Photos By Livia Wippich Corsair Garden Equipment Operator Julian Martin has being working at Santa Monica College more than 30 years. Julian is one of the employees at Santa Monica College who might be affected by the cutting of jobs in the winter session.Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif.
FiRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25C
Parking Enforcement Andrey Steele has being working at Santa Monica College for 11 years. Andrey is one of the employees at Santa Monica College who might be affected by the cutting of jobs in the winter session.
extended coverage at
volume 104 issue 3 • september 19, 2012 • santa monica college
thecorsaironline.com
CORSAIR
Ground Man Sergio Cardenas works at Santa Monica College for 1 year. Sergio is one of the employees at Santa Monica College who might be affected by the cutting of jobs in the winter session.
Classified employees prepare for cuts andy riesmeyer & ruth mavangira News Editor & Staff Writer
Julian Martin started working as a groundskeeper at Santa Monica College more than 30 years ago. In 1982, the gas he put in his hedge trimmer cost $1.25 per gallon, there was no Bundy campus and Ronald Reagan was the President. Thirty years later, Martin, who has been tending to plants at the school longer than most of its students have been alive, still arrives on campus early and stays late. Martin is but one of hundreds of employees who perform the non-teaching and non-administrative functions of the school. From building technicians, to office staff, to parking attendants, together they are the “classified employees.” But their livelihoods could soon be in
jeopardy, as the college predicts furloughs and layoffs for classified employees if Proposition 30, a tax-initiative set to increase funding to California schools, fails in November. “It’s unfortunate that the timing is what it is. We are all waiting on pins and needles for Prop 30,” says Bruce Smith, SMC public information officer, adding that no decisions would be made until then. Building technician Kevin McAllister, 55, says a reduced classified work force at the school could have a big impact on the already stressed staff. “We have one certified plumber, one carpenter, two electricians and three HVAC technicians [who] are responsible for the maintenance of the over nine
SMC evacuates buildings alongside Pico after suspected gas leak
David J. Hawkins Corsair Fireman Wenger enters Drescher Hall with gas metering equipment as students wait outside the building.
million square feet covered by 27 buildings,” McAllister says. “[SMC] is my home. I feel confident that they can’t let the groundskeepers go,” he says. “But if Prop 30 fails right now, things are different, I’ve been doing this work for over 32 years and it would be very challenging to find a new job.” Fred Zimmerman, 70, who has has been an electrician at SMC for over 17 years, claims that attempts toward the privatization of the school system actually began in the 1970s. “It’s wealthy corporations who wanted to make public sector employees villains by saying that we are lazy and don’t do our jobs,” Zimmerman says. “We are going to keep fighting!” Even with a bleak future, some employees are still optimistic. Audrey Steele, an 11-year SMC parking enforcement officer says, “I’m not going
henry crumblish Staff Writer Students, faculty, and campus visitors were evacuated from the premises of Santa Monica College on Monday after the odor of natural gas permeated throughout the school. The odor allegedly stemmed from a teaspoon of mercaptan that was spilled by the Big Blue Bus company in the afternoon. Mercaptan, which is known for its putrid stench, is often added to natural gas for safety reasons, such as making gas leaks easier to detect. Big Blue Bus announced that the chemicals were released into the air at their Bus Facilities at Lincoln Street and Broadway Street, and that wind currents wafted the unpleasant smell to the school. Simultaneously occurring with the chemical spill was a power outage, which left Drescher Hall and the business building without power. The outage caused Drescher Hall, the business building, the administrative building and Admissions Complex to be evacuated. The buildings were evacuated for approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Backup generators were activated in roughly the same amount of time.
to cry ‘doomsday’ yet. I am going to be positive.” For 11-year custodian Pam Carter, 53, the future is dependent upon Proposition 30. “If it doesn’t pass, I’m losing a few months out of the year, and it will be hard on my family,” Carter says. “That is why I am going to vote for Prop 30.” Though classified employee Sergio Cardenas has worked at SMC for only a year, his sentiments are the same. “The way I feel is there is always a way and a solution,” says Cardenas. “We need to mediate things. This is my livelihood and I hope we can sit down at the table.” The college is set to begin talks with the union in the next few weeks, according to Smith. The Classified Employees Union could not be reached despite several calls from The Corsair.
However, classrooms as far as the science building were affected, as students could be seen covering their faces with jackets and t-shirts attempting to escape the rancid smell. At 1 p.m., bookstore employee Elease Juarez called for an evacuation of the building over the P.A. system after being advised to do so by campus police. “They told us if you feel it’s unsafe to be in the store then go ahead and leave,” said Juarez. “We were told to go where the gas was least prevalent, so we waited in front of the library.” John Rogers, who works in the cosmetology department, was unfazed by the abrupt commotion. “Students always escalate things,” said Rogers, who believes students in the business building may have exploited the apparent danger to get out of class early. “Students always want it to be a terrorist attack or something spectacular—it was a hot Monday afternoon and young people want to go home,” said Rogers. Rogers didn’t feel the abundant additive odor was ever an immediate threat to faculty or student safety. The incident illustrated SMC’s current or apparent lack of preparation in the event of an actual gas leak.
the c orsair • thec orsaironline.c om • 19 0 0 pic o blvd. santa monica, ca 9 0405 •(310) 434-4340