Bakersfield enterprise JACC

NEWS

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Tobacco use part of SGA agenda again

By Jon Nelson Reporter

The Student Government Association is taking steps to ensure that the issue of tobacco use is at the forefront of student consciousness at Bakersfield College.

For Fall 2011 the SGA and B-COUGH, Bakersfield Campuses Organized and United for Good Health, planned a number of events designed to educate students on the dangers of smoking and to hear student and faculty opinion on BC’s smoking policy.

Several information booths were to be set up around campus. There was a presentation on quitting and two open-mic forums on tobacco-related issues planned. The centerpiece of all this was supposed to be an online poll and vote to possibly change BC’s smoking policy.

“The student vote is the key to making this a success as we all must make every effort in getting the word out to ensure the success of achieving this goal,” said Derrick Kenner, SGA general counsel and head of B-COUGH. The SGA had even planned events to participate in the Great American Smokeout, a national campaign that encourages people to quit smok-

ing.

Unfortunately, most of those events have been pushed back to the spring.

“Yes, the online voting will take place during the Spring Semester during the opening week of school, all the way through the month of January,” said Kenner.

There has also been a rumor that the SGA is trying to ban smoking on campus all together.

“I heard about it, but I don’t smoke so I don’t really care,” said BC student Iraiz Bermudez.

Rumors like this, however, are nothing new.

Smoking has always been a big issue on campus. There have been numerous proposals to ban smoking at BC since 2005.

“Everywhere you go, there’s smoke. You become a second-hand smoker,” said student Sally Fayes.

However, not all students feel this way.

“It’s upsetting,” said Drew Kurk, BC student. “I understand, but it’s a huge campus. If I had to be here for a few hours, I’d be upset that I couldn’t smoke.”

All of this attention on smoking is meant to coincide with Senate Bill SB 795 that goes into effect next year.

“This bill will go in effect on January 1st and it

CCCAA: Bowl game could be guaranteed for BC with new system Continued from Page 1 play in the bowl game at Memorial Stadium,” Beckwith said, “The CCCAA gets the majority of the money when we host a bowl game … it’s not about making money, it’s about hosting it and being the school that everyone wants to be at.”

Back in 2010, though, BC’s athletic department offered Mt. SAC $20,000, half of which would come from Clifford and Bradford, if they would come to Memorial Stadium to play the game instead.

Then-athletic director Jan Stuebbe stated financial reasons for

the offer.

“If we have that game up here, we’re going to get a big crowd. I know in that particular game, we get 60 percent of the profits, and the last time we played Mt. SAC in the playoffs we had 12,000 people here,” Stuebbe said in an article in the Dec. 1, 2010 issue of the Renegade Rip. “We estimated having 10,000 people here and that would make us $100,000 and we would get $60,000, so I said I would offer them $10,000 to come up here.”

Right now, a team must finish at .500 or better to be eligible for a bowl. BC’s team finished 4-6.

News Briefs Electronic recycling

Bakersfield College & Alianza Recycling is holding a Free Electronic Waste Recycling Event for all Kern County residents and businesses on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will be accepting all televisions (with no restrictions on size or quantity), monitors, computers and all other electronic devices. They won’t accept florescent bulbs, alkaline batteries or large appliances. They will accept all car, golfcart, and rechargeable batteries. For more information contact Neil Agness at 369-9861 or nlagness@yahoo.com.

BC choir

GREGORY D. COOK / THE RIP

As part of a tobacco awareness presentation, students were invited to make a guess of how many cigarette butts were in this jar. is a bill that will allow for colleges and universities to enforce their smoking policies by citing for violations of the current policy,” said Kenner. “We (B-COUGH) would like to present this to the Academic Senate along with the massive numbers of votes that come in to complete the package for next year, which is a Revised Smoking Policy as well as a way to enforce the policy.”

PTK: New group at BC gives to veterans, offers accessible students scholarships Continued from Page 1 community projects. Wallace said, “We can do any suggestion. We can do a food drive, or if we wanted to, go out to a homeless shelter and feed people. It can be anything that helps the community.

“We listen to everything and choose what we do. It’s about helping the community.”

Carol Stiles, a member of PTK since its start here at BC, was invited to the society by e-mail and after researching the group and finding it valuable and hoping she would get some leadership experience.

She said, “I’m really excited to do anything they are doing. It gives you

BANKS: Spraying pesticides on campus frowned upon by some faculty at BC Continued from Page 1 attitude/comment that ‘It’s OK when it dries.’” He goes on to say that anyone in the Chemistry Department will agree that the chemicals used within pesticides are not safe for people who may be sensitive to the toxins within the pesticides.

“This is an issue regardless of who is doing the spraying,” Vaughan said. “[The pesticides are] considered by and large non-toxic, they’re not horrible to people, but you’ll find that people are sensitive to the chemicals,” he said.

Although the chemicals are not said to be really dangerous to humans, Vaughan said he won’t be touching anything that’s been sprayed and he worries for students who come in to the hallways and sit down to relax before or after class.

“Woe be it for those students who sit in the hallways,” wrote Vaughan.

“It’s a necessary evil. If we don’t take care of the bugs, we’ll be overrun.”

–Lindsay Ono, BC agriculture professor

Not all of the BC staff feels the same though.

“It’s a necessary evil. If we don’t take care of the bugs, we’ll be overrun,” said professor of agriculture Lindsay Ono. He said there are “all sort of critters around.”

Bill Kelly, professor of agriculture, thinks the old buildings need to be sprayed, but thinks it should be done after summer school, but before the fall semester starts so there’s the least amount of people on campus as possible.

Kelly also said he’s concerned about the endangered kit foxes that live on campus and said we

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

also have a raccoon and opossum along with stray cats and dogs that hang out around the horticulture lab.

Kelly asked, “If the kit fox eats a dying mouse, is it going to be OK?” “If the pest control company is careful and uses chemicals that are compatible with farming, I think it’ll be OK,” he said.

Horticultural technician Sally Sterns agrees that we have an issue with pests.

“We’ve got cockroaches, we’ve got mice, we’ve got rats,” she said.

Much like the other professors in the Agriculture Department, Stearns doesn’t feel the pest control is a huge deal. “I don’t know.

I wouldn’t have a problem with it,” she said.

Frank Daigle, an employee of Banks, said they use the “least toxic” pesticides and said, “We won’t be treating areas with animals or horticulture.”

a feeling of accomplishment to be involved in something like this.”

Stiles thinks that the scholarships assistance provided by PTK will help her in her education. She said, “ I think it’s going to be very helpful when it comes to transferring to the university level. It’s really easy. You can create a profile, [and see] what you’re looking for in a school, what sort of scholarships match up with you.”

Wallace said that the group is planning many events for the future, especially after the group gets training from other PTK groups. She is planning to have the group do more community service like the Wounded Warriors Project.

Bakersfield College’s choirs will hold their Annual Holiday Celebration on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Truxtun Avenue and F Street. General admission is $10 or $5 for students, staff, active military and seniors, and can be bought at the door.

Holiday plants

Bakersfield College Agriculture is selling holiday poinsettias, wreaths, and topiaries this month.

Check http://bakersfieldcollegeagricultureweebly.com for photos, descriptions and ordering information.

Play

“A Rosie Christmas” will be playing at Stars Dinner Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. Show-only tickets are $35; matinee $45 to $50. Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday through Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Call 325-6100 for more info.

Haggard

Merle Haggard with special guest will be at the Fox Theater on Dec. 10. Tickets are $40.50 to $60.50. Contact the Fox Theater for more information.

Workshops

Free CAS workshops are being held in SS151. On Weds. Nov. 30, the workshop “Effective Notetaking” will be 1-2 p.m., “Appalling Apostrophes” at 2-3 p.m., and “Rescuing Research” at 3-4 p.m.

On Thurs., Dec. 1, the workshop “MLA Made Easy” will be held at 2-3 p.m. and “Commas II” at 3-4 p.m.

The Renegade Rip Bakersfield College

w w w.t h e r i p.com

Vol. 84 ∙ No. 1

Wednesday Februar y 1, 2012

Smoking takes center stage

Issues of the past

By Zak S. Cowan Editor in Chief

A poll to help decide the fate of on-campus smoking will be taking place in the coming weeks, and the Student Government Association is working to get the word out to achieve maximum participation.

The polling, which will include students, faculty and administrators, was planned for the first week of school, but Derrick Kenner because of contractual issues between SGA and their online voting host, Votenet, the poll will happen at a later, unknown date.

“We’re in the process of renewing the contract, and once that contract is renewed then we’ll be able to move forward with the vote,” said Derrick Kenner, SGA’s general counsel, who has been at the forefront of their smoking agenda while working with BCOUGH, an ad hoc committee created by California Youth Advocacy Network.

