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EL CAMINO COLLEGE
April 5, 2012
Collegial consultation meeting raises questions Thomas Schmit Staff Writer In a strange coincidence, the board of trustees had a presentation on the collegial consultation process hours after the academic senate accepted a resolution of no confidence in that process. Academic Senate for California Community Colleges President Michelle Pilati and Community College League of California CEO Scott Lay gave an hour-long presentation titled “Participating Effectively in District and College Governance” during a special board meeting on April 3. However, at noon that day the Academic Senate had voted, without nays and with five abstentions and requested to the board for the ASCCC and CCLC’s to jointly provide issue resolution service. “We feel it’s a very fair request, and we see it as a positive move that could solve our problems with collegial consultation, instead of just drawing attention to it,” Academic Senate President Christina Gold said. The ASCCC and CCLC, as statewide representatives of faculty and administrators, jointly offer four such services, the other two being “Advisory Assistance” and “Special Workshops and Presentations”. According to a draft of the senate’s resolu-
Torrance, California
Colorful hats worn to celebrate women
tion, a similar request for service and was denied by the board in 2008. Instead, the board insisted that only the “information presentation” service was necessary, the same service that took place at the April 3 board meeting. “The board asked that we start at the beginning, with the presentation, and then move on to the issue resolution,” history Professor Emily Rader said. A few of the 120 or so members of the audience, such as trustee Dr. Ray Gen, were optimistic about the presentation’s effectiveness. “I think it laid out the issues so that we all have common ground when we advance into other areas of disagreement or communications,” Gen said. Less optimistic about the presentation was EC Classified Representative Luukia Smith who hoped the presentation managed to accomplish something worthwhile. “I think there are many people on campus who think collegial consultation means ‘listen to what I want to say, and then do what I say’” Smith said.“I think having an accurate understanding of the definition is really important.” Ali Ahmadpour wasn’t enthusiastic about the presentation’s outcome. “I don’t think the board listened. I didn’t hear anything from the board that sounded like these people were here for a reason, that there is a problem here,” Ahmadpour said.
Kyle Borden/ Union Helen Padilla, 21, nursing major, prepares to walk down the runway while wearing a hat owned by Maria Brown, history professor, for the Women’s History Month, Hat Show.
Sexual harassment case is settled Ken Brown appointed to tech task force Thomas Schmit Staff Writer After just 14 months, EC has again settled a lawsuit with a female employee who alleged she was sexually harassed by a former Dean and Vice President. The woman, whose attorney asked that she not be identified, alleged that Dean James Schwartz continually harassed her from 2004 until 2010, according to court documents. While the woman and her attorney, David Myers, were unable to discuss the amount settled for, a Daily Breeze article said the woman was awarded $750,000 last February. The last settlement involving Schwartz was for $2.5 Million, Myers said.
While EC’s Community Relations Director Ann Garten could not be reached for comment on the situation, board of trustees President Bill Beverly offered several comments to the Daily Breeze. “I’m disappointed in the whole thing,” Beverly was quoted as saying. “I’m disappointed in everybody who was anywhere near the problem, if there was one.” Beverly added. The news of the settlement came as a surprise to many students, such as Brian Lutz, 22, Anthropology major. “This is the first I’ve ever even heard of allegations,” Lutz said.
Viridiana Vaca-Rios Editor-in-Chief Board of trustees member, Ken Brown has been appointed to the new education technology task force by State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson. “It’s a cool thing; I feel honored that they want my opinion and I’m pretty proud that there was a lot of people that applied and I’m one of 49 select few that will be helping,” Brown said. According to the Compton Bulletin Web page, the technology task force will offer recommendations for how to bring 21st century tools into California’s classrooms to improve teaching and learning. Brown added that his duties will include how to implement technology and the way students in K-12
Transferring options for students Roy Moore Staff Writer With CSU’s no longer an option for many transferees, students got the opportunity to explore other transferring options at the Historically Black College University Fair (HBCUs). Some of the colleges in attendance were Howard, Hampton, Tuskegee, Stillman, Tennessee State and North Carolina State University. “The purpose of the HBCU fair is to provide awareness and to let all students, regardless of race, know about transfer options and
what they might want to consider, especially with the decrease of acceptance of students at the Calstate system,” Elaine Moore, academic counselor, said. Students seeking to transfer to an HBCU can take advantage of the Transfer Admission Guarantee program (TAG). “It’s a process that allows students to transfer in a much faster and easier way with fewer units depending on the University they will be applying for,” Moore said. “It provides a pipeline for students for the ten schools that we have agreements with and three of the ten will accept the inter-segmental general
education transfer curriculum” (IGETC). “By attending an HBCU, I learned quite a bit about myself and my culture,” Brandon Williams, Tuskegee University alumni, said. “We have a saying over at Tuskegee, if you can survive Tuskegee, then you can survive anywhere in the world.” Keith Cox, from the Southern University Alumni Chapter, encourages students to go online and take advantage of the technology. “I advise students to use Twitter and Facebook, because Southern University is currently trending with those technologies,” Cox said.
