Caminito Theatre
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-Abdul-Majeed Qaasim, Undecided
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Wednesday September 26, 2012 Volume 168 Number 1
SHUTTLE BUZZ
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Los Angeles
by John Guare
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Collegian )
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BLUE LEAVES
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THE HOUSE OF
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Sept. 25 Sept. 29, 2012
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1 Week Only! LACC Theatre Academy presents
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
Space Shuttle Soars Over City College
“I was in my house when I heard the noise and I went outside. I was excited and happy that something that amazing would fly over my house. “
-Eric Gellardo, Business/Law major
“I was skating. I was on Wilshire and Normandie. I was like ‘what the f*** was that?’ but then I seen it on the news and I thought ‘Whoa, that’s history.’”
-Damsay Sapaten, Nursing major
By Temple Willoughby Cheers of joy erupted among students and faculty on the east side of the roof of the Science and Technology Building at 11:55 a.m. on Friday morning, as the Space Shuttle Endeavour circled overhead and passed directly over L.A. City College. Video rolled and cameras snapped as the space shuttle flew into focus. Two NASA F/A-18 chase planes accompanied the shuttle as it made its way into East Hollywood and over LACC. “It was an unexpected, exciting experience, well worth the wait,” said Eileen Poblete, an LACC student.
A crowd stood in 89-degree heat for more than an hour waiting for the shuttlecraft on the roof of the Science and Technology Building to witness the space shuttle Endeavour piggyback on a Boeing 747. “L.A. City College is the place to be,” said Dan Walden, vice president of academic affairs. “This is a historic event, a moment, a great view of the Griffith Observatory and the space shuttle just a hair’s breadth away.” People watched the shuttle from the Quad, the Science and Technology Building, the Women’s Gymnasium and the roof of the Communications Building. “Well, I saw the space shuttle coming in from the north, I was on top of the Communications
Building and it was a great experience, something no one will ever see again in their lifetime, but, ahh, It was really exciting,” said James Swyne, a custodian at LACC. On a day when students and faculty on campus are usually scarce, many seemed to find Endeavor’s last “mission” important enough to observe the historic moment. “It’s my first time seeing this kind of event and I get to see Endeavour’s last time in the air,” said Jomar Bolaoen, a student who was on campus. Endeavour flew over several landmarks on its final voyage, including Disneyland, Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, and the California Science Center.
“I think it’s very exciting that the whole campus celebrates science and technology. I encourage more students and faculty and staff to explore astronomy and physics, because it’s fun,” said Professor Paul McCudden, who teaches astronomy and physics. Endeavour landed at LAX and will remain at a United Airlines hangar until it makes a slow two mph crawl across the streets of Los Angeles. A large procession of people are expected to follow it to its final destination at the California Science Center. It will be on display beginning Oct. 30. Photo courtesy of Luca Lofredo See Endeavour coverage on Page 4-5
“I thought it was cool and I actually thought it was gonna hit the building.”
-Jason Sofianos, Secretary, English-ESL Department
“I was out here [on the Quad] on a break and I thought I missed it, I thought it would be higher too. As the break ended, I heard this loud noise and [the plane] just flies just clearing the buildings. I would have taken a picture and I thought about it, but it was so quick.”