“The goal for BCOUGH is to provide advocacy for students, administrators, staff and faculty, as well as the development [of] a policy that suites the campus as far as tobacco use is concerned,” Kenner said.

The poll, according to Kenner, will provide accurate information about what the complete body of Bakersfield College wants for a policy regarding on-campus to-

bacco use.

Students will choose from three different policies: a 100 percent tobacco free campus, designated smoking areas or leaving the policy as it stands now which allows tobacco use as long as it is 20 feet away from building entrances.

The three policies were chosen from an original survey conducted during the fall that included seven total policies.

This won’t be the first time BC students have been surveyed on the issue of on-campus tobacco use; it’s happened four times, in fact, between 2004-09, the latter of which led to a designated-area policy.

After the polling is finished, SGA will look to president Greg Chamberlain to put the policy in place.

Chamberlain said that the SGA and the participants of the poll will be able to count on him to enact whatever policy gets the most support.

“I will support the wishes of the students,” Chamberlain said.

“I, personally, am in support of limiting smoking, because second-hand smoking is a real issue. A lot of people are walking around campus smoking and it can be very uncomfortable for people, especially for those with allergies.”

Enforcement of a policy has been a concern ever since tobacco use became an issue back Please see SMOKING, Page 4

The Rip conducted a poll of 250 participants on campus, 242 of which are current Bakersfield College students. The poll participants chose between three different policies directly from the poll that SGA will conduct in the coming weeks, which are: Policy A: 100 percent smokefree campus.

Policy B: Keeping with the state law.

Policy C: Designatedsmoking areas.

140 S 120 t u 100 d e 80 n t 60 s

40

20 0

Policy A (26.8 %)

Policy B (20.8 %)

Policy C (52.4 %)

By Zak S. Cowan Editor in Chief On-campus smoking is one of the most talked about issues at Bakersfield College, and has been for some time now, for probably longer than most students realize.

The Student Government Association’s current smoking agenda, which will eventually lead to a poll deciding the ultimate policy, has been going on since the spring semester of 2004.

But back in 1988, INSIDE there was a similar, SGA’s plans for the but fairly different semester and beyond. battle going on at BC regarding tobacco use.

Page: 5 Until Jan. 1, 1988, smoking was allowed inside buildings on the BC campus, until SGA helped enact a new policy effectively ending indoor smoking.

And so started the conflict.

The only building on campus that allowed smoking was the teachers’ lounge, and student smokers used it to their advantage, but this led to a confrontation with the teachers that used the lounge, and the students going there to smoke.

Lisa Martinez, who was the self-proclaimed leader of the “crusade to establish an indoor smoking area,” was at the forefront in many of the issues, including the September 1988 clash over the teachers’ lounge.

“This is the teachers’ lounge, and they want their place just like anyone else,” Martinez said in a Sept.

12, 1988 issue of the Renegade Rip. “All we’re asking for is a little place to eat and smoke our cigarettes.

We don’t want to cause trouble or infringe on the teachers.”

Please see 1988, Page 4

Bus stop timetable pushed back

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter The GET bus stop construction on Panorama was not completed over the winter break as planned, and students and faculty are now wondering why the construction seems to never end.

Scheduled to be finished last November by the GET construction crews, the project has run into a number of construction delays, and is tentatively expected to be completed sometime this spring semester, but no firm date has been set.

Several issues were involved in getting

the new bus stop, such was the college needing to negotiate the terms of an easement, the strip of college land the city is allowed to use for the bus stop. Also, there was a need the preserve the trees on campus.

“We do our best to protect the trees during any construction project. As we knew the trees were in the area where the GET bus stop would be, part of our agreement with GET was that they would not damage any of our trees during the construction process,” said Paula Bray, manager in Maintenance and Operations.

The new bus stop is more conveniently Please see BUS STOP, Page 4

Inside

Over the winter break, Maintenance and Operations oversaw a number of construction projects across the campus. They are: % In response to a number of air quality complaints in the Admissions and Records building, an industrial hygienist was called in to perform air and sample testing and a high level of particulates was found. To correct this issue, all of the ductwork in the building was cleaned and the carpet and vinyl was replaced. % In FACE room 13, the home of Disabled Student Programs and Services, there was a carpet that pulled up from the floor and became a tripping hazard. It was replaced, and the asbestos under it was removed. The asbestos was non-friable. % In the Auto Technology Upper Lab it was discovered that a water leak ruining the floor tiles was coming from a drain that was plugged during the renovation. The drain was fixed and the flooring

Page 3: Local studio provides outlet for budding musicians.

Page 5

replaced. % After an annual required inspection by the government, several fire alarms strobes and horns were found to be not functioning.

They were replaced. % The Emergency Access Phones, also known as the “Blue Phones,” were removed. Public Safety noticed that they were not being used at all for their intended purpose and instead pranksters were activating them. % The Forums are undergoing continuing renovation with seats, tables, and lights replaced. % The SAM building renovation project has been delayed, as the vendors’ bids were roughly $2 million over budget on the current plans last December. This means the plans will be redone and “value engineered” in the hopes of new bids being under budget.

Fee hike to take place for summer semester

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter

Major changes to the ‘W’ grade could affect your class schedule.

NATHAN WILSON / THE RIP

Page 10

Women’s basketball moves into first place in the Western State Conference.

Beginning in the summer session, fees at all California community colleges will change from $36 per unit to $46 per unit.

This change was mandated by the 2011 Budget Act and was set off by California budget shortfalls that set off “triggers” in the budget approved in December and based on just how much money was missing from the budget this year. This lack of money set off the worse-case scenario triggers, known as the “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” triggers,

and all have been enacted except District chancellor, she stated, for K-12 revenue limit cuts.

“KCCD remains on track with For the 17,034 students at BC, its financial plan, which includes these cuts to exercising rethe state’s edustraint. Our cation budget “Register early and carefully. p r i o r i t i e s will have little to Take only what you need to continue effect other be to educate than the statestudents and grow and go.” mandated fee retain our –Greg Chamberlain, increase as e m p l oy e e s .

BC president KCCD has Together we already set its will protect own budget to account for the our mission to provide outstandworse-case scenario that has oc- ing educational programs and curred. services to our diverse students In an email from Sandra Ser- and communities.” rano, Kern Community College That being said, we have 13%

fewer students than we had last year, about 2,615 people as of Jan. 19.

The fee increase was supposed to go into effect retroactively beginning in the Spring semester, but timely action by the state legislature deferred the fee increase until Summer semester.

“There was no one that thought this would not happen,” said Amber Chiang, director of marketing and public relations for BC. “We needed to budget appropriately and we did that. Everything that has happened was planned for last May.” Please see BUDGET, Page 4

NEWS

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Budget delays new site

By Meisha McMurray Reporter The Kern Community College District’s plan to build a new campus center at Bear Mountain Boulevard and Highway 99 won’t be taking place any time soon because of budget constraints.

In the past seven months, the district considered building a site in Arvin but decided against it after a consultant’s recommendation in January 2012 favored the Bear Mountain/99 plan.

But according to Amber Chiang, director of marketing and public relations for Bakersfield College, the construction is

on hold.

“So at this point there are no plans for the center to be built on Bear Mountain and Highway 99,” said Chiang. “In the near future, we will still offer classes at Arvin High School. However, with California’s budget being the way it is, enrollments are declining because they had to cut classes, and in order to build there must be a lot of things in place before you start building.

So I have no idea when a center will be built. It’s all in a crystal ball right now.”

KCCD, through a donation and purchase agreement back in 2007, got 126 acres of land in the corner of Bear Mountain

and Highway 99 in south Bakersfield. The city of Arvin said it would donate 25 acres to build there instead.

The Bear Mountain site was chosen because, according to Chiang, two highways converged on the area, making it easier for residents of Lamont, Arvin, Gorman and Frazier Park to attend classes at that site.

Also, population growth figures suggested more people would be served from the Bear Mountain site. Chiang said Arvin’s proximity would make it harder for people from other areas to get there.

Last semester, BC arranged with Kern Regional Transit,

which is a regional bus system that goes to Frazier Park and Tehachapi, to change their route to go to and from BC to Lamont and Arvin. The last bus leaving to Lamont and Arvin from BC is at 10 p.m.

KCCD also purchased land in northwest Bakersfield five years ago, and the land is in the same predicament as the Bear Mountain land. KCCD planned, when the money comes, they will be ready to build. But as of right now nothing will be happening in the northwest anytime soon.

“We are creating a triangle of service so people in the middle can get to any campus that they choose,” said Chiang.

Bookstore starts online services

By Angie DelGado Reporter

The Bakersfield College Bookstore has started their new online service to better serve students with their textbook and school supply needs.

