Chapter 6: What’s In a Name?

Chapter 6: What’s In a Name?

A Seed is Planted for the Name Ohlone Most junior college districts at the time (and still today) create separate names for the college or colleges in the District. At some point during the spring of 1967, Dr. Epler paid a visit to the Ohlone cemetery on Washington Boulevard in Fremont and struck up a conversation with Felipe “Phil” Galvan who was the Principal Caretaker of the Motherhouse of the Sisters near Mission San Jose. Phil was a well-known Ohlone leader and founder of the Ohlone Indian Tribe Inc., which was dedicated to the preservation of Ohlone burial sites. He was also a leader in the American Indian Historical Society.

According to Phil’s son Andy Galvan, Dr. Epler told Phil he was looking for an Ohlone word that meant “school” or “learning” as a possible suggestion for a name for the new college. Phil responded, “Why don’t you just use the word Ohlone?”

That seemed to make great sense to Dr. Epler! But a college President cannot unilaterally decide an issue as sensitive as what to name the local community college. (More information about the life and community involvement of Phil Galvan is attached in Appendix 12).

Process and Politics In the summer of 1967 a series of emotion-packed Board of Trustees meetings produced the name Ohlone for the new college. But, it was not without a good amount of drama. Things got underway when a time was placed on the May 31, 1967 Board meeting agenda to adopt a process for selecting a name. Here is a synopsis of the process and action over three consecutive Board meetings.

May 31, 1967 Board Meeting (Board Minutes, Appendix 13) The May 31, 1967 Board meeting was conducted in the Fremont Unified School District, Instructional Materials Center Conference Room, where the Board had been regularly meeting. A number of citizens addressing the Board about the college name during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting.

Obviously there had been much discussion in the community once it was known that the Board would be forming a procedure for naming the college.

There was a strong sentiment to name the college Ohlone in honor of the native people who had so influenced the history of the region. The supporters came prepared to make their case even before a naming procedure was developed. Phil Galvan attended the meeting and provided information concerning the scope of influence of the Ohlone Indians on the development of the East Bay area. He stated

the Ohlone Indians would consider it an honor to have the new college named for their people. In effect, as a leader of the Ohlone people, he was giving the college permission to use the name.

Mr. Galvan, along with Rupert Costo, followed up with an official letter to Dr. Epler, dated June 7, 1967. The letter was written on behalf of the American Indian Historical Society and included a compelling rationale for naming the college Ohlone. The heart of their reasoning was the value and love of learning in the lives of the Ohlone people. For a full appreciation of their reasoning the complete letter and attachments are presented as Appendix 14.

Wilma Prewitt had been active in attempts to save Ohlone burial grounds from destruction in the face of growing development in the area. Her statement in favor of naming the college Ohlone traced the history and accomplishments of the Ohlone Indian tribe in the Fremont area and pointed out the early cultural and educational contributions made to the area.

Mrs. J. A. Silva of Fremont endorsed the use of the name Ohlone. She quoted sections from History of Mission San Jose by Father Francis Florence McCarthy describing the reactions of the early Spanish priests to the abilities and contributions of the Ohlone Indians. James Bray also announced his support of the use of the name Ohlone. Both Mrs. Silva and Mr. Bray had been strong advocates of preserving the culture and history of the Ohlone people.

Later in the meeting the Board voted unanimously to approve the proposed procedure for selecting a college name as presented. All interested persons and organizations of Fremont and Newark were encouraged to suggest names by June 12, 1967. A Board sub-committee made up of Mr. John Costello and Rev. Jack Wilson would review the suggestions and bring a short list of proposed names to the Board at its June 28, 1967 meeting.

The College is Named Ohlone (Maybe!)

June 28, 1967 Board Meeting (Board Minutes, Appendix 15) There appears to have been some political maneuvering going on between the May 31, 1967 and June 28, 1967 Board meetings. Dr. Marilyn Blawie was a lawyer and professor at Cal State Hayward. Mr. Joseph McCord was a newspaper reporter for the Fremont News-Register, a competitor to the Argus. In the previous April elections Mr. McCord had defeated Dr. Blawie for a seat on the junior college Board.

