2 Opinion
ROUNDUP: October 26, 2011
—EDITORIAL—
—Letters to the Editor— Dear Editor:
I am writing to follow up on a story that was printed back around May 2011, regarding the care of the horses housed at Pierce College, and the fact that one was in such poor health, that it had to be euthanized due to the lack of care it was getting by the keeper, who was subsequently suspended from his post for attempting to cover up the fact that the horse was in such poor condition.
Maria Salvador / Roundup
Get out of your carts
Sheriffs and cadets are seen on campus in carts, but they need to patrol on foot to secure places that carts don’t fit
Sure, we have a 24-hour Sheriff’s Station on campus and we’ve seen cadets around a few times, but most of the time we find them riding through campus on their carts and sweeping by all too quickly. What’s more, there are places where trouble could occur and those carts won’t fit. Riding around in carts is fine but only occasionally walking about isn’t enough. They need to patrol on foot, enter the buildings where students attend class and seek out the dark places where criminals lurk. Since we have a public, 426-
acre campus, more coverage and regulation by security is necessary. Students should be able to see campus security as they walk to class. Each cadet and sheriff has three different eight-hour shifts, according to Security Officer Justin Ramos. During morning ballet in the North Gym, “creepers” sometimes hang around the doorway and hall just staring into the class. When it’s over, they finally leave and when asked if anyone knew them, the dancers usually say no.
Such situations make students uncomfortable and disrupt their learning environment. And that’s just during the day. A typical evening class at Pierce ends at approximately 10 p.m. Ramos prefers working the night shifts because they get better calls and things get a little more interesting. At that time, the campus is often deserted, with the exception of the occasional night school student leaving class and making their way across the dimly lit campus. The last thing one wants to see is a creepy man or woman lurking
behind them in the parking lot. On the contrary, the sight of an armed sheriff patrolling would be comforting. There are supposed to be sheriffs patrolling throughout the evening, but they are rarely visible to students on campus after 7 p.m. They must make their presence known by walking through the halls, parking lots, behind and around our buildings during the day as well as in the evening. As students we should be able to feel safe no matter what time of day it is.
2.0 GPA! I believe this is what is keeping the competent students (3.0 and above) to come forward and represent the ASO. Low entry requirements mean low standards. A student who has “maintained” 2.0 GPA is barely capable managing his or her own schoolwork. If these students join the ASO, it is most likely for the reason that they need to add it to their application, and not for the reason of the betterment of the campus or the student body. In your editorial you mention, “Having a genuine interest in becoming a student leader wouldn’t hurt either.” This statement sounds like the college is literally “begging” students to come forth, in which case we have a fundamental problem. Where are the students from the list of students who make it to the Dean’s list every semester? Is it the ASO’s reputation?
I have noticed that the horses are back at the stables and I want to make sure that we don’t forget about what happened to them last year. I am hoping that someone at the College will continue to monitor the conditions that the horses are kept in to ensure that they are treated humanly and that this does not happen again. I would appreciate a follow up story highlighting what has changed in their treatment and care.
If we are interested in bringing forth change, then it must start with the standards being revised; dedication, competence, and scholarly achievements must be given importance. The “drivers of the vehicle provided by the ASO” must be above the rest of the student population in terms of their achievements and certainly not below. Every semester I have witnessed students standing at every nook and corner of the campus asking for endorsement to become a senator. When asked their goal for the student body, most do not even know what ASO stands for; leave alone their role as a senator.
Sylvia DSouza
Read the rest of the letter online at www.theroundupnews.com Pierce and Smokers If you are a smoker, Pierce is not an easy place for you. Most of the old “smoking areas” are gone and you are relegated to smoking in the parking lots. Even these sanctuaries are under attach and may be gone in a year or so. Let me say that I am sympathetic to your addiction. It is difficulty dealing with the added stress of school and using tobacco seems to help. Your cravings can cloud your good judgment and your natural friendliness. They can even make you down right mean. To help, when Pierce put in the Non-Smoking Campus rule it also offered free Stop Smoking help at the student
health center. The subject came up again last week at the Faculty Senate, with one of the faculty pointing up the difficulties of trying to police the smokers. Lots of other faculty joined in with their stories and pointing out that one of their own faculty members was one of the big offenders. It was also noted that a new law AB-795 was passed that allowed Community Colleges to set and enforce penalties for smokers. The result will be to put some teeth into the law.
Joseph Parret Professor of Computer Applications
Read the rest of the letter online at www.roundupnews.com
—COMICS— —Thumbs Up— There will be a new Student Informational Syestem coming Jan. 17, 2012. Starting today Made With Love will be holding a food drive every other Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Mall. Ars Poetica, French Club, 4-Corners Co-Op, Latin American Culture and Literature Club, and Performing Arts Club are organizing Halloween Feast in The Great Hall Monday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 9 p.m. It’s free and open to the public
—Thumbs Down— Cancellation of Winter session at Pierce has been finalized The marquee on The Mall is still not being used. There are going to be less physical books in the library. Crime is up on campus.
Maria Salvador / Roundup
Roundup
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Letters to the Editor Policy: Letters and guest columns for or against any position are invited. Letters should be kept as brief as possible (300 words or less) and are subject to non-substantive editing. Letters must be signed and include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms or initials will not be used, but names may be withheld upon request and approval of the Editorial Board. The Roundup publishes “Letters to the Editor” that are not obscene or libelous and do not contain racial
There is still no cafeteria.
denigration. Writers are given the opportunity to revise unacceptable letters. The Pierce College Roundup will not publish, as letters, literary endeavors, publicity releases, poetry or other such materials as the Editorial Board deems not to be a letter. The deadline is noon Thursday prior to the issue date. Editorial Policy: The Pierce College Roundup position is presented only in the editorials. Cartoons and photos, unless run under the editorial masthead, and columns are the opinions of the creators and not necessarily that of the Roundup. The college newspaper is published
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