Brian Griffin, the store manager, clarified that their online service is not meant to take over the bookstore, however it is more like an outlet for students to avoid crowds and purchase their school items online.

Griffin explained that the bookstore has tried to promote online buying for the fact that the campus does not accommodate all of the students.

They have tried to promote online buying by offering promotions on online orders. The bookstore also has items suggested by professors available for students like goggles, printer ink, and Scantrons. A lot of the time there are discounts offered online that are not available at the bookstore.

BUS STOP: Site will provide new bathroom

Continued from Page 1 located on Panorama where the campus slopes less and disabled students will have an easier time using it, and parking students can avoid crossing the bus path.

Maintenance issues were also a reason to move the bus stop.

“The roadway that goes from Panorama to Mt. Vernon is travelled daily by very large, very heavy buses. During the Bakersfield summers, the asphalt gets very hot and somewhat malleable. It makes it seem like the buses drive on taffy. We fix pot holes in the roadway a couple of times each year.

Once the bus stop is moved, we plan to resurface the roadway and we expect that we will have lower maintenance costs from then on,” said Bray.

The new bus stop will also feature a restroom that will be open during the hours the GET buses run.

“Currently, during school hours, classroom buildings are open and restrooms are accessible. During non-school hours and breaks, these buildings are not open and so there are no restroom facilities available for either the drivers nor the passengers,” said Bray.

The construction is being entirely funded by GET, and didn’t cost Bakersfield College any funds, and the maintenance and cleaning of the new bathrooms will also be funded by GET.

Some BC students feel that buying the books at the bookstore is better.

“You don’t know what you’re getting,” said Kimberly Rain about online purchases. “They can be written in.”

“I’d rather buy at the bookstore because I don’t like to use my card online, and I was also in a rush and needed to get my homework finished,” said Justin Brimage.

Griffin explained that because the bookstore is a branch of Barnes & Noble, this means they also offer e-textbooks, which is a download of the physical textbook right onto your Mac, PC, or NOOK. However, some students have been told that some books are BC versions only and are not available for the NOOK. “I haven’t checked, but I was told that some are not available, because they are made especially for BC,” said Brimage.

Even though online service is important, the bookstore will only be getting better.

Former Bakersfield College President William “Bill” Andrews, 65, passed away Jan. 20, succumbing to his short battle with cancer.

Andrews served as president of Porterville College for five years beBill Andrews fore becoming BC’s president from 2005 until his retirement in 2008.

Glen Fields, BC gym manager, remembered Andrews as an accessible and effective president.

“He was just a great guy, and he had a great open-door poli-

MEGAN LUECKE / THE RIP

The Bakersfield College bookstore is now offering online services for buying, selling and renting books.

“If anything, we are trying to expand the bookstore,” said Griffin.

The bookstore staff has actually been waiting to remodel the student bookstore to hopefully make it less claustrophobic and more open with more school spirit. They are hoping to set up the cash registers up

against the wall, a lot like what the Barnes & Noble stores look like.

When asked if he thinks that there will always be a BC Bookstore Griffin said, “There will always be a need for a bookstore, because people want to have that physical book on hand.”

cy. He would just walk around campus and talk with people,” said Fields. “And coming from Porterville College, he already knew how the system worked and could get things done.”

Although Andrews was only president of BC for three years, he accomplished many lasting things.

He guided BC through the extensive self-study and evaluation phases of the accreditation process for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

He worked with Cal State Bakersfield to implement transfer education programs and helped to increase student access to employment programs. Also during Andrews’ reign, the Delano Campus opened its Science and Technology Building.

Andrews was born in 1946, in Marshalltown, Iowa, and was raised on his family’s farm near Melbourne.

He graduated from high school and Marshalltown Community College before beginning study at the University of Northern Iowa, where in addition to receiving two master’s degrees he met and married his wife of 44 years, Jean, in 1968.

In 1973, she gave birth to twin daughters, Allyson and Amy. After earning a Ph.D. in educational management from the University of New Mexico, Andrews worked in college administration in Iowa, Minnesota and Texas before coming to California.

After retiring in 2008, he and Jean moved back to the family farm near Melbourne, Iowa.

BUDGET: New budget funds come in on time Continued from Page 1 In each of the last three years, the state’s budget for community colleges has been reduced each time, and the school used carry-over money from last year to cover various shortfalls in the budget, and there is some concern that further cuts will mean the cap on students the college is expected to serve might be lowered.

“Maybe two years before we bottom out,” Chiang added.

Small tax fee shortfalls and more enrollment fee shortfalls have also happened. For example, more students are using a Board of Governors waiver (BOG) to be excused from paying per unit enrollment fees, and the state does not reimburse the college for those lost fees.

Considering that funds are often allocated to specific projects by the state, little wiggle room exists in the budget. For

SMOKING: Bill allows enforcement Continued from Page 1 in 2004, but now, Kenner says, there is a resolution.

AB 795, which passed back in August but didn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, grants California community colleges, CSUs and UCs the ability to enforce their own smoking policy with fines of up to $100 without a limit on the amount of citations.

The new law lays out a plan for the citing process, down to the last dollar.

The bill states that money from the fines will, “be allocated to include, but not limited to, the designated enforcement agency, education and promotion of the policy, and tobacco cessation treatment options.”

Kenner thinks that AB 795 will deter any lack of enforcement that has plagued previous attempts to get a policy set in place.

“That bill is the solution to enforcement at schools … [that] have problems and issues with students violating policy,” Kenner said. “Because right now, it’s just a violation of student code of conduct.”

BC’s student code of conduct currently lays out a four-step process that eventually can lead to suspension or expulsion.

Kenner said that “hitting their wallets” will prevent second offenders more so than the student code of conduct, which, in line

17 of the prohibited conduct clause, classifies “Smoking and/ or the use of tobacco products inside all campus buildings and unauthorized campus areas” as an offense than can ultimately lead to suspension or expulsion.

The repeat offender must violate the code of conduct a minimum of five times before such actions are considered.

President Chamberlain agrees that AB 795 is vital to the enforcement and enactment of such a policy.

“I think [AB 795] is really important,” Chamberlain said. “Because if you don’t have the ability to enforce regulation, then it’s really difficult to make sure it really happens. If the decision and belief is to limit smoking then we need to limit smoking; we need to be able to enforce that.”

Kenner is taking it upon himself to get the word out on the poll by gathering members of SGA and BCOUGH to go to classrooms and tell students face-to-face and distributing bookmarkers that provide the URL to the polling site.

“Hopefully we’ll get a massive turnout so we can really see what the problem is and have a solution for that problem,” Kenner said. “I was a senator last year. In my constituency reports, [on-campus smoking] was pretty much one of the main complaints on campus among students.”

1988: The year the issue started

Former president passes

By Gregory D. Cook Photographer

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

example, the funds for the renovation of BC’s Forum could be given back to the state, but that money would only end up allocated to another theater project at another community college.

To address some of these issues, California Governor Jerry Brown is planning to propose additional taxes on the November ballot in an effort to bring another $7 billion to the state, but if voters do not pass those taxes then additional cuts may be in the future.

There is also proposal to not defer $218 million in community college funding from the usual $1 billion in deferred funding, but this only gets money to the school earlier and does not actually increase our yearly budget at all.

“We are going to issue trigger cuts, and a little more,” said Greg Chamberlain, president of BC. “We used some carry-over

money last year to balance last year’s budget. If our budget is cut more, we’ll have to use carry-over.”

Many of the cuts have been to adjunct professors who teach without benefits or a full schedule and don’t have tenure. These cuts have led to 113 fewer sections from last year, leaving a total of 1608 sections of classes.

Chamberlain is also concerned about the other effects the state-wide budget cuts will have on students.

“We look at students realistically… many of our students avail themselves of other social programs, and these cuts make it hard for them to come to school,” he said.

Chamberlain had this to say to students: “Register early and carefully. Take only what you need to grow and go.”

Continued from Page 1 The conflict led to the establishment of a designated room for student smokers in the fall of 1988.

The room was located in the cafeteria, in an area closed away from the rest of the students.

“This was probably the best compromise we could come up with,” then-dean of instruction Charles Carlson said in an Oct. 17, 1988 issue of the Rip. “ That one room can hopefully be isolated so the smoke won’t bother other people.”

But the self-proclaimed leader of the “student smokers’ cru-

sade” wasn’t satisfied.

“Once all the smokers are aware there’s a smoking area, will it prove to be too small, and if so, will the ASB be helpful in finding another, larger place to accommodate us?” Martinez said. “If not, we’ll have to go through the whole fight all over again.”

Eventually, the room was disbanded, and the complete ban on campus that was intended in the first place was enforced.

It wasn’t until seven years later, on Jan. 1, 1995 that smoking became prohibited in all enclosed workplaces in California.