The Argus also reported on June 19 that Dr. Blawie had threatened a $250,000 libel suit against the Fremont News-Register and Mr. McCord, a reporter for the paper, for libel and defamation related to news reports of Board meetings.

Dr. Blawie was known to be in favor of the name Ohlone for the college and Mr. McCord was thought to have other names in mind. The June 28 meeting was to be Dr. Blawie’s last meeting before Mr. McCord replaced her in July, and Mr. McCord had an interest in delaying the naming decision until he was officially on the Board.

Mr. McCord was reported in the Argus to have been a political ally of Mr. Costello, one of the two Board members assigned to bring back a short list of names for the Board to review for selection.

The June 28 Board meeting began as normal with the “Hearing of citizens desiring to address the Board.” College yell leaders, incoming students Michael Gomes, Mary Pryor, Patty Cabral, and Virginia Smith, asked the Board to reach a decision on naming the college so that a team name, mascot, yells and songs could be selected and sweater block insignias designed and ordered. Mrs. Wilma Prewitt spoke in favor of Ohlone as a college name emphasizing the all-inclusiveness of the name relative to the District, as did Mr. James Bray.

Board President Wesley Sears and Mr. Costello concurred with the students that a prompt decision on the college name was desirable but pointed out the site selection could be a determining factor in the name chosen. Mr. Costello suggested no action on the matter until all Board members had turned their suggested names in to the committee and added that he did not think the college should be named without all Board members present (Trustee Abraham Hochler was absent). He stated he and fellow sub-committee member Jack Wilson would be asking to delay the selection until mid-July. Dr. Blawie stated it was her opinion the name Ohlone was the most representative of the area of all names suggested.

When the college naming item came up for action, it was moved by Dr. Blawie and seconded by Trustee Dr. Lyle Edmison, a student services Dean at Cal State Hayward, the college be named Ohlone. This was before the sub-committee was to give a report and probably designed to get the name Ohlone on the table before the committee moved to delay the decision.

During the discussion on the motion, Mr. Sears presented a brief review of the naming procedure after which Rev. Wilson stated that he would prefer to deal with college name at the next Board meeting. Trustee Charles Snow stated that the name Ohlone was fine his opinion but that he would not oppose the matter being held over to the next meeting for final decision, since it might give the public an opportunity to express themselves before final action is taken. Dr. Edmison stated that Ohlone was a natural name for the college and that he had heard no arguments against it. Mr. Costello stated his committee should have the opportunity to consider names. The Argus editorial cited below, and presented in Appendix 17, alleges that the committee had not even met.

As the discussion was coming to an end, Ohlone leader Phil Galvan, who had, in effect given the Board permission to the use name Ohlone, became frustrated with the Board’s apparent move to delay the decision. The following is the account of the college naming given by Andy Galvan about his father Felipe “Phil” Galvan’s involvement in the college naming process: One night in 1967 tension rose at a public meeting in the Mission San Jose District where the name for the area’s new college was to be selected. Felipe “Phil” Galvan, an Ohlone Indian descendent, who’d grown frustrated that the

promises to name the school after his tribe were being broken, began to speak to the large crowd. "We native people often have this happened to us. The majority makes a promise and then they take it back. To solve this I take away my permission for you to use the Ohlone name." He then left the meeting.

Mr. Costello expressed his personal support for the name Ohlone but he felt that other names should be considered and his committee had not had time to review the submissions and that Mr. Hochler should be part of the decision. Then a substitute motion was made by Rev. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Costello to refer the naming of the college to the original committee. The motion failed: 2 Ayes (Costello and Wilson), 4 Noes (Blawie, Edmison, Snow and Sears).

