an event called speed meet which is like speed dating, but without the dating. We got a chance to meet with a lot of people. About 50 people showed up,” Fernando Hernandez, one of the club’s representatives said. The club meets every Thursday in room B2 112. The time was unspecified. The next ASU meeting will occur on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. in room G1301
Dia de los Muertos
The fourth annual Dia de Los Muertos Festival will be held between S1 and S2 today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.