CAMPUS

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Februar y 15, 2012

VP of student services has high hopes for progress

By Breanna Fields Reporter Bakersfield College welcomes the return of William Cordero as the temporary vice president of student services for the remainder of this semester.

Cordero is well-versed on handling matters involving academic affairs and student services, having spent the majority of his career at Santa Barbara City College as director, dean and associate vice president as well as vice chancellor of student services in the chancellor’s office in Sacramento.

He has held a number of positions throughout the years in the student services department and financial aid at SBCC and Allan Hancock College.

Cordero is returning as the vice president of student ser-

vices, having held the position at BC in 2004-05.

Cordero had initially retired from his career in student services to manage a real estate company. Not long after he had begun applying his skills in that field, the company was sold.

During that time he traveled, belonged to a country club, played golf and sailed.

“It was nice being retired, but you don’t get the feeling that you’re contributing,” said Cordero. “Very few people can say that every day they were paid to go to work and to help other people improve their life.”

Upon this realization, he submitted his name to a group that takes retirees and offers their services to colleges when they have a vacancy.

Cordero has held the philosophy for many years that with

every job he takes on, he must leave it having made an improvement and impacted the lives of students. This is the kind of work ethic that he intends to apply during his time at BC. In an effort to keep student services moving forward, Cordero explained that there are a number of things that must be done.

“We need to help students get more counseling appointments so they can stay on target.”

He would like students to be aware of BC’s early-alert system in an order to decrease the number of students who are on probation. He commented that students should also be aware of the changing financial aid regulations that will have an impact on the amount of Pell Grant eligibility one can receive over the course of their life.

“The challenge during this

time is that we have declining resources and student need is actually increasing,” Cordero said.

He explained that the other issues we face are that there are fewer classes available, and they are much more difficult to get into.

Cordero assured students that he will work to see that all of the things he has the capacity to correct are corrected.

“I believe in what we’re doing.

I believe in the community college mission,” said Cordero. “I want BC to be better because of my presence. That is the goal.”

Cordero will be leaving BC on June 30 and explained that although the new vice president has not been chosen at this time, the college will go through the normal hiring process and should have someone to fill the position

by July 1, 2012.

ANGIE DELGADO / THE RIP

Bill Cordero takes a seat in his office on Feb. 7 in the Student Services building. Cordero claims that he loves his job as well as doing the best he can to help students.

Gallery displays talent

By Jon Nelson Features Editor

OMAR OSEGUERA / THE RIP

Local high school juniors and seniors have their art displayed on Feb. 13 inside The Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery in the Grace Van Dyke Bird Library.

The Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery is hosting an exhibit of artwork by local junior and senior high school students.

The show, called “The Panorama Invitational,” features works of art from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Traditional painting, drawing and photography, as well as metal-working and sculpture, are all represented.

“The individual teachers are allowed to submit up to five works of art. The teachers decide what work gets into the exhibit,” said Margaret Nowling, curator of the Jones Gallery, regarding the criteria for being in the show.

One notable piece is “Untitled”

by Mosiah Rasmussen. Rasmus-

sen used graphite and color pencils to create life-like portraits on planks of ordinary wood.

Another outstanding work is a “The Mayan Calendar” by Alejandro Marquez, which is a Mayan calendar created entirely out of copper panels.

At the entrance to the exhibit is a piece by Aaron Ughoc called “Esqueleto.” The student used wire to create a small sculpture of a man playing the guitar.

“They have a lot of talent,” said Bakersfield College student Magali Vidal about the exhibit.

“Every year the exhibit seems of a higher caliber than the last,” said Nowling. “I enjoy seeing what the high school students are up to and what projects the high school art teachers assign their students.”

Nowling explained that the goal of the annual event is to give exposure to artists that might not otherwise be highlighted.

“The Panorama Invitational is an opportunity to showcase the work of area high school artists. This exhibit is the first time many of them see their work in a professional setting. Since their work is being shown with their peers’ they see the importance of doing a good job. Also, it is an opportunity for the students and their teachers to see what type of art work is being done at other schools.”

The Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery is located just inside the entrance to the Grace Van Dyke Bird Library.

The Panorama Invitational runs Feb. 1-22.

Car thefts Skater’s death inspires short film prevalent in BC lots

By Megan Luecke Photographer

By Jon Nelson Features Editor The Bakersfield Police Department arrested three suspects Feb. 8 in connection with the wave of Honda thefts on the Bakersfield College main campus.

The first arrest happened after a Public Safety officer spotted a suspect looking under the hood of a tan Honda in the BC parking lot.

The man attempted to escape, but the officer was able to detain him until police arrived and arrested him on multiple felonies, including being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and possessing stolen property.

The second round of arrests came after a student called 911 to report two suspicious people roaming the parking lot looking at Hondas. The second and third suspects were also arrested on multiple felonies after running from police in a stolen Honda Accord and running up onto a nearby lawn.

The arrests were possible because of cooperation between BC Public Safety and the Bakersfield Police Department.

“BC Public Safety officers and BC leadership are committed to keeping our campus safe and will continue to do so with the full cooperation of the Bakersfield Police Department,” said a recent e-mail sent out by the Kern Community College District.

The wave of car thefts started last spring with three cars being stolen in one day.

This prompted administration to send out a warning e-mail last April to keep students informed on the thefts.

BC students are advised to keep valuables out of sight in their cars, and call 395-4554 or 911 to report unusual activity.

Bakersfield College, in celebration of Black History Month, has planned activities for students on the campus each week featuring different events. As part of the events, the filmmakers of “On the Grind” were on campus to share their movie with the students.

The film is about the skating scene in Long Beach and how it was affected after a well-known skater was killed in a gang shooting. More of a documentary, the film follows the lives of different skateboarders and shows what skating means to them.

James Cheeks III, director and producer, grew up in Memphis, Tenn. and Tulsa, Okla. He decided that he wanted to move to California to pursue his dream of working in the movies. Cheeks has his undergraduate degree in communications, his minor in film and media studies and his master’s in film and television production from the University of Southern California.

Kevin Campbell, photographer, studied at William Rainey Harper Community College and then transferred to Messiah

College where he studied English and pre-law. He was studying in the Master of Professional Writing program at USC when everything started.

Cheeks and Campbell were introduced by a mutual acquaintance at a party in the Hollywood Hills, on July 4, 2005. From there, things continued for the two men.

Campbell had no intentions of becoming involved in film at that point, but that slowly changed when he started holding light meters and boom poles in Cheeks’ student film projects. He later went on to become more involved in the project, leaving behind the light meters and boom poles and picking up a camera. His dedication changed from an extra hand to photographer.

The idea for the project came about after the death of a local skateboarder, Michael K. Green, who was killed on April 9, 2005. Cheeks had taken a special interest in the killing and the skateboarding scene. Cheeks eventually swore Campbell to secrecy in 2006 after he pitched the idea for his movie to his thesis class at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

Cheeks showed Campbell exactly what had happened and where the inspiration came from through news clippings and

Poll decides fate of BC tobacco policy

By Zak S. Cowan Editor in Chief The poll to decide the fate of Bakersfield College’s policy toward on-campus tobacco use will be on the ballot when students vote for their new Student Government Association officers for the 2012-13 school year.

According to SGA general counsel Derrick Kenner, who has been the driving force on the issue, the decision to put the poll on the ballot, instead of conducting both separately, was made because it will “get the bulk of students” to participate.

The elections will be con-

ducted online for the secondconsecutive year on March 20-21, except this time, SGA will have voting booths set up in the campus center.

The voting booths will be streamlined to the voting site, and students will be notified of the smoking poll as they arrive.

The poll will consist of three policies, which are 100-percent smoke-free campus, designated-smoking areas, and keeping with the state law. The state law prohibits tobacco use within 20 feet of a public building’s entrance.

Look for more on the SGA elections in the Rip as they draw closer.

Myspace. It started to really take shape in 2006 when they were able to meet the family of Green.

Campbell and Cheeks attended a memorial for Green in October 2006. There, they filmed and photographed their surroundings. They were later invited to share their work with Green’s mother who was unable to make it to the memorial. She loved their work and gave them her blessing to tell her son’s story. From there, the project started to really take shape.

The filming of the project started in 2006 and continued until 2012. The 30-minute piece that was shown to BC students was filmed from 2006 to 2009 in Long Beach. The feature length film will feature footage shot throughout the six years. They put themselves into the lives of these skaters and turned it into a work of art.

“The closely knit Long Beach skate community propelled us and gives us the heart to go on and keep going,” said Campbell. “It’s been an interesting journey filled with sacrifice and prayer.”

The short film has gone on to win several awards such as the Roxbury International Film Festival of 2011 best short

Planned events for Black History Month:

February 16 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.- Men Ain’t Boys facilitated by Ishmael Kimbrough in FA 30.