Mr. Costello continued to express his concerns and Board President Sears was reported to have said, “Frankly John, I don’t find a better name than Ohlone,” and called a recess at 8:50 pm to let Costello and Wilson come up with their final proposal of names. The Board reconvened 9:10 PM and Mr. Costello listed the subcommittee’s choice of four names not in priority order as Mission Valley, Golden Hills, Carlos Bee and Ohlone. The Argus (A-061) reported these were hand written on a blackboard in the meeting room.

The previous motion to name the college Ohlone was still on the table and the Board voted 4-2 to approve the name Ohlone (Marilyn Blawie, Lyle Edmison, Wesley Sears, and Charles Snow were in favor, with Costello and Wilson voting against). As mentioned, Trustee Abraham Hochler was absent.

Andy Galvan concluded his story about his father’s role as follows: When he (Phil Galvan) arrived home there already was a phone message from college president Epler saying officials had selected Ohlone as its name but didn't want to vote officially on it until he returned to the hall. He basically shamed them into naming it Ohlone.

The College is Named Ohlone (For the Time Being) July 12, 1967 Board Meeting (Board Minutes, Appendix 16) On the day of the July 12, 1967 Board meeting, the Argus (A-062a) reported that a reconsideration of the name Ohlone was, “expected to be brought forward, either by at least two Trustees who are on record in opposition to the name Ohlone, or a group of citizens who favor either of at least two alternatives. Expected to be strongly touted are Mission Valley and Newmont, a newcomer to the name derby and a combination of the two cities in the District.”

In the same edition, the Argus published an editorial strongly urging the name of the college not be changed. It is difficult over 50 years later to unravel the various motives involved in the struggle to name the college. However, the editorial clearly identifies a political motivation on the part of two of the Trustees. The editorial,

entitled “Ohlone Is the Right Name,” is attached in Appendix 17. It should be said, as noted below, that Mr. McCord did state at the subsequent Board meeting he was not in favor of the name Mission Valley. It is important to know that Mr. McCord was a reporter for the Fremont News-Register, a direct competitor of the Argus.

The July 12 Board meeting began calmly with the swearing in of three recently elected Trustees: Abraham Hochler and John Costello had been reelected, and Joseph McCord, a newspaper reporter, had defeated incumbent Marilyn Blawie.

There was a larger than normal audience on hand. Clearly the word was out that a move was in the works to reconsider the June 28 decision to name the college Ohlone. During the public comment period, a number of audience members addressed the Board both for and against the decision to name the college Ohlone.

Those speaking in favor of the name were Mrs. Bernadette Eyselee, representing the Fremont Historical Resources Committee, Chris Youngerford, student of the college, Mr. Philip Galvan Ohlone Indian and secretary of the American Indian Historical Society, Mrs. Wilma Prewitt, Mr. Harry Brumbaugh, Mr. James Bray and Mr. Dan Silva. Several petitions were presented signed by numerous individuals supporting the name Ohlone.

The Board meeting minutes summarized their points as follows: The Board had made a decision and should not change it; to name the college after the local Indian group would be a distinct honor for a group which provided much of the early history of the area in the beginning of cultural and educational programs; and personal preference for the name.

Those speaking against the name were Dr. Don Emerson representing the Fremont Dads for Better Education, and Miss Cheryl Miller and Mr. James Millet, both students-to-be at the college.

On behalf of the Fremont Dads for Better Education, Dr. Emerson presented a formal statement objecting to the selection of the name. The Argus (A-062b) reported him as stating the group’s opposition was due to the "questionable image” of the name Ohlone. He explained that while his group admired the Ohlone people and their history, they felt the name, “did not relate to an institution of higher learning” and proposed the name John C. Fremont College for consideration.

The Board meeting minutes summarized the points made to reconsider the name as follows: Further review and careful study should be given before the selection of the name; some students were not happy with the name; and possible uncomplimentary parodies are possible with the name (the Argus (A-062b) reported a person mentioned the name “Baloney College”).

