Union
El Camino College
May 19, 2011
Torrance, Calif
Students play a game of soccer Analyzing EC’s budget Ashley Curtin Staff Writer
Patrick Osborne /Union Eric Taylor, 23, administration of justice major, balances a soccer ball on his head while Simon Ao, 18 business major, looks on out front of Cafe Camino.
Winter session has been cut, classes are being trimmed and rumors of faculty being asked to take cutbacks in salary and health care all while EC’s reserve fund keeps growing. Recorded as the largest reserve in the college’s history, the reserve fund will not be used during this time of need. “The money in the fund is a buffer for bad times and if this isn’t bad times, then what is?” Don Brown, faculty negotiator of the Federation of Teachers, said. In a recent article in the Daily Breeze, EC officials said that the college’s reserve fund had been “spent down” and is close to the minimum government requirement for the fund. But with more than $23 million saved, the reserve fund has surpassed the minimum percentage required by the government. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, a community college, referred to as a district, is required to save between 1 percent and 5 percent of their General Fund expenditures in a reserve fund. The district is allowed to dip into the reserve fund at any time to provide financial help for the operation of the college. EC continues to budget conservatively, projecting one of the highest ending reserve fund balances for 2011. “They are pretty conservative in spending but they are asking for faculty cutbacks and taking classes away,” Brown said. “We can’t justify that.” And the major concern lingering in the minds of many is when a portion of the reserve fund will be used to offset the budget crisis. “We at the federation believe we should be using the reserve,” Elizabeth Shaddish, president of the Federation of Teachers, said. “Absolutely, we should be using it.”
Yet officials have come up with two reasons for not dipping into the fund; to hold on to the money in case the state budget gets worse in the next five years and to get a better interest rate in order to float a new bond to rebuild more of the campus, Shaddish said. While some might agree, many other faculty groups think the state of the economy is turning around. “We can already see some positive changes,” Shaddish said. “So we are asking that they not use this $23 million as an excuse not to fund classes, and not to fund teachers, especially part-time faculty who have been hit the most.” But some people are concerned that the business of education has turned into a business of banking. “It has been said that if they keep this large reserve, they will be able to refinance their current bonds and get a better credit rating,” Brown said. Since the reserve fund cannot be used for construction and the bonds can never go toward operations, the two are completely separate, Shaddish said. “You cannot use bond money for anything but what the voters have approved it for,” Shaddish said. “And that means building. You can have a million buildings and no teachers but that’s what the voters approved it for.” So the reserve fund remains a question for faculty groups. As they continue to take the next steps in the negotiation process, Brown said they would continue to fight for education. While rainy days have fallen on EC, faculty groups continue to rally together but this difficult time has yet to change the minds of officials, Shaddish said. “The reserve is saved for bad days,” Brown said. “And these are bad days.”
‘Education, not Militarization’ rally on campus today Nicholette Raecke Staff Writer
When Randy Firestone, behavioral and social sciences professor, found out that students weren’t upset regarding the shortage of funds that threatened higher education while the military’s budget remains strong, he decided to do something about it. So with the help of the Philosophy Club, he started the “Education, not Militarization” rally, which will take place on campus today from 1 to 1:50 p.m. All students are encouraged to attend. “I was disgusted that they (students) weren’t standing up for education, especially when there’s so much to lose,” Firestone said. “So I asked the
Philosophy Club to get involved.” The club has a sub-group working on a project to get other campuses involved in “Student Fight Back Week,” which runs from May 16 to 20. During that time, club members are encouraging schools around the country to hold venues in support of more funding going to education. These schools are being asked to hold peaceful rallies chanting the phrase: “Education, not Militarization.” Legislators have made clear that while the funds for education are disappearing, it will never happen to the military because those funds are “off limit,” Firestone said. The goal of the event is to raise the conscious-
EC welcomes...The Jessica Mendoza Staff Writer
After a hard day’s night, finally everything decided to come together. That is to say, your ticket to ride the Music of the Beatles class is finally here. “The Beatles are the Mozart of our time,” Dr. William Doyle, music professor, said. “They are present in our society and are still talked about; that is why I feel that we should have this class.” Finally, after a three-year-long process of preparation and dedication, Doyle has created a class for students to learn about the music of The Beatles. “In all of my music appreciation classes I teach, one thing that I like to do when teaching the elements of music section of the class, is play some Beatles music,” Doyle said. “I noticed as time went on, less and less people recognize that it was The Beatles and some would even ask me, ‘Who are The Beatles?’ It was outstanding to me that there were people who didn’t know who they were, so that began my thinking of teaching a class on the Beatles.” Doyle believes that the Beatles music is the basis of what music has become throughout the generations.
