The Union
EL CAMINO COLLEGE
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946
@ECCUNION
Oct. 12, 2023
ECCUNION.COM
College faces budget cuts
Training center breaks ground
By Ma. Gisela Ordenes
By Kim McGill
Vice President of Finance and Special Projects Josh Troesh mentioned possible cutbacks during the Oct. 3 Academic Senate meeting. “Based on our current numbers, we would need 3,500 more students in order to not have a reduction in income,” Troesh said after the meeting. “If we get zero out of that 3,500 students, that would be a $17 million to $24 million cut in the budget.” State funding for community colleges is based on the number of students. How many fulltime equivalent students a community college has is determined by headcount. The current budget is based on an emergency funding formula the state put in place before the pandemic. “When the [non-emergency] funding formula comes into full effect, and we go back off of this emergency funding, we’re going to start being paid based on what our actual enrollment and our actual success criteria for students is,” Troesh said. The basis for computing how much money a college would get was changed when California moved to the Student-Centered Funding Formula.
A new South Bay Public Training Center is being built at El Camino College to help train fire technology students and working firefighters. Emergency medical service professionals and law enforcement will also use the center. Located on the western edge El Camino forwards Jovanny Mejia, number 11, and Steven Alvarenga, number 19, and other Warriors of parking Lot L adjacent to the celebrating a goal during a Sept. 22 home game against Chaffey College. At this point in the season El Dominguez Channel, the new Camino was ranked at No.2 in the United Soccer Coaches Junior College Rankings. Photo by Bryan Sanchez center will include a five-story tower, water hoses, fire suppression equipment, fire engines, props, classrooms, program offices and a large garage with storage facilities to protect vehicles and equipment from weather. The five-story tower will By Johan Van Wier simulate “real-life” fire incidents and incorporate he El Camino men’s soccer team is Jacobson has credited the team’s ability to play artificial intelligence to monitor currently the number one team in their as one, not individually, for this year’s success. temperatures, read smoke and national division according to the latest United “This year we have had our best playing group… fire conditions, and use thermal Soccer Coaches Junior College Division III we have had really good teams these last three imaging to detect the presence ranking numbers. years, but this year playing together collectively of human and animal life. The Warriors started the season strong and has been the reason we’ve been able to have The facility will serve as a maintained, they now boast a 10-1 record and success,” Jacobson said. regional training hub to help have not lost since Sept. 5. Following wins Team Captain Nicholas Baltazar reiterated the the staff of the Redondo Beach, against Mt. San Antonio College on Oct. 3 and same feelings as Jacobson when speaking to The Manhattan Beach, El Segundo Cerritos College on Oct. 6, the team is on an Union earlier in the season, attributing their and Torrance Fire Departments. eight-game win streak. winning streak to having a team mentality instead “Today is almost a decade in The team built its momentum over the semester of focusing on “individualism.” the making,” El Camino Public as the Warriors were ranked No. 2 in the nation Goalkeeper Donovon Palomares has been Safety Director Chief Jeff during the Sept. 19 and Sept. 26 rankings, dominant in protecting the goal for the Warriors, Baumunk said during the Sept. officially earning the top spot on Oct. 3. winning the United Soccer Coaches’ National 29 groundbreaking. “This will Men’s soccer coach Mike Jacobson said there Junior College Men’s Player of the Week. It’s his “Now the funding formula is satisfaction knowing the team is taking the top second time winning this award in his El Camino be a state-of-the-art fire training center to allow our students is about 75%, based on the spot of a poll voted on by other coaches. career. here at El Camino College to number of students we have, “It is a really good honor to have and [it] being Palomares has played 981 minutes of the total have access to the latest and and about 25% based on the first time [we’re] ranked No. 1 in my tenure, possible 990 minutes on the season. greatest technology in a safe other criteria, like graduation it’s nice to feel the team level up and having that Since the Sept. 8 game versus Moorpark environment.” rates, and how many acknowledgment from your peers,” Jacobson College, Palomares has only let one goal get past According to the Bureau of him and has 41 total saves this season. certificates are offered, and said. Labor Statistics, demand for The Warriors have shut out their opponents in “Our defense leads to offense … Big defensive success rates and those types firefighters is expected to the last five out of six games and have a combined stops can lead to the offense push and come back of things,” Troesh said. increase by 7% by 2026. score of 43-3 versus their opponents on their to gain momentum,” Palomares said. eight-game win streak. SEE CUTS PAGE 4 → SEE CENTER PAGE 5 → SEE SOCCER PAGE 8 →
Men’s soccer team No.1
After ranking No. 2 for two weeks the El Camino College men’s soccer team reaches the top spot in their division
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