After the public comment Mr. McCord moved to rescind the action at the June 28 Board meeting meeting adopting the name “Ohlone College” as the name of the college in the District. The motion was seconded by Rev. Wilson

The Argus report (A-062b) of the meeting stated, “He (McCord) maintained that the previous action was premature and he denied any political motive in his action. He said he had no specific name in mind but that he was opposed to the name Mission Valley because it already was used in a commercial venture.” The paper had alleged that Mr. McCord would be bringing forward the name Mission Valley, the name of a real estate development firm and his former employer.

During the discussion on the motion, Board members in support of reconsideration made the following points: 1. The permanent college site had not been selected, 2.

Such an important decision as naming the college should receive more study, and 3.

The newly elected Board member and the Board member absent at the time the action was taken should both have the opportunity to vote on the name.

Board members opposed to the motion countered that: Strong community support was evident at the Board meeting when the action was taken in support of the name; the Board had made a decision and should stay with it; adequate time and publicity and appropriate procedure was allowed for the determination; and the name had historical significance to the area served by the District.

The Trustees who supported the name originally (Lyle Edmison, Wesley Sears, and Charles Snow) were joined by John Costello in defeating the motion. Costello had voted against the name at the previous meeting but was opposed to rescinding the decision because such an action would cause the Board, "to go on, forever and ever."

The name of the college remained Ohlone, and does so to this day. However, as will be seen, Mr. McCord would revisit the name of the college the following year.

Mr. Gene King was a reporter for the Argus covering the junior college developments in those days. Mr. King wrote a somewhat humorous and very enlightening commentary about the naming process at the time. The commentary was published on July 13 and is attached in Appendix 18.

King reported that he learned from William Collins, college administrative assistant, 56 suggested names had been submitted to the Board for consideration.

[A list found in the college archives shows the District received 52 name suggestions from the community, in addition to Ohlone. The full list is presented in Appendix 18. In the commentary, King mentioned some of the names including Mark Twain, Coast, Washington, Reagan, Carlos Bee, Dumbarton, Pacific Ocean, Mission, and, of course, Ohlone. He also quipped that college students often become possessive over their campus and one student-to-be suggested re-calling it “Ours!” Another suggested name was Newmont, an interesting attempt at compromise.

The commentary ends with a great line, “Whatever the name turns out to be one thing seems certain: someone or something famous or near famous will more than likely lend its name even if it turns out to be a famous ditch (that was suggested as a name), the “Hetch Hetchy.”

It is interesting to note when the Washington Township towns of Niles, Mission San Jose, Irvington, Centerville and Warm Springs were moving ahead in 1956 for a consolidated city, the possible names being considered for the new city included Washington, Fremont, Mission City, Alvarado, Peralto [sic.], Dumbarton, Mission Valley and Union City. A Citizens Committee eventually approved the name Fremont by a very small vote. (Gardiner) Teams Became “Saints” (rather than “Pathfinders,” “Redskins” or “Condors”) During the month of March 1967 District staff began an outreach effort to the five high schools (Newark, Washington, Mission, Kennedy and Irvington – American did not exist at the time) and two seniors were elected from each school to meet on March 29 to serve as a Student Advisory Committee to advise on procedures, school colors, team name, and later a name for the college. At the April Board meeting Trustees voted unanimously to approve the students’ recommendation of Forest Green, Green Bay Gold, and White as the official college colors.

At the September 13, 1967 Board meeting, two weeks before classes were to start, Jimmie Jesus, serving as spokesman for the Student Advisory Committee, announced that the group had chosen the following four names for the Board’s approval: “Saints,” “Pathfinders,” “Redskins,” and “Condors.” Board members approved all names but felt that the students themselves should make the final choice of a single name. A motion passed unanimously by the Board to ask the Student Advisory Committee to arrange for an election at the time of registration to select one of the four names submitted and report the final selection made by majority vote, to the Board at its next meeting.

