CUESTONIAN Volume 46, Issue 1
The Student Voice of Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, California
Hide your rabbits
John Fetcho addresses the Cuesta Board of Trustees at a meeting that cut jobs, hours and pay from staff.
By Lisa Spencer
Michael Miller/Cuestonian
Copy Editor
Cuesta’s administration is struggling to maintain a quality college amidst financial crisis. Recent cuts from the state budget forced the college to lay off two employees, slash hours from 22 more, and cancel 138 class sections. “Given the level of cuts, it’s really not possible to avoid a negative impact on the quality of our institution,” said college President David Pelham. He said that there will be less flexibility and diversity in class scheduling coupled with longer lines at offices and that “the campus won’t look as nice as it has in the past.” "The school’s operating budget is set directly by the state, with additional funds allocated based on the num-
ber of Full Time Equivalent St udent s," s a id Steph a n Gunsaulus, director of marketing and communications. This year’s operating budget is $1.6 million less than last year’s, and despite an ’08-’09 enrollment of roughly 10,000 FTES, the state will fund only 9,177 for this year. “Basically, they’ve found two ways to take money from us,” said Gunsaulus. On September 4, the Board of Trustees met to discuss and vote on several resolutions that would balance the budget. Nine full time employees were slated for layoffs going into the meeting, but most were saved by utilizing an emergency $308,000 escrow account. The board agreed to keep seven of the threatened employees on the condition that they remain eligible for salary cuts in the
SLO also exercises the recently passed code, no “sitting, Unusual laws of San Luis laying, or remaining” on any Obispo include, stenches, benchpublic bench for more than one es, and bunnies, oh my! For stuhour. Watch the clock; relaxdents, new and old, it’s always ing too long can become an wise to refresh knowledge of loupsetting $100 fine. cal law, even the seemingly huCounty code 7.40.030 promorous SLO codes. hibits library stench. Identified Upon researching, it was as, “having body odor condiscovered that Cuesta College stituting a nuisance to other doesn’t have any unusual repersons." Lack of hygiene could strictions. Enforcements such get a reader kicked out and sent as no bicycles, skateboards, to the showers. Unlike codes scooters, or roller blades on previously mentioned, some inner campus are common elselaws are affecting more than where. “Generally, [the codes] one SLO resident. In May, SLO are for the safety of everyone passed a social host ordinance, else,” says Ron Schram, campus saying that if minors are found police sergeant. drinking at parties, the host will These transportation laws be held responsible and fined mirror the ones in SLO City. with $350 on the first offense. Municipal code 10.76.010 bans In-N-Out Burger, the popuskateboarding and roller bladlar restaurant franchise is uning in most parts of downtown. able to develop in SLO because However, SLO city also bans of the city's long time ban bunnies. Yes, bunnies. against drive-throughs. Design The code publishing website Guildline 3.4 prohibits them states, “No in town. It’s person sha l l a controverkeep upon any sial argument premises in the and many city any poultry residents have or rabbits withquestioned it in 50 feet of for years. If any dwelling.” t h a t w a s n’t Sch ra m says enough, SLO that to make an a lso prohibCreig P. Sherburne/Cuestonian issue become its franchise law, “there’s usually more than architecture, which is what one incident that’s impacting makes In-N-Out Burger so well an individual’s, ‘quality of life’ recognized. so to speak.” But hey, what do you expect Beware: Bugs Bunny and from the first city in the world his accomplice, the Easter bunto ban indoor smoking at all ny are reportedly on the loose! public places? Making new laws is what we think we do best. Staff Writer
Fiscal crisis hits Cuesta By Nick Powell
future. However, the secretary of youth programs and the bookstore’s technology support specialist were eliminated. The board said that those programs were consistently losing money. Other resolutions reduced the salaries of the vice presidents by 5 percent (the president volunteered his 5 percent reduction last summer), and imposed 10 unpaid furlough days on all managers, supervisors, and deans. But it was the technicians, assistants and secretaries that were hit hardest. “We don’t like the crossroads we’re in,” said Board President Patrick Mullen. “These are gut wrenching decisions, but they’re the reality of our situation.” The cuts varied from person to person, but 22 were affected. Please see Fiscal, page 6
Students rush to replace cut classes By Allison Marin Staff Writer
Students and staff alike are suffering from budget cuts. Many students are complaining about their cancelled classes, their inability to find classes to fill the dropped classes place and their inability to add the classes they need. On top of that, tuition fees and parking fees have also gone up, making it difficult for students to afford their education. This is creating a continuous fight for education. To keep up with the rising costs of tuition, some students are finding it difficult to buy their textbooks. Peter Van Ryn, a fifth semester student, said he spent $450 on three class books alone. To compensate for this, students are having to find extra work. Students looking for jobs can go to Career Connections
"We understand [student] frustration ... but there are no more desks." — Janet Florez, Cuesta counselor where they can get help creating a resumé and find jobs. For federal work study students on campus jobs are available, although they are not as available as they have been in the past due to budget cuts. Career Connections can also help non-work study students on their website where they have one- hundred plus jobs available. Students searching for assistance in finding a course of action to deal with classes being cut can turn to academic counselors. “We understand [student] frustration” said Janet Florez, a counselor at the San Luis Obispo campus. “We help find classes, but there are no
September 16, 2009
more desks.” The counselors are understanding and helpful, despite the fact that they are very busy with the extra work they are facing. The frustration of students can be heard echoing throughout the student body. Jose Velez, a third semester student, explained how frustrating it was when his calculus class was dropped. “My work schedule was set, and now I have to take other classes.” He went to talk to section planners to see what other sections were open and felt that they didn’t care. “It doesn’t affect [them],” he said. Josh Beaumont, an eighth semester student, explained his difficulties in transferring after
he graduated from Cuesta last spring. Because of the budget cuts, Beaumont, a Deaf Studies and Sign Language student, could not transfer to Cal State Northridge as planned because spring admission was cancelled. Now Beaumont is working two jobs and taking five classes at Cuesta to pass the time as he waits to apply to Northridge. "I lost two of the three classes I was enrolled in," said Drew Verdi, a fourth semester student. He was supposed to graduate in December, but without those units he couldn't. "Everywhere I went, I was one of 20 students begging for add codes," Verdi said. After rushing 12 classes in two days, he was able to pick up the necessary units. For job information go to the Career Connection's website: www.cuesta.edu/campus/connections
INSIDE THIS EDITION Opinion & Editorial p.2
Features p.3
Features p.5
Sports p.8
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