4
Campus Life
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, March 14, 2018
City Creates Safe Spaces for Students By Melissa Crumby Vice President of Finance Daniel Shurr, talks about diversity and safe spaces for LGBT and minority students. He also discusses important events that are coming up on campus and offers advice. Collegian: What is your name and what is your current position in the Associated Student Government (ASG)? Shurr: My name is Danny Shurr and I am the vice president of finance. Collegian: What are you majoring in and how long have you attended this college? Shurr: I have been here for four full semesters so that’s two years. I am finishing my pre-requisites to apply to the nursing program. Collegian: What made you decide to become a part of ASG? Shurr: I was in class with a student who was in it. This was about a year ago. She kind of told me what it was like, what they did. I feel like being a part of something bigger than me helps me be able to help other people. I get to do things that impact student’s lives. It makes me a better student because I’m here and I stay focused. I like to be able to see how we can work as a team to really be the voice of the students here. Collegian: What are you hoping to bring awareness to on this campus?
Shurr: Right now, the fact that we don’t have a cafeteria and we are working hard to get one. Our food options are pretty limited. You have to leave campus to get more of a variety. Our current food is mediocre at best and it’s not centrally located. The student union building was designed to have a cafeteria. There’s actually a cafeteria built in this building. There’s a fully functioning kitchen. We need just need a little more money to finish it, which we should have. Starting this Thursday and every Thursday from now on ASG is giving out free food to students in the afternoons. This shows the faculty we’re serious and that we do need a cafeteria. Something else would be an environmental issue. Our campus doesn’t really recycle. I think it is really important to have LGBT awareness on campus. We now have a gender diversity multi-cultural center located in the Administration Building. It’s fairly new and opened up about two weeks ago. It has a lot of study rooms and it is a safe space for multi-cultural folks. We are also a big supporter of DACA. Collegian: What are some of your favorite things about this campus? Shurr: The diversity. It’s kind of nice for me as a middle-aged Caucasian guy to walk into a class and be a minority. That doesn’t happen a lot and it’s nice that our
campus really empowers that. Our campus seems to be progressive when it comes to LGBT issues also. We’re working a lot harder to be culturally diverse. We had our first Black History Month events in a long time, which was super great. The event was created by our Senator of Equity and Diversity, James Ingram, and our programming board director, Jamere Calhoun, and a few other people. Collegian: Do you have any goals for this semester, or some advice you would like to give students? Shurr: My goal for this semester is just to finish strong. I kind of have senioritis. I’m 43 so coming back as an older student has had a lot of different challenges. I think one of the things I learned pretty early on was the more I speak to my professors and the more I speak to my classmates the more successful I am in that class. Talk to your teachers, make friends in your classes. It’s easier to hold yourself accountable if you have other people that are holding you accountable. Collegian: Are there any events coming up that you’d like students to know about? Shurr: Yes. March 16 is the last day to choose a club. The thing that makes this campus so rich is the fact that there are so many clubs. Theresa, who is our vice president of clubs, works really hard to make sure that all the clubs are advertised and supported. We have a women’s day event coming up also an LGBT event in May.
There’s an App for that: SIS Mobile
3. apply for a scholarship
African-American studies at Los Angeles City College provides a rich education in the history and culture of African-Americans. A skills certificate is offered to students who take 15 units in required courses. Nine of those credits must be in African-American studies.
Course options:
sCholarship requirements:
Afro AM 4 - The African-American in the History of the United States I
•
Applicant must have a 3.0 GPA
Afro AM 5 - The African-American in the History of the United States II
•
Total units completed should not exceed 90
Afro AM 7 - African-Americans and the Political System
•
Plan to transfer to a four-year university or college
Afro AM 20 - African-American Literature I
the moon, Collins, ealy sCholarship
Afro AM 60 (same as Music 135) African-American Music Anth 102 - Human Ways of Life (Cultural)
Professors Henry Ealy and Mattie Moon created this scholarship in honor of Elmer Moon, Nina Collins and Janis Ealy.
history 73 - Race and Racism in the United States
It is for students who have completed at least nine units of African-American studies offered by the social sciences department.
sociology 11 - Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X
By Marlon Moreno In an attempt to make students’ lives easier this semester, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) has launched a new phone app for the Student Information System (SIS). Students will be able to do everything from the SIS app without having to access the LACCD portal page online. Among the tasks available are adding classes and viewing GPA and grades. But fees will need to be paid on the website. However, all of these will be possible once the app works properly. The app itself is available on the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store, however the functionality of the app may vary. Students with newer android phones won’t be able to use it, because it is not compatible with Android 8.1.0 Oreo.
1. study african-american history 2. earn a skills Certificate
Photo courtesy of Los Angeles City College
The app has connectivity issues as well. Over Wi-Fi or mobile network, server errors are common. And whenever the system is down at school don’t even bother, the app will be useless as well. But the app’s biggest shortcoming is the number of students who are not aware of its existence. The Google Play Store has barely 5,000 downloads and the App Store has 17 reviews of which only one is written and it simply reads “It doesn’t load at all!!!” On a district-wide email last year, Dr. Ryan Cornner, the vice
chancellor apologized for the technical difficulties that students and faculty might have encountered when SIS first launched online. “We would like to apologize for the delays you have incurred as a result of the technical difficulties with our new SIS,” he said. Dr. Ryan also said that the technical issues were resolved and he encouraged students and faculty to use the system. Hopefully, none of the past issues translate to the app and any current issues will be resolved promptly.
Chocolate Taste Test : Chic vs. Cheap
What you need to know What is EOP&S: The mission of the Extended Opportunity Programs & Services is to assist students challenged by language, economic, and educational disadvantage and to facilitate the successful completion of their academic goals.
What is Care: The Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education provide assistance for EOP&S single parents pursuing their education goals under the TANF/ CalWORKs program.
What is Next Up: Next Up provides a broad, expansive array of core and “above and beyond” services for students who are current/former foster youth.
All these services are offered for free to qualifying students: • • • •
Priority Registration Academic, Career and Personal Counseling Book Vouchers University Transfer Assistance
• • • • •
University & Cultural Fieldtrips University Application Fee Waivers Individualized Tutoring Cap & Gown for Graduation Educational Workshops
Stop by our office to fill out an application to see if you qualify for our services.
Photo by Ande Richards/Collegian
Do students know the difference between 99 cent and high-end chocolate treats? Collegian reporters put students taste buds to the test. See results on Collegian Wired’s YouTube and Facebook profiles.
Contact us for more information: Office: Student Services Building 3rd floor Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2300 www.lacitycollege.edu/services/eops