thecollegian
Issue 11 • Friday, April 21, 2017 • deltacollegian.net
Passport to the future
/deltacollegian
As other community colleges secure funding for tuition free programs, Delta College sees end to a 2006 promise for a group of area fifth graders
By Mark Larks Copy Editor
While political leaders in New York and San Francisco grab national attention for plans to launch tuition-free community college programs, similar efforts are being made on a smaller scale by individual schools in California. In Fall 2017, Palomar College in San Marcos will begin its “Palomar Promise” program. Students graduating with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher from any of the 21 high schools in the North San Diego County area will have the opportunity to apply to the program, which offers two years of free tuition to Palomar, as well as $500 per semester for textbooks. “The Palomar Promise is the right thing to do. It’s right for our kids, our business, and for our community. Having affordable pathways to college and Delta College graduate Megan Maxey in her cubicle at The Daily Titan. PHOTO BY career in the comfort of your city makes BRANDON ROSS San Marcos a special place to live,” said Herbie Smith, executive Director of The the forefront of the tuition-free move- ing to college.” At least one student concurred. San Marcos Promise Foundation in a ment with its “Passport to College” program. “I didn’t really think about it press release, which The Collegian was The program promised free until I almost graduated [from referred to when it contacted Palomar. tuition to fifth graders in the high school], then I got deterWith roughly 7,400 eligible high Delta College service area in mined to make it work,” said school students slated to graduate this 2006. Passport students began Delta student Paul Pablo. “I want spring, Palomar College’s Admissions their Delta educations in 2014. to go to law school someday, but & Records department estimates apMegan Maxey, now a junior I don’t know if I would’ve been proximately 1,500 of those students will at California State University, able to afford any kind of college enroll in classes in the fall. if I didn’t get involved in [PassSuch a program will no doubt bene- Fullerton, was a Passport to THE College student. port to College].” fit those who might otherwise struggle “I’m super grateful [for Like Palomar College’s “Paloto pay the $46 per unit price to attend Passport to College] because mar Promise” program, Delta’s Palomar. now I can be at this four-year “Passport to College” program And while North San Diego County college without having so was offered to students within a is known for its affluence, the opportumuch debt,” said Maxey, who designated local More than nity to reduce student debt is a benefit EDUCATION 12,000 studentsarea. was the 2016 commencement from 146 eleregardless of economic demographics. speaker. “I think the Passport mentary schools were presented Delta College, located in a more economically challenged area, has been at program probably brought in students the opportunity to participate in the who would not have thought about go- program, which offered up to two years
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of free tuition at Delta College for students who participated in Passport activities on their way to graduating from high school. Of those 12,000 fifth graders who were promised free tuition, more than 1,000 stayed the course and enrolled at Delta eight years later. Some students may have come to Delta regardless, but others, especially those not living in Stockton, were attracted by the allure of a tuition-free education. “If I didn’t have those free years I definitely would’ve gone to Consumnes [River] College,” said Maxey, who grew up in Galt. She said the commute was worth it. “Because of Passport I found Delta and it worked out.” While at Delta, Maxey joined the staff of The Collegian, a move she says prepared her for the next step of her life. Last year, she became the first recipient of the new Associate of Arts Degree for Transfer in Journalism. After transferring to Cal State Fullerton, she stepped into the role of News Editor of the school’s newspaper, The Daily Titan. With one year left at CSUF, she is focused on a career in journalism upon completing her degree. Maxey is perhaps the highest profile success story of Passport to College, a program that concluded this semester. When asked for her thoughts regarding the end of Passport, Maxey had a pragmatic response. “I know that it costs the college a lot of money,” she said. “I think the message that it gave was that community college is a viable option for anyone, and if they can do that in another way [as opposed to renewing the Passport program] that would be worthwhile. The message they sent is a message they should continue.”
Trump orders attack on Syria Delta campus mourns By Killian Barnhart News Editor
On Thursday, Apr. 6 President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to fire 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase. The strike was a response to a Sarin gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun, that killed scores of Syrian citizens. However, 34 of the 59 missiles launched at the airbase were either shot out of the sky, thrown off course by electronic counter-measures, or plopped into the Mediterranean sea. This confused many, as Trump was one of the loudest voices against getting further involved in the bloody five year long civil war. Political Science Professor Joel Blank said this is Trump attempting to portray himself as being unpredictable, putting other countries on notice. However he noted it’s part of a larger problem.
“I don’t think the Trump administration up until now is clear on what it wants to accomplish in regard to foreign policy,” he said. This comes after the 2013 gas attack, after which Assad agreed to disassemble his chemical weapon caches. The damage done to the airbase was insignificant as the planes stationed continued operating as though nothing happened the Friday after the attack. Russia condemned the attack on Friday and suspended a 2015 memorandum dedicated to decreasing in-flight incidents between the U.S. and Russia as it operated in Syria. The strike earned Trump praise from various media outlets, politicians such as John McCain and Hillary Clinton, NATO countries and others. However, politicians Rand Paul and Tulsi Gabbard have questioned the strike, seeing it as nothing more than a continuation of the intervention Trump
See SYRIA, page 8
longtime history professor By Raul Torres Staff Writer
Delta College lost one of its own when history professor Dr. Joe Bisson passed away in early April. Bisson grew up in Monterey and moved to Stockton when he got the job as professor at Delta College. He was a graduate from University of California, Santa Barbara where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He went on to attend University of California, Davis where he earned his teaching credential, masters and Ph.D. according to his biography on the Humanities, Social Science, Education, Kinesiology and Athletics information page on the Delta College website. “Joe Bisson was incredibly ethical, it was super important to him to provide the best education he could,” said Professor Ulrike Christofori.
Bisson wasn’t only a teacher, he also was a published author in different various history journals. He also enjoyed the outdoors greatly and learned how to dive from growing up in the Monterey Bay. When Bisson wasn’t teaching or exploring the outdoors, he was focused on the band he was in called the Tule Cats. It was both a Blues/ Rock & Roll band. Bisson played the drums and guitar for the band. Bisson started teaching at Delta College in 1997 and taught Western Civilizations, American History and History through film. He also served on the Academic Senate as the Executive Secretary. He was very loved by his students. “Professor Bisson was always hap-
See BISSON, page 8
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