-Derek Burks Paralegal major
“I was in the neighborhood where I lived, and saw something historical pass by and everybody thought it was [going to] fall.” Compiled by Amanda Scurlock and David Tapia Photos by Karen Smith
INDEX Opinion and Editorial ........................ 2-3 News ..............................4-5 Photo Focus ...................6-7 Arts & Entertainment .... 8-9 Campus Life ...............10-11 Sports .............................12
Students Cope with Policy Changes By Amber Mason California Community Colleges have been hit with budget cuts that amount to $809 million since 2008, which have resulted in the suspension course offerings to district colleges, according to an article in the L.A. Times. City College is not exempt from these statewide cuts. According to Dean Will Marmolejo, City has been forced to cut either classes or entire terms to manage staying within its constricted budget, most recently eliminating the summer 2012 semester. Many say the future budget of City College is contingent upon the outcome of Proposition 30, on the ballot this November. Professors and administrators have been working to inform students of one of many state and federal regulations enacted this year, the three attempt limitation. The new rule allows for a maximum three attempts per course within the district, retroactively counting withdraws and failing grades as attempts. “I think it speaks to the climate of the California budget, it also hones in though, on making the students accountable,” said Reri Pumphrey, chair of the counseling department. Students are having mixed reactions to the policy change. policy, while others say that students should be able to retake a course until they pass. “It’s a good policy, the only one tweak I would do to it is, yes, keep it retroactive, but for the people who know about the rule, give them one more attempt,” said David Allsop, a
political science major. Also beginning this year, potential students who don’t have a high school diploma or GED will not be eligible to receive the federal Pell Grant. “It used to be that if you weren’t a high school graduate you could demonstrate that you can handle college level courses and if you but that option has been eliminated,” said Associate Dean Jeremy Villar. Further affecting students is a nationwide policy, enacted last year, which puts a six year time limit on Pell Grant eligibility. “Just take the classes that you need, don’t take additional classes because the more you do that, the aid and by the time you transfer to a four-year, you may not have it anymore, when you probably need it most,” Villar said. Students who already have an A.A. degree will now also be considered ineligible for the Pell Grant at City College. “The AFT has student interns on campus and those student interns are partnering with the Associated Student Government (ASG) ... doing voter registration in classrooms and classroom presentations on prop 30,” said Sharon Hendricks, AFT chapter president at City College. “Educate yourself about it, educate other people about [it] talk about [it],” said Jwyanza Hobson a nursing major and ASG President. “Have intelligent dialogue with people who may be against it. [There are] lots of stats available online ... become educated about the subject to have intelligent conversations and
New Faces on Campus
Renee D. Martinez has been appointed as LACC’s new interim president. She comes from East Los Angeles College where she worked as vice president of workforce education and economic development. She earned a master’s degree in education from the University of San Francisco. Her journey began when she was a pre-school teacher Martinez wants the students to know that they, “Can make things happen sometimes more than we, in terms of administration. I also want you to know that we are all, that means the administrators, faculty and staff are here to help you.”
Dr. Todd Scott is a new dean of academic affairs at City College. He He received his master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Michigan University and a Ph.D. in Human Service from Walden University. After retiring from the police force, Dr. Scott started his academic career at Schoolcraft College as associate dean of college centers. He wants to inform the students that he has an open door policy and that they can come in and see him anytime with any problem they may have. He goes on to say that, “The administration is here for the students so it will never feel that this is an ivory tower that you can’t come in, see me, and talk about problems.”
Dr. Dan Walden is the new vice president of academic affairs at City College. Previously he worked as dean of academic affairs at Los Angeles South West College. Walden began his education at Cerritos College. He then went on to Claremont Graduate University where he received a master’s in education and Ph.D. in higher education. He wants the students to recognize that he can, “Empathize with the students, I was a college student and a community college student and community college changed my life. I want the students to know that I’m approachable. I am their advocate creating a learning environment that’s supported and student centered.”
By Hoon Kim and Cartavious Walker Photos by- Abel Zarate Jr.
New Policies, Name for ASO By Amanda Scurlock What used to be the Associated Student Organization is now the Associated Student Government and they begun the new school year by making major changes to their constitution, senate and student Bill of Rights. Updates to the constitution changed both the structure of the council and of the ASG. Before, there were four executive members and 16 senate members. There now are six
executive members and nine senate members. Senators no longer possess titles such as Senator of Athletics or Senator of Health and Safety. ASG did this to areas of student life. “The senators are free to work on whatever that is that really interest them,” said Jwyanza Hobson, student government president for the 2012-2013 school year. A programming board and a joint
council were created to take care of some responsibilities that student government performed in the past. Events once handled by ASG will now be given to the programming board to run. The joint council will act as an intermediary between the programming board, club council and student government. It was established to ensure accountability and cohesion among the three groups. See Page 10