Corsair
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The Santa Monica College Newspaper
Volume XCIX, Issue 10
www.thecorsaironline.com
Informing Since 1929
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
DPAC debates hot issues By Carly Gillis Lifestyle Editor
Sal Guerra Corsair Alejandro Martinez participated in the demonstration for reform at the immigration rally. He continues to hope for his citizinship application to be processed, and in the meantime relies on his wife for income.
LA marches for immigration reform By Dan Bluemel Opinion Editor Tens of thousands gathered in downtown Los Angeles Saturday to demand federal immigration reform. Carrying mostly American flags, crowds marched from Olympic Boulevard to First Street along Broadway. Among the many issues regarding immigrant rights, foremost on demonstrators’ minds was Arizona’s recent immigration law, which critics say will lead to racial profiling and civil liberties violations. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave a bilingual speech at the rally. “I’m
going to speak in English and Spanish today, because we are all equal,” he said to cheering demonstrators. “We want change, we want reform and we want it now.” Villaraigosa criticized current immigration policies. He called them “outdated and ineffective” laws that fail to meet the needs of a global economy and recognize America’s immigrant history. “Today’s immigrants are no different and we should not treat them any differently,” he said. The mayor highlighted immigrant contributions to the country, pointing out that many children of immigrants are currently serving in the armed
forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also addressed the need to fight immigration laws that did not respect people’s civil rights. “We must show that bigotry and close-mindedness have no place in the United States of America,” he said. Several labor unions attended the march and rally to show their support for immigrant workers. Teamsters Local 396 member Jose Amaya’s union helps undocumented workers become legal. “Some of these people have been here for 20 years,” he said. “They are not taking anybody’s jobs.” Also represented at the rally were Teamster union chapters 42 and 872. Both chapters
A closer look at financial aid
By Daniel Ross Staff Writer
Careena Willmont is a student with dreams of transferring to Columbia University in New York. David Evenskaas moved to Los Angeles from Colorado to forge a career in acting. Jonathon Boyer is an army reserve hoping to break into the music business. These three are all students at Santa Monica College, but
they share one other common denominator: they are among a population of thousands who receive financial aid to supplement their studies at the college. “Aside from my full time studies at SMC, I’m also taking classes at the Musicians Institute [in Los Angeles],” said Boyer, 22, whose punishing schedule only allows him time to partake in the requisite army drill once a month. “With the money I receive, I’m able to
featured tractor-trailers that drove alongside demonstrators as they marched toward First Street. Rally attendee Veronica Terriquez said that current laws did not address the rights of workers. “If we create a pathway to legalization we can get fair wages for workers,” she said. “It will raise wages for everyone, including low-wage workers.” Terriquez is an assistant professor of Sociology at USC. She sympathizes with immigrant students saying that many live in fear of deportation. “These students have the potential to contribute to our society,” she said. “Immigration laws don’t
See ‘Rally’ on page 3
On April 28, the District Planning and Advisory Council (DPAC) unanimously approved a regulation that clearly prohibits the use of medical marijuana on campus. Robert Myers, campus council for SMC, presented the proposed change, Administrative Regulation 2430. “This is more than a simple bureaucratic matter,” said Myers. “This is to provide clarity to the students who may be lighting up on campus, thinking its legal.” He explained that California campuses routinely have these policies in place to coincide with federal support. “We’re not trying to get into a national drug policy debate,” he said. “This is a conflict between state and federal programs. The Drug Free School Act is a federal program.” There was some expressed concern over the boundaries of identifying “possession,” however he was quick to express that the intent was not to make the students guilty until proven innocent. “There is no plan for drug sniffing dogs on campus,” said Myers. The Council unanimously approved the new regulatory ban. Genevieve Bertone, project manager for sustainability and cochair of the ACUPCC Sustainability Task Force, presented the 20072008 Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The report contained an overview of the campus’ carbon emissions released from property facilities, transportation, and resource usage. SMC’s ACUPCC Sustainability Task Force was assembled for the campus to promote new initiatives, such as the greenhouse
See ‘DPAC’ on page 4
Students Recieving Federal Pell Grant
concentrate nearly all of my time on my studies.” Boyer, Evenskaas and Willmont are among the over 6,000 recipients of the Pell Grant at SMC. However, with a reservoir of around $30,000,000 available in financial aid and scholarships, Steven Myrow, associate dean of Financial Aid and Scholarships, believes that there remains a number of students
See ‘Financial aid’ on page 4
*As of March 19. Does not include Spring or Summer sessions Data reported by the Fianancial Aid Office