At the September 27, 1967 Board meeting the results of the vote on the team name were reported: Ohlone Saints: 338; Ohlone Redskins: 256; Ohlone Pathfinders – 192; and Ohlone Condors: 130.

In compliance with previous Board action, the name “Saints” became the official team name.

The College Could Have Been Named Kennedy College The 1967-68 academic year went well for the new Ohlone Junior College, as faculty, administrators and students settled in to their temporary quarters at the former Serra Center for Girls on Washington Avenue in Fremont. On June 5, 1968, as the first graduating class was readying for their commencement later that month, the voters of Fremont and Newark approved the $11.1 million bond measure to support construction of a permanent campus. In the press, this local victory was greatly overshadowed by the assassination that same day of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

At the June 26, 1968 Board meeting (Board Minutes, Appendix 20) Trustee Joe McCord introduced a proposal to change the name of the college from Ohlone to Robert F. Kennedy College in honor of the recently slain Senator and Presidential

candidate. McCord had voted against naming the college a year before when he was first elected to the Board. There was almost unanimous opposition from the Board members and the audience.

The Board minutes indicate that Mr. McCord distributed and read a statement proposing the Board consider renaming Ohlone College in honor of John and Robert Kennedy and asked that the item be placed on the August agenda. (Appendix 21) A subsequent Argus editorial said the statement was eloquent but ill timed.

Board members and citizens in the audience discussed at great length their personal viewpoint regarding Mr. McCord’s proposal. Mr. McCord stated his proposal was meant to promote open discussion. The item was placed on the August agenda to allow the community time to voice their opinion in its regard through letters to the Board, to the editor of the newspapers, and through telephone calls. This request for input prompted another strongly-worded editorial by the Argus published June 28, 1968 calling for the name Ohlone not to be changed.

(Appendix 22) One member of the audience at the June 26, 1968 meeting was a young Santa Clara University graduate student, John Weed, who nine years later in 1977 would be elected to the Ohlone College Board of Trustees (by 21 votes he liked to remind folks) and went on to serve with distinction for 33 years. During John’s tenure on the Board, the college would add a fine and performing arts center and a center for basic skills and instructional computing, pass a $150 million bond measure to build a student center on the Fremont Campus and a second campus complex in Newark, and pass a $350 million local bond measure to transform the academic core of the Fremont Campus. He retired from the Board in 2010.

The College Remains Ohlone (For Good!)

At the August 28, 1968 Board Meeting (Board Minutes, Appendix 23) Mr. McCord willingly withdrew his name change recommendation after surveying the evidence of public opinion which almost unanimously advocated retention of the name of Ohlone College. The Argus reported McCord stated he had, “got the message.”

The ensuing discussion covered the possible naming of the future gymnasium or an athletic field for Robert F. Kennedy in honor of his athletic interests; memorial contributions in the Kennedy name to the Ohlone Foundation for Scholarships and Loans; establishing a library memorial fund; and participation of a citizens’ committee to ascertain a worthy Robert F. Kennedy Memorial at Ohlone.

Following the discussion, it was moved by Mr. McCord, seconded by Mr. Hochler, and passed unanimously to consider the establishment of a library memorial fund at Ohlone College in the name of Robert F Kennedy. President Edmison appointed Mr. McCord to chair a committee committed to study this memorial fund and report back to the Board during the middle of October. Mr. Hochler, Mr. Bray, Mrs. Prewitt, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Karasek, and the Superintendent were also asked to serve on this committee.

At the November 6, 1968 Board meeting Mr. McCord reported the committee had met on morning of September 14, 1968 and come up with a proposal to establish a library book memorial fund honoring the late Robert F Kennedy. The fund was to be widely communicated and donations were to be solicited. Books purchased from the fund should bear book plate labels with the name “Ohlone College – RFK Memorial Fund” along with the donor’s name. Students were to be encouraged to sponsor a social event for the purpose of raising funds and to hold an annual memorial service for Senator Kennedy in June of each year.

