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Volume 44, Issue No. 1
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Three Strikes law to go into effect
ON NEWS:
ALYSSA HUNTER
twicepix/flickr: cc-by-sa
Four
million
2.0
people’s
lives disrupted by power outage last Thursday.
ON A&E:
photo courtesy of michelle craner
New fashion class that will teach hands-on fashion branding and marketing skills.
ON LIFE:
Students loved the food trucks that came along with Club Rush.
ON SPORTS:
Volleyball: The lady Gauchos lost to the Olym-
T
he Three Strikes law states that if a student has taken a course three times with grades of a D, F, NP (no pass), or a W (withdrawal), then they will not be eligible to take the same course at Saddleback College. This will go into effect during the spring semester of 2012. “It is really important to know that this isn’t a Saddleback rule or a rule that our district has created,” said Penelope Skaff, matriculation coordinator and counselor. “This is a rule coming down from the state, so it is something we have to do.” This is a California law, which means there is no wiggle room for an instructor to let a student in a course for the fourth time, even if there is room available. The Three Strikes law applies to every student enrolled in a community college in California. No one is an exception to this law. The highest priority is educating the students about this law, especially if it has the potential to effect them next semester. As the day to drop a semester course without a W approaches, a campaign will be put together in order to educate students about the Three Strikes law. For students that are effected by this law and are wondering how to fulfill the required courses in order to transfer, these courses can be taken at a different community college district. However, because Saddleback and Irvine Valley College are sister schools, students will not be allowed to take the same course for the fourth time at ei-
photo illustration by alyssa hunter/lariat
STRIKES: Laura Oikawa, marine biology, 19, Kyla Timmons, 19, undeclared, and Ty Poteet, 20, Psychology, hold up three strikes which represent the Three Strikes law that will go into effect in Spring 2012. The law will affect all community college students in California by not allowing students to take a class more than three times in their school district. ther Saddleback or Irvine Valley. Since this law goes into effect during the spring of this school year, students would still have time to register for the second eight week courses. This semester, fall 2011, is the last chance to enroll in a course
for the fourth time. “I think universities should just take W’s a lot more seriously, especially if you have three or more in the same class. I just don’t think they should ban you from taking a class you need,” Michael McLaughlin, 19, biology said.
There are situations in which a student has to unexpectedly withdrawal from a class and receive a W. “Dedicated students take W’s. Serious hard working students receive substandard grades,” said Kevin O’Connor, dean of liberal arts and learning re-
sources. “But I think when people have followed the same path three times unsuccessfully, I don’t know how many opportunities, for that same student, the institution or the system wants to give that student.” SEE THREE STRIKES PAGE 2
pians, San Diego Mesa College last Wednesday.
ON OPINION:
Campus
IVC pays tribute to fallen in 9/11 ceremony
Comment:
What is your opinion on the new Three Strikes law?
CHECK OUR NEXT ISSUE:
Library Renovations: Ten years have gone toward the construction. Find out when they are due!
INDEX News.............2 Opinion..........3 A&E..............4 Life.............5 Sports...........6 visit our website to read more!
Photo by Michael Dorame/Lariat
9/11: The Irvine Police Colorguard displayed the American flag while the Irvine City Mayor, Sukhee Kang, led the audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” on Sept. 9 at Irvine Valley College. At the end of the ceremony, spectators participated in a moment of silence for the first responders and members of the military, the victims families, and those whose lives were lost. MICHAEL DORAME
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A
large American flag draped down behind the stage, as speakers honored the fallen at the IVC 9/11 commemoration last
Friday. Nancy Padberg, Board President for the SOCCCD, introduced the ceremony, calling it a “solemn day of remembrance.” She said the event’s purpose was to “remember the cause of
untold national sorrow.” Marching onto stage, the Irvine Police Color Guard held the American flag as Irvine City Mayor, Sukhee Kang led the Pledge of Allegiance. After that, Linda Leyrer sang
“You Raise Me Up” the sound of her voice mingled with sobs in the audience. Among the officials present was Irvine Police Chief David L. Maggard Jr., who then spoke of the events that unfolded on
9/11. “For first responders, it was indeed a tragic day,” said Maggard. He then talked about current efforts to prevent terrorism saying, “It is incumbent upon all Americans to be vigilant, and report suspicious behavior to law enforcement.” Maggard warned that lonewolf terrorists should be of greatest concern at this time. Lone-wolf terrorists are people who act alone with the intent of carrying out wide scale massacre. Maggard cited the Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan, as an example. Michael Moore, Division Chief with the Orange County Fire Authority then told the audience about his visit to the towers on July 4, 2001. He referred to the events of 9/11 as “One of the darkest days in our nation.” Moore also talked about how we “saw the American Spirit shine through people” and how they rallied together. Another dignitary who took the podium was Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. She said, “We are here today to remember the victims and heroes of 9/11.” She went on to address the First Responders who lost their lives that day. “We owe it to them to continue to be eternally vigilant in our fight against those who would seek to harm us and our way of life,” Hutchen said. SEE 9/11 CEREMONY PAGE 2