February 24 at 6 p.m. BC’s Got Talent, Talent show in FA 30. - Must sign up by February 22 in student activities Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.- Lunch and book discussion on Don’t Call me a Racist facilitated by Jennifer Jett and Ishmael Kimbrough in the Fireside Room.

documentary. Not only is it an awardwinning piece, but a truly educational piece as well.

Page 5

SGA: Peterson vows to put students’ best interest first to raise it. We’ll fight that for Continued from Page 1 and has lived most of his life sure,” he said.

The office of president was in Bakersfield. He attended Bakersfield High School, and the only SGA office in the elecworked in the community in tion that was contested, with retail management and the Peterson beating out Richard trucking industry before the Heath and Jose Gurrola. The economic downturn saw him candidates for the other offices laid off, and he returned to BC. ran unopposed. Genise Wallace “Originally, I was just go- is the new vice-president and ing to come back for a semes- Toccara Bird is the new secreter just to keep busy, keep my tary. Ivan Mendez will be the mind active while I looked for new activities liaison and Nick work,” he said. “But there just Acosta will be the new general wasn’t anything out there, so counsel. Richard Heath, in addition to coming in second in here I am.”

Peterson’s interest in becom- the presidential campaign, was ing SGA president began with elected treasurer as a write-in him inquiring about becoming candidate.

This year, 953 people took a senator.

“I wanted to be a voice for part in the voting, a slightly higher numthe students,” ************ ber than he said. “And President: Richard Peterson last year’s when I when 941-voter I went in to see about Vice President: Genise Wallace turnout.

“I wish becoming a Secretary: Toccara Byrd they would senator, I dego back to cided to go Treasurer: Richard Heath the physical for it; go for ballots,” said president. I thought may- Activities Liaison: Ivan Mendez Tawntannisha Thompson, be I could do current SGA more for the General Counsel: Nick Acosta president. students as Legislative Liaison: Vacant “We had president.” *********** much bigger Peterson turnouts back realizes he is taking office at a time when then.”

She attributes the overall low the college is facing potentially devastating budget cuts and voter participation to students vows that the SGA will do ev- being unfamiliar with the Inerything within in its power to side BC portal.

“Students just don’t know protect students.

“I understand that most of how to log on, or sometimes these cuts are coming directly you say ‘Inside BC,’ and they from the state, and we just just say, ‘What’s that?’”

The elections also contained don’t have any control with that,” he said. “But there are a feedback poll which allowed little things that we can do to voters to express their opinions of the SGA’s performance. help the students.”

The majority of voters rated Peterson pointed out that programs such as the Renegade the job the SGA is doing as Pantry are vital to students and “average,” and rated the Renpledged the SGA’s continued egade Pantry as the most valusupport of such programs, as able thing the SGA does. When well as opposing a rumored asked what the least valuable activity the SGA sponsors, parking price increase.

“It’s just a rumor at this voters responded resoundingly point, but if it they do want with “homecoming.”

NEWS

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

BC votes no smoking

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter During the Student Government Association elections that happened on March 20-21, there was an extra poll about changing BC’s smoking policy and students chose overwhelmingly for a tobacco-free campus.

“I think it’s a great thing,” said Tawnya Steele, 19, a biology major and a non-smoker who specifically voted so that she could be part of the poll.

“I’m personally not a smoker, and I believe everyone should have freedom and all that, but I don’t like walking across campus and getting a face full smoke.”

Steele has allergies.

“We’ve had a lot of complaints and animosity from smokers and

non-smokers alike,” said SGA general counsel Derrick Kenner.

“The student body has spoken,” he said, later adding, “When you ask me about it, it’s about what the school wants.”

“This is something like a dream that has plagued BC for several years.

“This issue, this plague, needs to die for us to move forward.

“This is a huge step for BC and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Kenner has been heading up the B-COUGH program on campus, an anti-tobacco initiative looking to exploit the passage of Senate Bill AB 795 that took effect this year and allows California campuses to enforce smoking policies by levying citations and fines.

The poll consisted of three

policies.

They were “100-percent Tobacco-free campus” with 442 votes, “designated-smoking areas” with 295, and “No Ban on Smoking” with 156.

A total of 953 students voted in the poll, and the vote was extended for two full days so that faculty would have more time to vote.

Even with these results, several more steps have to occur for any changes to school policy to actually happen.

The actual poll is non-binding, and BC administers are under no obligation to actually change the policy from the current policy which follows state regulations requiring smokers be at least 20 feet away from doorways or hallways while smoking.

BC bookstore embracing change

By Breanna Fields Reporter The Bakersfield College bookstore has embraced the latest social networking trends by providing online updates for products, sales and giveaways via Facebook and Twitter.

A number of changes have been made since Barnes & Noble became the new owners of the BC bookstore. In an effort to reach out to students and offer those on a tight budget affordable snacks and supplies, regular discounts and sales are posted on the BC Bookstore’s official Facebook page.

A sign on the front counter encouraging students to “Like” their Facebook is just one of the many ways that the bookstore is trying to reach students on a personal level and provide their services to a broader range of people on campus.

With over 1,300 “Likes” and counting, the popularity of these deals has increased due to word

of mouth and flyers posted on the bulletin boards in an effort to spread the word.

“We’re much more technology savvy now,” said Alex Aguilar, 24, who has worked as a bookseller even before the store changed ownership.

Aguilar explained that the product sales are designed specifically to appeal to BC students and bring them into the store to see all of the products available.

“We’ll do a flash-sale so the students are aware of what we have to offer,” he said.

One-day-only flash-sales are a regular feature on the Facebook page that allow students to find deals that are posted at random times.

They are eligible to receive these special discounts and buyone-get-one free deals when they mention it to the cashier.

The bookstore has also implemented a nationwide sweepstakes online where students can enter to win $150 for their college bookstore to aid in purchas-

ing books and other supplies.

Aguilar explained that some of the other prizes given away include sweaters, headphones and backpacks.

“It all depends on what we have to offer and what our company sends us to also give out as promotions,” said Aguilar.

After walking into the bookstore to make a purchase, film major Taylor Akins noticed a basket of Energy Sheet samples on the counter.

“I wasn’t sure what they were at first,” said Akins. “I tried a sample and was pretty impressed.”

Energy Sheets are small, flavored sheets that contain caffeine to provide a temporary energy boost.

“I really can’t afford to buy Starbucks every day, so this was a good alternative,” said Akins, who hoped to see the product for sale in the future.

Students can check the website for updates and information on discounts in the store.

JENSEN: Narrowing down to core classes begins Continued from Page 1 on the chopping block. “We are going to narrow our offering.”

“What the chancellor has asked us to do is look at our core mission,” he said. “We’re looking at the breadth.”

Jensen noted that they are not just looking at the core classes that people need to transfer, but trying to see what they can do to reduce waitlists for required classes.

“If we drop programs that aren’t graduating or transferring, then why are we offering those classes as majors?” he said.

“We can no longer be all things to all people,” Jensen later added.

The easy cuts have already been made, in his opinion.

“We’ve already cut all the lowlying fruit,” he said.

Many other schools in California are in a worse position financially with many having to make mid-year cuts.

“Most schools would love to be in our position,” he said.

That being said, he’s not entirely comfortable with a situation where students can’t take classes that sound interesting, and in that process, discover what truly interests them.

“This is the antithesis of everything I was schooled in,” said

Jensen, noting that he was used to a system where coming to college would “expose [students] to everything.”

Still, Jensen thinks the process of pruning classes and programs is necessary considering the alternative is to keep cutting good programs instead.

“If you come in and make cuts every year for five years, none of [the programs] are worth it,” he said.

It would be a “death by a thousand cuts,” in his opinion.

Jensen also spoke about how even cutting administrative costs and everything not related to classes wouldn’t cover the budget shortfall.

“If you don’t touch the classes, even if you get rid of everything, it still won’t do it.”

Jensen also noted that BC spends too much time serving students who take up slots in classes and then eventually drop the classes.

“A lot of students aren’t ready and shouldn’t be students,” he said. “Do you reward them or do you reward students who did what they needed to do?”

“We need to do better with those students,” he said regarding unprepared students.

Jensen spoke of adding requirements to some classes in

order to make sure that students are prepared enough to complete the courses.

“We haven’t raised the bar and that’s an issue.”

Jensen sees education of these students not only as a local issue but a national issue about the future of American education.

“How can the US compete in the global market with an unskilled workforce? It’s a knowledge-based economy.”

Despite the hard choices being made, Jensen remains confident.

“People have been great. It’s a great college.