The “Saints” Become the “Renegades” At the June 26, 1968 Board meeting mentioned above (Appendix 20), the Board was presented with a request from the student body to change the nickname of the athletics teams from the Saints to the Renegades. Some concern was raised about the name Renegades when the Ohlone people were mainly peaceful people. After a lively discussion, the Board approved the request by a 4-2 vote.

At several times over the years Phil Galvan was asked what he thought of the name Renegade. Thinking he would feel the name was denigrating his people, those asking his opinion were surprised when he said, “I suggested they used that name.”

He explained that the Indians under the control of Mission San Jose had the most “renegades” and this was a point of honor for the Ohlones. His only request for the use of the name Renegades was that the college teams be winners!

From “Junior” to “Community” At the October 12, 1966 Board Meeting, as the focus was on the bond election scheduled for the next month, Board President, Mr. Wesley Sears, reminded the Board and the audience that, “…we are building a community college geared to the needs of the community, and this should be emphasized.” College President Dr. Stephen Epler stated the trend nationally and in the California was to use the term “Community College.”

At the September 2, 1970 Board of Trustees meeting President/Superintendent Dr. Stephen Epler informed the Board that, “The State Legislature by law has changed the designation of a ‘junior college district’ to a ‘community college district.’ The County Counsel indicated that action by the local Board was not needed. The change was effective November, 1970.” (Appendix 24) The modern era for California Community Colleges began in 1967 when two studies found the State Department of Education weak and unable to lead community colleges. The Legislature and Governor Reagan created a stand-alone Board of Governors and an Office of the Chancellor for California Community Colleges. This severed the structural link with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Office of the Chancellor was given the same duties and responsibilities as the State Department of Education and its Superintendent. (Agency Review)

In the October 1967 “President’s Message” of the inaugural college newsletter Dr. Epler explained that Senator Walter Stiern, of Bakersfield, authored a bill for a separate state fifteen member board to govern the “California Community Colleges.” The term “junior college” is replaced by “community college,’ which emphasizes service to its local citizens. Fremont-Newark Junior College District becomes Fremont-Newark Community College District.

The Ohlone Community College District In 2001, the District proposed and the voters approved the $150 million Measure A Bond to build a new campus in Newark and a Student Services Building on the Fremont Campus. When the Alameda County Registrar of Voters office was identifying the precincts to be involved in the election it was determined that a number of the precincts of the District were actually in Union City. This started a discussion regarding the name of the District being limited to Fremont and Newark.

Trustee John Weed came forward with the proposal to change the name to the Ohlone Community College District. According to Mr. Weed, A principal part of my argument for naming the District Ohlone was my belief that Ohlone College should not be defined to a specific local area.

Rather, Ohlone had current international programs, and the potential to become a leader in education worldwide. The location near Silicon Valley warranted a far broader perspective than commonly found in the community college system.

The name change was also seen as a way to ameliorate some of the divisions that sometimes occurred between Fremont and Newark interests on the Board.

At the request of the Board, President/Superintendent Dr. Floyd Hogue reviewed the proposal with the Faculty Senate and the President’s Advisory Council and both groups endorsed the idea. Dr. Hogue brought the recommendation to the June 26, 2002 Board meeting as Resolution No. 41/01-02 (Appendix 25). The resolution was passed unanimously by the Trustees to be effective December 1, 2002.

The major points of the resolution included: 1. The college was officially named Ohlone College on June 28, 1967 in honor of the Ohlone Indians, early inhabitants of the Fremont-Newark area. The Ohlone people helped the Franciscan Fathers build Mission San Jose in the late 18th century; 2. Ohlone College offers far greater name recognition with the constituencies of the District than does Fremont-Newark Community College District; and 3. The proposed name will promote better cohesiveness within the District.

Knowing the history of the original decision to name the college, it is reassuring the rationale presented in this resolution to name the District Ohlone mirrored the rationale for naming the college Ohlone years earlier.