learn. “What are children learning? How do students learn with technology? How do we judge and grade students? Do we use technology?” Brown said. However, Brown said that the implementation of technology in schools won’t be something that can be quickly accomplished. “It’s not an overnight thing where we are going to waive our magic wand and fix everything that is wrong with the schools,” Brown said. Brown also explained how the community colleges aren’t the only ones impacted by budget cuts. “A big concern is budget and money. K-12 is feeling it too. But if you impliment technology into education it can empower teachers and you might get a lot more bang for your buck,” Brown said.
Warrior Games to promote clubs Viridiana Vaca-Rios Editor-in-Chief The newly named Warrior Games, will take place tomorrow at the Schauerman Library Lawn from noon to 3 p.m. Ricky Gonzalez, 20, Inter-Club Council member said that they have decided to change the spring games name to the Warrior Games to make the games more college oriented. Along with the new name, Gonzalez also said that he wanted to change things up and make sure that everyone has fun. “The games we will be playing are something we weren’t able to do before,”
he said. The games played will include Tug-oWar, capture the flag and water balloon toss. The newest additions will be sumo wrestling and gummy war hunt. Although students are encouraged to attend and watch the clubs on campus compete, only students involved in a club may participate. Josian Fuentez, 21, political science major said the games help raise more awareness of clubs. “We have a lot of fun and this is one of those feel good events that we have throughout the year,” he said. “Everyone is invited to come and help the clubs.”
EC kicks off Alcohol Awareness month with DUI Awareness Fair Candice Criss Sports Editor
NEWS LINE
Kyle Borden/Union Wayne Wagner, 19, kinesiology major, drives the DUI fair golf cart with EC police department, Officer Lewis.
Eman Elshiyab
Kicking off Alcohol Awareness month, the EC Police Department teamed up with the South Bay DUI task force for its 12th Annual South Bay DUI Awareness Fair. The event was to educate students on the dangers of drinking and driving, Sargent Dal Toruno said. There were a few displays and demonstrations to better explain what it is like to maneuver a vehicle while inebriated. One of the demonstrations required students to take a free-throw shot at a basketball court and then try it again with altered
goggles to give you the illusion of being under the influence. “When they first try to make the shot, it’s quite on point. Then once they put the goggles on, their whole shot has changed,” Victor Gomez, investigator for the SouthBay Police Department, said. “They are then nowhere near close to making the intended shot.” Another one of the demonstrations required students to drive an obstacle course twice; one time without the goggles and another time with the goggles on. The obstacle course had bright orange cones to keep the students on track. During their first try, a lot of the stu-
dents made it through the obstacle course with ease. When it was time for them to have their second try while wearing the goggles, a majority of the students had a much more difficult time making their way around the course. “I was truly scared that I could have hit the wall or a person.” Christian Lawrence, freshman, said. “I learned from the experience that I would never drink and drive. It was very difficult getting through that obstacle course.” Gomez said that the purpose of the demonstrations is for the students to experience, first hand, the consequences coupled with drinking and driving.
Arts center college tour on Friday
Undeclared major workshop
Mandatory pep squad workshops
Club charter deadline approaching
UC Santa Barbara “Spring Insight” tour
Students interested in the arts, are encouraged to attend an arts center college tour. Students must be currently enrolled in at least one course at EC. Interested persons should visit the Transfer Center, or call 310-660-3593 ext. 3408.
An undeclared major workshop will take place at the Career Center, Room SSC 106 on Thursday, April 19, from noon to 2 p.m. Students can meet with a career counselor. Space is limited, students are encouraged to sign-up.
Pep Squad 2012 mandatory workshops will take place Monday, April 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, April 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in PE-N 52. Interested persons may email pep squad advisor at dgalias@elcamino.edu.
Today is the deadline for students to reactivate an existing campus club. In order for a proposed charter to appear on the Inter-Club Council agenda a couple of completed forms must be on file in the Student Development Office.
There will be a college tour on Saturday, April 14 at UC Santa Barbara regarding “Spring Insight.” Interested persons should visit the Transfer Center located on the first floor of the Student Services Center, or call 310-660-3593 ext. 3408.