“Students, staff and facility are very supportive. There is a lot of pride in this college. Their children and grandchildren have gone to BC.” Jensen had this to say to students: “Speak up and tell us what the priorities are. This is critical.

Students are going to be impacted.

“You are the end-user. It’s your college. I hope students are thoughtful and assertive.

“If we are going to make cuts, what should they be?” he said.

He also commented on student government.

“I would really encourage student government to get involved.

There is a time and a place to stand up, and this is it.”

FACULTY: Trying to keep cuts away from students Continued from Page 1 ing center had its funding reduced because of the state’s budget problem.

“Students should be concerned about class size [increasing]. Students should also be concerned about cuts to student services,” said Cornelio Rodriguez, political science professor and Academic Senate president.

Rodriguez then went on to explain that the Academic Senate is doing everything they can to work with the district and help students during this time.

“One thing we are concurrent on is keeping cuts away from students,” said Rodriguez.

At the last Academic Senate

meeting Rodriguez was put in charge of organizing a forum for faculty and administration to come together to share information and opinions. The Academic Senate has already discussed solutions to the district’s money problems. One option being looked at is adjusting BC’s reserve funds.

California requires each community college to keep a reserve fund of at least five percent. BC is currently above the state guidelines at a 10 percent reserve. The idea of dipping into these funds until the current budget crisis is over and the economy stabilizes is popular among professors and hasn’t been met with opposition.

“We’re looking at all options,” said Rodriguez Changes are also being made on the state level. One option California is looking at is raising the academic placement standards. By requiring students to meet higher standards in basic skills tests, colleges could eliminate lower-level required classes and free up money to use for other programs. This would certainly affect faculty at BC. Going along with changes already made to the “W” grade, academic planning and financial aid, raising academic standards would put BC on a course that Rodriguez calls shifting from “access to success.”

SERRANO: District prepared for worst outcome Continued from Page 1 as many students as possible, that we’ll be able to really provide a clear pathway for students to come in and transfer or move into the workforce, and that we really can come together and get this done.”

Burke said that the reserves are a big reason why KCCD can take the time to assess the economic situation. “[The reserves] are going to allow us to go into a twoyear process where we can take some sizeable hits to our revenue,” he said.

“But instead of reacting in a kneejerk way, we can take the time to plan out the changes appropriately and in the most efficient and effective manner and to try to minimize the reactions while at the same time trying to maximize the number of students that we can serve.”

Burke said that a lot of districts in the state are not in the position to take the time to assess the situation, and could make brash decisions.

“They’re going to have to make changes in a very short period of time, and what happens operationally when you have to do that in very quick order is you get a lot of unintended consequences downstream,” he said.

“The leadership of this district, the chancellor, the board, the college presidents and their management, have really done an outstanding job to help build that reserve, recognizing the magnitude of the economic downturn and the length it was going to be.”

Burke is staying attentive with the situation in Sacramento and said that the most recent news is, “that the projected revenues for February didn’t meet expectations.”

Burke said that most recent development affirms the projections of the LAO’s report.

“We expect another update after taxes in April,” he said.

“Then, we’ll have a better idea in terms of revenue to the state, which is why we wait for a May revise to make some final determinations to budget.”

Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, if passed in November

by California voters, will help ease the strain on community colleges, according to Burke.

The initiative will increase the state income tax enforced on those with annual earnings over $250,000 for the next five years, and raise the state sales tax by 5 cents.

Burke said that the reason California’s economic situation has gotten to this point is that lawmakers in Sacramento have deferred dealing with the problem and thrown “gimmicks” at the problem.

“Those things have run out, and that’s why it’s coming to critical mass at this point,” he said.

“There is a structural imbalance in California’s budget that has been perpetuated for longer than a decade where the legislature has had expenditure levels exceeding its revenue levels and has actually incorporated what should have been short-term revenue and treated them as on-going revenues,” he said.

Burke said that most of California’s revenue “used to come from sales tax, which is an ongoing, very predictable stream,” instead of capital gains which is extremely variable.

“It’s flipped now,” he said.

“The bulk of California’s revenues are coming from capital gains, and now you have a revenue stream that has a higher degree of uncertainty because now it’s relying primarily on a stream of revenue that’s very uncertain. It essentially goes the way of Wall Street.”

CAMPUS

Page 9

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

New bus stop opens after years of setbacks to plan

By Hannah Breeland Reporter With one snap of the giant scissors, the new Bakersfield College Transit Center is up and running on Panorama. Even though the plans for this new bus stop have been around for years, many students were taken by surprise by the sudden opening.

Bus drivers warned some students about the day the bus stop had to change but most didn’t know.

“I missed my bus because I went to the old spot. By the time I figured out where the new stop was, I almost missed it again,” said Natalie Sotelo, political science major.

The ribbon cutting ceremony took place April 11. At 10:30

a.m. the stop was officially open.

The number 17 bus was the first of many to arrive at the new stop.

The transit center has eight spots and has a bathroom for drivers and riders.

“It took so long to open because the bathrooms had to be finished before the buses could start using it,” said Paula Bray, maintenance and operations manger.

This new transit center and maintenance of the bathrooms is all funded by GET, not costing BC anything.

In fact, the reason for the move was to cut cost on maintenance, because the buses that were traveling on Panorama to Mt. Vernon were causing potholes and other road damage, not to mention

traffic.

Even though the move will cost students parking spots, over all they feel it was the best decision.

“This is what we wanted. It’s off campus and the bathrooms are available during non-school hours when the buildings are closed and there’s nowhere else to go,” said Lamont Schiers, executive director of administrative services.

Unfortunately, work is still being done since the bathrooms have yet to be opened to students.

One of the two major complaints is that GET gave no warning of the move and bathrooms aren’t open.

One question has yet to be answered, it seems with more buses able to use the transit center,

NATHAN WILSON / THE RIP

Mayor Harvey Hall, center, cuts the ribbon, opening Bakersfield College’s new Golden Empire Transit Center during a ceremony April 11 near Panorama Drive. eight other busses might be using it as well. Details on such won’t be public until the route change in October.

“I really hope it does. That would save me some money since I wouldn’t have to take a bus to the downtown transit cen-

ter any more, just get out of class and hop on the eight and go strait home,” said Steven Ross, business major.

Employers coming to Bakersfield College Kenner tries to solidify results

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter Career Day is coming back to Bakersfield College on April 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Campus Center, Fireside Room and cafeteria.

According to Denise Crawford, job development specialist, there will be many employers looking to fill positions.

“It’s a good sign,” she said. “Employers haven’t been hiring for a while.

Employers don’t come out if they don’t have jobs.”

She recommends that students come to the job fair with a master application filled out and a resume so that they don’t have to search for information to fill out an employer’s application.

Crawford also stressed that students need to dress appropriately.

“There is always someone in pajamas,” she said, noting that students

sometimes don’t feel that they need to dress as well as they would in any other job search situation.

“Dressing and being prepared is key to anyone’s job search,” said Antonio Alfaro, also a job development specialist at BC. Some of the employers who will be at Career Day include Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Big Five, P.F. Chang’s, Clinica Sierra Vista, Innovative Engineering Systems, and many others.

“They are looking for a skill set and specific experience,” said Crawford.

Crawford wants students to know that these employers are looking to fill many jobs and not just the jobs the company might be known for. For example, Bakersfield Memorial is looking to fill more than just nursing jobs.

They also have openings in the tech department, offices, and cafeteria.

She wants students to keep an open

mind and check out what employers have to offer.

“Students who may not know what they want to do can look and see what’s there,” she said.

Most importantly, following up with employers is key to getting a job. Students should get a business card and make sure that they ask whom to contact.

Employers see hundreds of students during the job fair and only those who make an impression and follow-up end up with the jobs.

For those students who are still looking for work, the job placement office is open all year round. They can assist with job hunting and offer computer time and workshops to help job-seekers navigate the challenges of the job market.

“Don’t get discouraged,” said Crawford. “[Employers] are looking for students that stand out.”

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter With the recent vote about smoking on campus showing that a majority of students wanted to ban all smoking on campus, SGA general counsel Derrick Kenner has been spearheading the effort to make the results into actual policy.

“The people have spoken, and that’s what they want,” said Kenner.

Kenner has been heading up the BCOUGH program on campus, an antitobacco initiative looking to exploit the passage of Senate Bill AB 795 that took effect this year that allows California campuses to enforce smoking policies by levying citations and fines.

Roughly speaking, the proposed policy will fine students who smoke on campus, and all fines collected will go to cessation, anti-smoking, and awareness programs.

“It’s going to take some time,” said

Kenner, noting that before finally being submitted to the Board of Trustees, the actual policy still needs to make it through several committees on campus.

Minor wording changes might be requested during these meetings as issues arise.

Bakersfield College’s interim president Robert Jensen also wants a chance to review the policy before it goes to the Board of Trustees.

