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lavozdeanza.com
VIDEO VOZ
OPINION | P 10
TECH | P 9
LA VOZ WEEKLY The Voice of De Anza College | May 26, 2009 | Vol. 42, Issue 26
ELECTION WRAP-UP:
Voters reject Props 2,404 votes cast, 7 grievances filed 1A, 1B Kelly Truong LA VOZ NEWS
Voters rejected five out of six propositions on May 19, including a measure that would have funded community colleges. Proposition 1B, rejected by 62.6 percent, proposed the allocation of $9.3 billion to K-12 schools and community colleges. The education community was split over the measure, mainly due to its relation to Proposition 1A. 1A, rejected by 65.8 percent, would have altered the state budget process, granting the governor and legislature authority to increase taxes with no checks and balances. Proposition 1F, which caps salaries of elected officials, was the only measure to pass. LV Kelly Truong is the editor-in-chief for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: lavoz@fhda.edu.
LEFT: Instructor Stephanie Dickson invites presidential candidate Marlo Custodio (Students United) into her classroom. RIGHT: Presidential candidate Jose Martin (Student Connection) talks to student Rafal Szymanski.
English instructor passes away Joel Seibert LA VOZ NEWS
Christine Mergozzi, De Anza College English instructor, passed away of lung cancer on May 2. She was 56 years old. “She not only was a dedicated teacher and healer, but a fantastic listener,” said friend Vreni Weber. “Not just to people, but to animals and plants as well — in fact, to the entire natural world.” Mergozzi was an active environmentalist, participating in Project Purr and Greenpeace. She taught English for more than seven years, beginning in fall 2001. CONTINUED PAGE 3, MERGOZZI
PHOTOS (4) BY KELLY TRUONG / LA VOZ
LEFT: Custodio and Martin encounter each other in the last hours of the election. RIGHT: Executive vice presidential candidate Josh Chou (Students United) hugs a supporter after being cleared of his rule violation on May 20. Kelly Truong LA VOZ NEWS
“He wanted to see a debate!” As the De Anza College Student Body Senate election wrapped up last week, presidential candidates Marlo Custodio (Students United) and Jose Martin (Student Connection) ran into
THE VOTES ARE IN: TUITION INCREASES IN 09-10 CSU:
10 % increase
UC:
9.3 % increase
one another while campaigning in the final hours of the election. Custodio told Martin of the instructor he encountered who wanted the two candidates to appear together and discuss their differences on the issues. “I’m so glad you’re a worthy opponent,” Martin said. “It’s been crazy, but it’s all love.”
Last week, students voted for the 2009-2010 Senate president, executive vice president, seven vice presidents, 21 senators and student trustee. The official campaign began on May 11 and ended last Thursday, when students cast their final votes through the new online system. CONTINUED PAGE 4, ELECTION
UCs, CSUs increase tuition fees by 9-10 percent Joyce Sim LA VOZ NEWS
The University of California and California State University systems have voted to increase student fees for upcoming school years. Tuition will increase 9.3 percent for UCs, while CSUs have increased tuition by 10 percent. The change in tuition costs means that undergraduates will face an average increase of $8,720 for in-state UC students and $3,354 for all CSU students. “I feel terrible about the increase,” said Alex Giardino, De Anza College Honors Program coordinator. “It is an unfair distribution of making up for the shortfall for the state.”
The UC Regents, the system’s governing body, voted 17-4 in favor of the increase. Out-of-state undergraduate fees will increase by $2,000 to $22,021, while non-resident graduate fees will remain unchanged for the UCs. Graduate students at CSUs will see a spike of $378. “This is one more barrier to higher education access,” said Martha Kanter, chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza College District and President Barack Obama’s intended nominee for Under Secretary of Education. “It prevents some students from getting the kind of education and training that California desperately needs for its workforce,” she said. Both university systems hope that in-
creasing tuition costs will help balance their budgets. The UC system currently faces a shortage of $450 million, while the CSU system faces a shortage of nearly $600 million. “It’s not fair,” said student Thomasina Russau. “We need to find another way, share things around.” Those who voted in favor of the CSU tuition increases argued that the financial aid provided by the stimulus package will help offset the increase. One-third of the expected revenue will be set aside for financial aid. However, opponents of the increase say that the aid will only be temporary. CONTINUED PAGE 4, TUITION