| For those students who found Aug. 17 a little too early to go back to school, Pierce is offering shortterm classes beginning Sept. 14 'andrunningthroughDec.14. The September College will shortenthefallsemesterfrom18to I 14 weeks and will offer 12 courses, I scehduled on weekdays, week nights,andSaturdays.
Enrollment will take place from I 8:30 a m -7 p.m.'today and tomorrow and from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. FridayintheAdmissionsOffice.
'
“This is great for the growing numbersofstudentsinahurryto
finish their academic programs,” said E. Bing Inocencio, Pierce Collegepresident. The classes include Political and Social History of the United States, scheduled from 6:30-10 p.m. Mondays and the Role of Women in the History of the United States, • offered on Tuesdays from 3:30-7 p.m. Priciples of Economics One will be .offered from 6:30-10 p.m. Mondays and 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays. A Pre-Calculus class will meet from 1-4:10 p.m. Fridays and9am-12:30p.m.Saturdays.
General Psychology is schedu;ed from11a.m.-2:30p.m.Saturdays. OtherSaturdayclassesincludetwo sectionsofIntermediateReadingand CompositionandonesectionofCollege ReadingandComposition.Thethree Englishcourseswillmeetfrom9a.m.12:30p.m.Saturdays. Additionally, a Government of the United States section is scheduled from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays, while a Pre-Algebra course will be offered from 9 a.m.12:30p.m.Saturdays Students may call (818) 7196404formoreinformation.
Enrollment drops districtwide
By Jeff Zacuto StaffWriter
Despite a concerted effort to increase enrollment. Pierce College's current enrollment is down 10.34 percent from last fall, the third greatest decline among the Los Angeles Community College District.
A Sept. 3 enrollment comparison shows the Pierce fourteenth day enrollment total at 13,546, which is a decrease of 1,535 students from the fourteenth day of instruction lastfall.
These statistics, provided by the LACCD, indicate that among the nine district campuses. Pierce has the third lowest percentage of returning students for the fall semester. District-wide, enrollment is,down by 6,672 students, 6.1 percentfewerthanlastfall.
Dr. Joy McCaslin, Dean of Student Services, said Pierce has focusedonseveralmethodsto
£t A majorpartoftheenrollmentproblemisthat thesemesterstartstooearly.”
increase its enrollment, including three weeks of local radio advertisements. postcard reminders to returning students not yet enrolled, direct mail pieces and early admissions from 14 local "feeder” high schools like El Camino High SchoolandTaftHighSchool.
A phone campaign to contact hundreds of returning students who had not yet enrolled was also part of the recruiting effort. The phone campaign got “a lot of positive feedback," McCaslin said. Some students were simply unaware that the semester was starting so early, shesaid.
Dr. Carmelita Thomas, vice presidentofacademicaffairs,agrees. Thomassaidthata“majorpartof
Air conditioning may come to Pierce, board to vote on project today
By Jason Hait StaffWriter
— DR.
CARMELITA THOMAS, vice president of academic affairs
the enrollment problem is that the semester starts too early.” In an attempt to alleviate that problem, Thomas is trying to setup new short-term classes in addition to thosealreadylistedonpages24and 25ofthefall1998schedule.
These new short-term classes are expected to be general education subjects like English, math, political science and history, and would startSept.14andendNov.14.
Thomas and McCaslin both indicated that the decline in enrollment could have a significant impact on next year's budget. (Funding for next year's budget is based on enrollment statistics from the previousyear.)
Pleasesee Enroll, page2
classroom lighting, new ceilings and an upgrade of classroom ventilation, according to Dave Bush, PlantFacilitiessupervisor. The project will cost approximately $ 5-6 million, according to Michael F. Holzer of All Temperatures Controlled Inc. in Chatsworth, the sole bidder for the project. Their bid was submitted Aug.26.
mihrrrews
The Associated Students Organization will host an openhouse todayfrom 11 a,m.-1 p.m. in the ASO trailer. Everyone is invited toattend.
A Red Cross “End of Summer Blood Drive” will take place in the Campus Center Sept. 14-16 from 9 a.m.-3p.m.
Friday is the last day for students to drop classes without receiving a grade of“W".
The Music Dept, will present a Noon Concert tomorrow at the Mainstage Theatre. The concert will feature Martha Masters, solo guitarist.Theconcertisfree.
ADA funds changes for disabled
By Alison Cohen StaffWriter
been to other colleges to find out where their sensibility is,” saidGabler. Pierce “provides the most for disabledpeople.” However, Gabler noted that before the new ramps “it was a pain in the neck getting to classes. Fasterrampshelpoutalot.”