“I personally think it’s probably a good recommendation. It is important.

Campus health is important,” he said.

That being said, a potential smoking ban hasn’t had high priority considering the other issues facing the school. “It’s not on my radar right now. I have bigger fish to fry,” he said.

“I am hoping that they’d be looking at things a little more eminent. Class sizes, student services, assessments,” he said, listing several more issues related to BC’s current budget situation.

The Renegade Rip Bakersfield College

w w w.t h e r i p.com

Vol. 84 ∙ No. 13

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Six in row carries Renegades into playoffs

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor The Bakersfield College football team beat Pasadena City College on homecoming night 38-17 on Nov. 10 to earn the final spot in the Southern California community college playoffs.

With this win and with Riverside College losing to Mt. SAC, the Renegades were able to clinch the final playoff spot. BC got the No. 3 seed and will play at No. 2 seed Ventura College in the semifinals, while No. 1 seed Mt. SAC squares up against No. 4 seed Saddleback College.

The last time BC played Ventura was earlier this season, and they lost 28-27 in four overtimes.

Since then, BC went on a sixgame winning streak to finish the season. Their playoff matchup will also be the Beach Bowl.

The Renegades finished the regular season 8-2 (5-1, National Northern Conference) and went undefeated at home.

Pasadena tried to stay with BC and opened up its playbook with two fake punts and one fake reverse on a kick return. BC was nursing a slim lead for three quarters until its offense finally started to take control of the game in the fourth quarter.

“I thought we did a nice job of getting win number eight,” said BC coach Jeff Chudy on the win over Pasadena. “It’s not the easiest task to play a team that’s

limping along at 1-8, but I was proud how our guys got it done.

“When you look at our schedule, we’ve played the conference champions from the south and the central, and our guys have done a great job. We got really good chemistry on this team, so I’m proud how we got it done.”

BC and Pasadena both started off the game slow by turning the ball over on their first drives, but the Renegades were able to score first on a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Burrell to receiver Brock Martin.

On Pasadena’s next drive, BC was able to stop them for three downs but the Lancers faked the punt. Punter Justin Posthuma threw a pass to receiver Andrew Medrano for 34 yards and got to BC’s 17-yard line. Pasadena tied the game on their next play with a 17-yard touchdown run from running back Zach Sinclair.

BC responded with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Burrell to receiver Robert Burns. That was Burns’s first touchdown in his two years on the team. After Pasadena tried another fake punt but failed to convert, BC scored again to take control of the game.

Pasadena responded by scoring on its next drive, and BC suffered an even bigger blow after running back Curtis McGregor got injured with less than five minutes left in the first half. BC still managed to take a 24-17 Please see FOOTBALL Page 10

OMAR OSEGUERA / THE RIP

Renegades wide receiver Marquise Johnson runs the ball against Pasadena City College on Nov. 10. BC beat Pasadena 38-17 to earn last playoff spot.

Committee seeks to ban smoking on campus

By Merritt Holloway Reporter

OMAR OSEGUERA / THE RIP

Attendees of the Labor Hall Democratic party celebrate Barack Obama’s re-election victory. The crowd chanted “Si se puede” and “Yes we can” in celebration.

Political parties react to election results: Page 8

MARTIN CHANG / THE RIP

Assemblywomen Shannon Grove, left, and Congressman Kevin McCarthy are shown anxiously watching the local election results with a volunteer.

Inside

Page 5: Centennial celebration kicks off with tree planting.

Page 6

“I think most of the time, smokers feel like it’s a personal choice if they want to do that,” said Gerhold. “I know there has been a lot of public education about second-hand smoke, but I don’t know if I could answer for most people who smoke.

“It seems to me that even if somebody smokes that they could step off campus, or not light up on campus. They could wait until they’re leaving in their car, or go off campus to lunch perhaps.

“If the smoking ban ends up being applied and is enforced, I don’t think that means that smokers can’t come to BC. It just means that they have to modify their behavior when here.”

According to reports, all 10 of the University of California colleges will prohibit cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco on their campuses. UCLA will begin the ban April 22, 2013.

According to the California Government Code Sections 7596-7598, smoking is prohibited inside any building owned, occupied, or leased by the state, county or city including California community colleges. It is also prohibited to smoke within 20 feet of a main exit, entrance, or operable window of a public building, or in a passenger vehicle owned by the state.

More work to be done despite Prop 30 passing

By Patricia Rocha Editor in Chief

Students weigh in on Disney’s plans for future Star Wars sequels

The Bakersfield College Organized and United for Good Health Committee, also known as B-COUGH, is proposing a tobacco-free campus, according to Nick Acosta, Student Government Association general counsel and B-COUGH’s student chair.

On Oct. 30, Acosta unveiled a draft of his BC Healthy Campus Initiative, which outlines B-COUGH’s objectives and commitment “to providing a safe and healthy environment for its employees, students, and visitors.”

In spring 2012, the student body voted on the issue of smoking. The vote was split between three choices, and when they were averaged, 48 percent wanted a 100 percent tobacco free campus, 82 percent wanted some form of change and 19 percent wanted no change.

Acosta believes that we need to have a vote with either yes for a 100 percent tobacco free campus, or vote no for some form of designated smoking areas.

“It’s a health issue,” said Acosta. “That’s part of the problem. It’s not like they’re thinking about other people. They’re just not thinking about it. I don’t

think they’re intentionally being selfish. They don’t think it’s bothering anyone.”

At the Nov. 6 meeting, BCOUGH’s agenda detailed some of the ways it wanted to raise awareness of the health risks associated with smoking and about the vote to take place during the first two weeks of the spring 2012 semester.

Acosta said the vote would be open to current enrolled students and would be hosted on the InsideBC website.

“I don’t just want to advertise for the vote, but advertise quitting smoking,” said Acosta. “Because if we advertise things like this and show you the negative effects of smoking then it will influence people to not want to smoke.”

Some of the ways they plan to raise awareness is to put posters in all of the buildings and around the campus that also have Health Center information.

John Gerhold, department chair for Performing Arts and an Academic Senate member, who is involved closely with the smoking issue, said, “The smoking ban got the highest number, but it wasn’t more than 50 percent of the total. So, I think the feeling among the senators was that we’re probably going to move in that direction.

Page 10

BC alumnus Frank Gifford is awarded Hall of Fame plaque

Now that Proposition 30 has passed and a $5.2 million cut in budget has shrunk down to $1.2 million, Bakersfield College can move forward on planning for the future.

Interim President Nan GomezHeitzeberg discussed the feeling of relief, tempered with the realization that California’s economic problems are not yet over, and there is still a projected $1.2 million left to cut in the BC budget.

“We were preparing for the worst case scenario, $5.2 million,” she said. “For example,

we prepared by restricting some courses, and we know that we’ll be able to un-restrict some of those courses now that Proposition 30 has passed.”

Gomez-Heitzeberg said the school will continue to have a keen eye on what is available.

“Maybe we’re not cutting $5.2 million, but can we continue to offer everything we have now?

I don’t think so,” she said. “It is not realistic to believe that we’re going to be able to offer every course in our catalog and every degree in our catalog given the $1.2 million that we know we have to cut.

“That doesn’t even account for

cost increases in the next seven years, so [I feel a] guarded happiness, realizing we just have to roll up our sleeves and really start working hard now.”

The future of classes depends on many factors, and there is currently a Program Viability Taskforce in place, which determines what programs need to be strengthened, suspended or eliminated.

“This is not a time when we can afford to schedule low-enrolled classes,” she said. “We have a contractual obligation to make sure that all of our current full-time faculty have a full load, which varies on department and

department depending on what they teach.

“If you were a history professor, it would be the equivalent of five, 3-unit classes with an average of 35-40 students.

“That’s our first commitment, to make sure all of our full-time faculty have a teaching load.

Then in terms of what they’re assigned, we want to assign them the courses that are required, or that can serve as many students as we possibly can.”

She added that classes that students need would try to be scheduled in a sequential way so that students aren’t placed at a disadvantage when enrolling.

FEATURES

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Smokeout promotes smoke-free lifestyle

By Merritt Holloway Reporter Bakersfield College’s Mentoring and Peer Services, and the Student Health and Wellness Center will host the 37th annual Great American Smokeout on Nov. 15, said Richard Heath, the Student Government Association treasurer and lead MAPS mentor.

This is Heath’s second year participating in the Smokeout.

“When we did it last year it was pretty successful,” he said.

“We brought out the tombstone and the coffin, and we had people donating cigarettes.”

This year donating your cigarettes may win you a NOOK tablet reader. You can get raffle tickets to win the NOOK by donating your cigarettes, or watching some of the cigarette educational

screenings during the Smokeout.