NEWS LINE High school student orientation on campus today Today the Honors Transfer Program is hosting an orientation for high school students from 7 to 9 p.m. in the East Dining Room.
ness of others and to realize that schools are more important than the effort to invest in keeping the war going. The club believes that maintaining educational opportunities for students should be reconsidered. Debra Bowen, Secretary of State, will be a political speaker for the event, as well as Peter Mathews, founder of Rescue Education California. “Mathews’ talk will be on ‘Education over Oil Companies, and he has started a petition to tax oil companies for off-shore drilling, with the proceeds going towards education,” Firestone said. Curtiss Jensen, president of the Philosophy Club, has great expectations for the week ahead, as well as the rally.
Music of the Beatles
“Three years ago when I went to see The Beatles Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, I was so blown away by it and the audiences reaction to it, that I said to myself that I really need to make this happen,” Doyle said. Doyle got straight to work, doing research and gathering information to create a class of this legendary band. “When I approached the faculty, not everyone was enthusiastic at the time,” Doyle said. “But I began writing the class and it took me one year to write it and one year to get it passed through all the committees, the board of trustees, and everyone it goes through. It was a long process,” Doyle said. Doyle waited almost a year to hear approval of his class that he dedicated hours of his time to prepare. “I found out in May 2010 that we were going to have the class for the fall, but the concern was that it wasn’t going to fill up since it wasn’t in the printed catalogs,” Doyle said. “I put a few fliers up around campus and within a couple days it was filled and closed. It was instantaneous.” And so students joined the class, also named Music 17, to experience the course in its inaugural semester. “When I found out they had a whole class dedicated to their his-
EC observatory open to public tomorrow night Students can come and check out the evening sky through telescopes at the EC observatory tomorrow from 8 to 9:30 p.m. if weather permits. Interested persons may call (310) 6603593 ext. 3373.
“We’re hoping for a positive change; I don’t totally agree with the current policy regarding the schools losing funding,” Jensen said. The club has sent out invitations for speakers, and political figures that can come forth in support of trending money back to the government so that students can complete their educations. Richard Bernot, member of the Philosophy Club, has been very busy, with the club letting other students know what’s about to occur. They plan a huge outcome. “We’ve sent out letters to 120 schools, asking them to assist us by participating in this week’s event. It would be great if we could get some support,” Bernot said.
Event for new EC students this Monday On Monday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. there will be an event to guide students through the steps of becoming an EC student. Interested persons can contact the front desk of the Special Resource Center for exact location.
tory and the importance of their complex musical breakthroughs, I was the first person to sign up,” Tyler Bozeman, 19, music major, said. Music 17 is also transferable to the California State University and University of California systems. “It’s not just a fluff class, I wanted it to be about music of The Beatles,” Doyle said. “You really do learn something, we cover the music composition and the lyrics and how they go together and what they did that was so unique.” The course surveys the musical styles of the Beatles from 19571970, covering the Beatles’ various musical periods, compositions, and cultural impact of the class. Going on its third semester, this class will be offered again in the fall on Wednesdays from 2 to 5:10 p.m. Current students taking this class have spread the word to their peers that this class is worth taking during their time at EC. “This class allows all students to learn about musicians that revolutionized music,” Melissa Van Brunt, 22, communications major, said. “I walked into this class as a huge Beatles fan; I feel I will leave this class as a Beatles connoisseur.”
Sock Drive currently happening
Get help with navigating MyECC Portal
A sock drive for mental health patients at L.A. Metro is happening on campus until May 27. There will be a box in the front hallway of the Technical Arts Building for new (not used) sock donations.
There will be a session Monday from 4 to 5 p.m. assisting students on how to navigate the MyECC portal. This session will take place in the Special Resource Center; please ask front desk for location upon arrival. -Tayani Davis