The project is a two phase endeavor whose aim is to provide the most benefits to the campus and students as possible given the funds
available. According to plant facilities manager Dave Bush phase one is on scheduleandwithinitsbudget. Half of the bathrooms on campus are in the process of being revamped to bring the number of wheelchair accessible bathrooms from 43 stalls on campus to an as yet unknown number, according to Bush. Following a request by the LACCD, Bush said the changes thataremostneededandmostbeneficial to students were identified andincludedinphaseonechanges.
In order to use the approximately 1.5 million dollars to Pierce College effectively, phase two will focus on issues that are more expensive, such as elevators in buildings.
Construction began March 3 and will continue until the end of the one year contract at which time the projectshouldbecompleted.
Unless something beyond anyone's scope, such as a labor strike or material shortage, no extensions willbegranted.
Carlos Martinez, Dean of Academic Affairs at Pierce and former Special education director at East Los Angeles College, said that Pierce can now “accommodate disabledpeoplemuchmoreeasily."
Martinez added that Pierce will continue to “provide any support that we can” to the disabled communityoncampus. Not everyone on campus will use the new ramps or notice the new door handles but according to Norm Crozer, director of Special Services, some students “will be affected now and some will be affectedlater.”
Crozer said that the ramps are not limited to those 100 or so students whoareinwheelchairsatthistime. PleaseseeADA,page2
by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Office of Energy Assessment (OEA). FEMA money was obtained due to structural damage caused by the 1994 Northridge earthquake, while OEA granted Pierce approximately $2.8 million based on energy savings which would result from the project. The $2.8 million loan will be paid back on a yearly basis out of the money saved by energy conservation for 15 years. The annual payment is approximately $300,000,accordingtoVitone. The energy savings would be generated by primarily by the lowering of ceilings in classrooms, providing for more effective insulation, and the installation of an Energy Management System (EMS) which would include occupancy sensors that detect when a personhasenteredandleftaroom.
accordingtoBush. The sensors would provide for more effective energy management by turning off lighting and air conditioning when no motion is detected in a particular classroom after severalminutes.
“There’s no belter savings than to have something off.” reasoned Vitone?
Inadditiontothemotionsensors,
the EMS would provide plant facilities personnel with the ability to control lighting and air conditioningfromtheirhomesviacomputer. There are two critical phases of the project which will be approached simultaneously, accordingtoVitone. One phase will be the construction of the central air conditioning unit, which will be
instructors and students as their originalclassroomsareretrofitted. Bush warns that while many of the classrooms will be retrofitted for air conditioning early in the construction process, all buildings will receive air conditioning at the same lime, once the project is completed.
“We’vealreadyhadtheMath PleaseseeA/C,page2
Library hours return to previous schedule
By Gisele Ramirez-Gonzalez StaffWriter
After a spring semester that saw the Pierce College Library's hours cut by two-and-a-half hours each weekday, the library has returned to its previous hours for the fall semester.
The library hours are: MondayFriday 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Saturday 11-3 p.m. Under the former schedule, the library opened at 10 a.m and closed and 8 p.m Monday-Thursday and I p.m. Fridays, while its Saturday scheduleof10a.m-3p.m.remained.
Last semester’s shortened hours were the result of the Pierce administration not renewing the contract of one of the three full-time librarians, thereby reducing the number of full-timelibrarianstothree.
Administrators tried to lessen
the blow to the library’s hours by adding 13 hours of parttime. However, the full-time librarian worked 30 hours per week, leaving the library short 17 hours of labor necessary to maintain its schedule from last fall.
Library chairperson Florence Robin stated that “it was decided by the administration that the library was a very important function for students and the staffing necessary to keep the libraryopenwasapproved.”
In regard to having accomplished her goal. Robin said “1 had to justify the need for staffing by providing staffing standards set by various national library organizations and comparing us to other communitycollegelibraries.”
We’re happy with the increase in library hours because we know the students areaswell.”
As of Aug. 20, a total of 75 classes had been cut from the fallsemesterschedule. However, 23 classes had been added, including six English and four math classes. Additionally, a total of 317 sections had open space as of Aug. 14. The last day to add classeswasSept.4.
While enrollment at Pierce is down, some LACCD campuses seem to be doing well. Los Angeles City College’s enrollment is down the least — only 1.2 percent. Their headcount stands at 15,308, a decrease of only 186 students from the previous fall semester. Dr. Jackie Ireland, interim vice president of academic affairs, said LACC has been working hard to increase their enrollment.