B-COUGH is also part of the Smokeout according to Nick Acosta, SGA general counsel and B-COUGH’s student chair. B-COUGH is coordinating with MAPS to help organize the event.

“We want to see just how we’re going to reach people and encourage them to stop smoking,” Acosta said.

“I think it’s going to be a great event.

There will also be students filling out pledges to quit smoking.

“We’re going to encourage people to stop smoking in a bunch of different ways as possible, and hopefully we’ll bring awareness to the smoking issue and help them stop smoking.”

Tobacco Free Coalition of Kern County will have events in the Levan Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. discussing various topics including cigarette-butt littering, second-hand smoke and other

tobacco control issues affecting Kern County residents.

Heath said Kern County Mental Health and the Student Health and Wellness Center will conduct depression screenings in the three tents that will be on the grassy area in front of the library.

He is encouraging students to take advantage of it.

Tawntannisha Thompson, BC’s liaison to the dean of students and coordinator for MAPS and BC Be Fit, said that November is fight depression month.

She said that last month the students were given suicide literature and some had an initial screening, and that this is just a follow up to that.

“Everything’s going to be under the tent,” Thompson said.

“There will be popcorn and cotton candy.”

BC Be Fit will be in one of the tents

having a Zumba dance session to get people’s hearts pumping.

Thompson wouldn’t let on about the surprises and other things happening in the tents.

“They have to show up to find out what’s going on under the tent,” said Thompson. The coffin, the raffle, the screenings, “It’s all taking place under the tent.”

Heath said that every time MAPS set up the tables on the campus they see between 200 to 300 students. Usually two or three students take his advice.

“But you know, if we save one student then it’s worth it,” said Heath.

“We’re students just like you. We understand some of the things out there.”

He explained that MAPS personnel are trained to detect student behaviors that may seem slightly abnormal, depressed, or just need someone to talk to.

Heath said some students, in addition to school stressors, might have family, financial or other issues that can bring on anxiety or depression.

“We’re not counselors so we really can’t diagnose or anything like that,” said Heath.

“Our main thing is to be a friend more than anything and help them deal with it, and try to get them to come to the Health and Wellness Center or call the hotline.

“We’re just trying to get them help because we’re less intimidating to talk to than someone in a suit.

“We can give them that information and point them in the right direction.”

For further information visit the Activities office room CC4.

BC Be Fit meets on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room.

Space game takes flight

PROVIDED BY ROBERTS’ SPACE INDUSTRIES

A teaser screenshot of the game “Star Citizen” released by Roberts’ Space Industries.

By Robin Shin Photographer

Top: One of Erwin Ledford’s cartoons, “Detective Erwin.” The cartoon shows a comical approach to his personal life experiences.

Left: The title illustration for one of Erwin Ledford’s comic strips, “World’s Most Charming Man.” PROVIDED BY ERWIN LEDFORD

Former BC student creates comics

By Robin Shin Photographer

Periodical Vol. 1,” is a collection of his short gag strips, which varies in genre and has been done in Bakersfield College isn’t his sketchbook over the last few known to contribute comic writ- years. ers or artists to the world, but His second mini-comic, “Lil’ that doesn’t mean that one can’t Erwin,” is a collection of autobistand out to become one. Erwin ographical stories he stated is the Ledford, 27, is a comic creator one that got the most response and a part-time graphic designer out of his readers. who was born in Los Angeles When asked where he gets his but moved to Bakersfield as an ideas for his work, Ledford statinfant. ed that he draws and writes from “I’ve been drawing cartoons life experience. and comics since elementary “I believe on some level everyschool,” stated Ledford. “I’ve one is insecure with themselves, wanted to be a comic and evcreator nearly my whole eryone “I believe on some level d e a l s life.”

Ledford does all the everyone is insecure with with it following works on his rthemselves, and everyone de ni fft l ey,” own in order to get his deals with it differently.” he said. comics published: writing, illustrating, inking, Led–Erwin Ledford, coloring and printing. f o r d Comic artist Erwin grew up reading tries to comics like Batman, Spider-Man not limit himself with any parand X-Men, which he also used ticular genres, but some of the in order to mimic the artworks. comics he has completed cover “I think Chris Ware utilizes the the genres of comedy and autostrengths of the comic medium biography. He stated that regardbetter than anyone else in the less of what genres he covers, he industry,” Ledford said about his makes stories so that the reader favorite comic book artist. Led- can connect or relate to it on a ford recommended that people personal level. read “The Acme Novelty Library In order to promote his work, #19” for he feels that it is Ware’s Ledford keeps a website and strongest work. blog in order to give his readers It has been nearly a year since and fans regular updates of his Ledford has made a serious fo- current on-working projects and cused effort in order to launch of locations and times for events his career in comic books. Led- he will be attending. ford’s first mini-comic, “The “I think it is important to meet Plainest Plane’s Plainest Pictorial as many people and make as

many personal connections as I can with people reading my work,” he said.

Ledford attends local events such as First Friday art walk, which is held in downtown Bakersfield every First Friday of each month. He also attends the annual Bakersfield Comic Con and recently began to attend The Alternative Press Expo, which is held in San Francisco.

“I also owe a lot of credit to word of mouth and all the positive feedback people have been giving my work,” he said.

As he slowly starts off his career, Ledford says that he sees himself carry his comics into the future.

“Comics are one of the most underestimated art mediums,” he stated. “The possibilities of what you can express with comics are endless.”

Ledford’s goal is to have his work published by one of the major publishing companies, which publish independent, creator-owned graphic novels, such as Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, or Top Shelf.

Ledford is also a graphic designer in print media. He studied graphic design at Bakersfield College with David Koeth as his instructor.

“I was fortunate to build a career for my education,” stated Ledford.

“Learning the tangible skills behind graphic design and print media gave me an edge many comic creators don’t have.”

When Chris Roberts first developed “Wing Commander” in 1990, the overall product wasn’t what he had in mind. His goal and dream was technologically out of reach. Until now.

Roberts is returning to the game development world with his new “Star Citizen” after a long break since the release of his film “Wing Commander” in 1999.

“Star Citizen” is a game that will be developed on a budget of millions. As of Nov. 11, it has raised up to $3 million through private investments and funding platform such as Kickstarter.

“We’re going to do an alpha,” stated Roberts, “and it will be dogfighting, just a multiplayer, in 12 months time.”

Roberts plans the release of alpha to be only open for those who have first invested and paid for a slot during its funding phase. As for the full game, it is estimated to be released within the time range of two years.

The slots you can buy before the release of the alpha are different pledges. The pledges range from the price of $10 to $10,000, and will reserve different types of ships depending on the amount you have funded toward the game. Funding the maximum will get you to reserve your own galaxy.

The price difference of each pledge wasn’t an idea that Roberts thought of from the start.

“Normally you don’t get any

difference in the game,” stated Roberts. “But we sort of decided that, wow, it would be kind of fun that if you’re going to spend more money, we’ll give you like a little bigger parts of the ships.”

He also stated that a bigger ship doesn’t mean your ship will be stronger, but it will just have more capacity and will need bigger engines along with more effects. The smaller ships will be much more friendly for those who want to fly with their friends through the many galaxies that will exist in the game.

The age range for the game is currently predicted to be from twelve and up and even to those who are in the ages of thirty and forty due to their teenage years being the time when “Wing Commander” first came out.

Roberts stated that there would be two different levels of servers: persistent and battle.

Persistent server is where the future millions of Star Citizens will be living on and have the ability to keep track of where they are within the game and what ships and how much credit they have.

The game was birthed from the ideas of the galaxy in which “Star Wars” and “Battlestar Galactica” takes place: vast space.

Roberts mainly stated that the development of Star Citizen would be based off of his previous work of “Wing Commander.” Commander’s look was based off the battle that took place in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, except in

space and within spaceships.

The ships won’t only allow you to dogfight, which is where two or more fighter spaceships duel in order to destroy the opponents ships, but will give you the ability to become a trader, space pirate, bounty hunter, or even more choices where anyone can be of a class they find interest in.

The game is currently planned to be available only through PC. When asked if it will be released for Linux or Mac, Roberts stated that they have yet to find an engine, which will support the two systems. Roberts stated that they don’t see it being released for the current day consoles due to the lack of online features. It is kept in mind that when the consoles are able to expand their online features with their future consoles, there may be a possibility of “Star Citizen” being available.

When speaking about the development of the game idea, Roberts stated that he wanted to develop a game where he could become a hero and not watch someone else become a hero like you would while watching “Star Wars.”

“You’re watching someone else be the hero and save the world,” stated Roberts. “That’s fun when you are watching a movie, but I always wanted the idea of you actually doing it yourself.

“I didn’t want to watch Luke Skywalker save the galaxy, I wanted to do what he was doing.”