She said that City College has had to cut some classes from its fall schedule just as Pierce has. She said that no single reason can explain their increase in enrollment. “We (at LACC) have
worked together as a team to increase enrollment,” said Ireland. LACC has also expanded their weekend classes and introduced newcertificateprograms.
“We are trying a lot of different things," said Ireland. She also said that their enrollment increase might be due to their first-time use of a new class schedule called block scheduling. Block scheduling arranges slightly longer class sessions into Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday blocks, leaving Fridays open for laboratory work and 3 or more hour blocks ofclasses.
Department call us and they want to be the first to move,” into the target classrooms in hopes of receiving air conditioning first. “It’s not like that — everybody will receive air conditioningatthesametime.”
Areas of the campus that are planned to receive the air conditioning include the Campus Center, the Administration Building, and the following classroom buildings: art, physics, chemistry, social sciences, English, modem language, behavioral sciences, math, computer science, and life science, fine arts anddrafting.
Neither the bungalows nor the Men’s or Women’s Gym will receiveairconditioning.
The library, while currently using an air conditioning system, will be connected to the new central plant in case the dedicated library system fails, saysVitone.
The Bookstore will not receive air conditioning because it has incurred over 50 percent structuraldamage,primarilydueto
“Myconcerniswhy thereisonlybidder,”
— JAMES HEINSELMAN, district chancellor
the Northridge earthquake. As a result, this building will most likely be tom down and a new building willbeconstructed,saysBush.
The air conditioning will be provided by a refrigerant system, which uses refrigerant machinery to chill water at the central plant. The chilled water would then be piped through an underground system to cooling coils that will be installed in the individual buildings. Warm air passes through the coils and is cooled down before it reaches the individual rooms, according to Vitone.
Theprojectistheresultofnearly13 yearsofstudiesofhowtobestprovide the campus with air conditioning, accordingtoBush Anairconditioningfeasibilitystudywas
“We started realizing it was not a goodidea,”saysBushwhoexplained thatthesystemwouldhavebeencomprisedofnoisyrooftopunitswithalife expectancy of 15 years. The life expectancyofthecurrentsystem,which wouldusebothgasandelectricity,is approximately35years. Bushhopesconstructionwillbegin within30daysofapprovalbytheboard oftrustees.
However, James Heinselman, chancellor of the LACCD, warns that the project will not be approved without some discussion bytheboard.
“My concern is why there is only onebidder,"statedHeinsleman. Bushstatesthatthereoriginallytwo biddersfortheprojectThesecondbidderdroppedoutbecauseitwas"toobig of a job is what I heard ... you never knowtherealreasonsometimes.” Shouldtheboardapprovetheproject “the next step would be getting the contractsigned,"saidHolzer.
ADA brings campus to code
ADA / frompage1
“Any mobility impaired student” will be positively impacted by the new ramps on campus according to Crozer. However, the ADA improvements to the campus were not laudedbyall.
Construction materials and workers coupled with constant noise created “temporary inconveniences” saidMartinez.
Students were also inconvenienced by the construction on campus.
“One complaint was that new students didn’t know where to go for the closest bathroom" when they encountered one of the many closedbathroomsoncampus.
Martinez added that “maps would havebeenagoodidea”forthosestudents. Apparently, the ADA shares this
ideawithMartinez.
According to Bush, part of the phase one changes include 6 foot high, 4 foot wide, up-to-date directionalsignsoncampus.
“There’s a lot more to the project thanjustrestrooms,"hesaid.
Citing these directional signs as a "big improvement" on campus. Bush said that the ADA changes will make it “easier for new studentstoknowwheretogo.”
Pierce College Council discusses budget cuts at first meeting
By Laura Tate StaffWriter
that nearly eliminated student workers and Special Services Support, a disabled student's program. The student workers’ account was reduced from was $171,035 to $50,000. Special Services support was entirely cut from the budget. Special Services does receive funds from the state of California that are notaffectedbythisbudget.
Arthur Sherman, co-chairman of the budget committee of PCC. said that basically two problems caused the change in numbers. Approximately $115,000 more was spent than planned for hourly instruction for the fall of 1997-98
and Pierce received $463,000 less from the Los Angeles Community College District than expected. Sherman qualified recommended budget changes as not solid figures that could change. “It is too early in the year to say there is a budgetdeficit,"Shermansaid. CarmelitaA.Thomas,vice
president of academic affairs, said the original figuresexpected from the district were based on previous enrollment numbers and a prediction of future enrollment. The actual amount received from the district was based on actual enrollment figures, which werelowerthisyear.
Thomas said the budget committee is being "extremely creative and resourceful," and that Pierce would “continue to offer a full program ” “What I would like to have projected is that we (Pierce) are not a small college," Thomas said. “That we areabigstrongcollege.”
“A white elephant bleeding at both ends.” That is how trustee Gloria Romero, board member of the Los Angeles Community College District, characterized the situation involving the district’s purchase and subsequent sale of a building at 4050 Wilshire Blvd, and the current lease for district headquartersat770WilshireBlvd.
The building on 4050 Wilshire Blvd, has never been occupied since it's purchase in 1990 at the price of $12.5 million for use as districtheadquarters. It is currently in escrow at the sale price of $5.9 million. The sale is pending contingencies such as zoning changes that need to be approved, according to Blair Sillers, executive assistant to the chancellor.
“It was a good price when it was bought,"saidSillers.
“It was a fundamental mistake,” said Romero. "The market was different,"shesaid,“rightorwrong,it
Itwasagoodpricewhenitwasbought. — BLAIR SILLERS, executive assistant to the chancellor was bought at the height of themarket." The district had $5 million set aside to use for renovations that was later used to reduce the debt incurred by the purchase of the Certificates of Participation (COPS) - bonds that were sold to finance the purchase of 4050 WilshireBlvd.
One
'Fate of decentralization to be decided today
By Nataly Sosa
A decentralization plan described by the President of the LACCD Board of Trustees Elizabeth | Garfield as "the most exciting thing Ito happen to this district in many I years." will be voted upon at Itoday'sboardmeeting.
After a summer of reviews conI ducted by administrative commitItees involving the District I Academic Senate (DAS) and the American Federation of Teachers ](AFT), the plan will focus on saving the district money by downsizing, streamlining, or eliminating !district and college functions. It also intends to give colleges aulonlomyinbudgetaryprocesses.
I Decentralization is the suggested (solution to last year's budgetary criIsis. Garfield blames the district's financial trouble on bloated departments and overspending by the colleges.
By allocating district services and monies to the individual colleges, the expectation is each college will have more control over its own destiny. "It used to be that decisions were made at a central bureaucracy then imposed on the colleges. Now colleges will be able to make more decisions on their own,"Garfieldsaid.
"I want the college presidents to be able to make as many decisions as are practical," said District Chancellor James Heinselman. He did, however, identify that campuses often work under as much bureaucracy as the district. . As an
example, Heinselman suggested that department chairs be able to buy equipment without having to seekadministrativeapproval.
"The board will still get the ultimate say so," echoed Garfield, "the presidents will just get more input."
"My hope is to that we will be working closely with the presidents and meeting with the cabinet regularly."
The proposal for decentralization was originally decided upon earlier this spring, but progress was slowed due to violation of laws requiring that all decisions affecting academic curriculum be discussedwiththeacademicsenate.
In response, DAS president Winston Buller published a newsletter identifying the board's wrong doing and questioning attacks on the DAS made by the AFT. He subsequently wrote the L A. Times a letter describing the senate's "outrage when (the] board of trustees attempted to rapidly and drastically reform and decentralize programs,and.serviceswithout
Wewillnolongertolerateanydeficitatthe colleges.”
inputfromfaculty."
Since then, the DAS has been consulted and is cooperating in reformefforts.
While the district has aggressively pursued decentralization, the DAS approaches it more cautiously.
"The board thinks the solution is to just decentralize, but we aren't so sure. Ideally it looks good, but just shifting people around isn't saving money," Butler explained. He said the key to decentralization is downsizing while preserving optimum servicesforthestudents.
Heinselman also demonstrated caution when he warned that decentralization could prove more costly if certain things do not remain centralized, such as payroll. "We don't need nine peo
ple getting paid to do something one specialist could do," he explained.
A presentation outlining the decentralization process, detailing methods of procedure and identifying long-term goals was given at the July 24 board meeting by Evelyn Wong, president of West LosAngelesCollege. Included in the presentation were recommendations on how to approach reform of various district functions.
To date, some units of the District Office have been downsized, allocations to the colleges have increased and some district functions have been moved to various colleges.
Decentralization is hoped to sig
nificantly affect district spending. The budget, originally scheduled to have been approved on Aug. 26, willalsobevotedontoday.
"While much has been accomplished to date, there remains a sizeable number of offices yet to be reviewed," said Wong. Furthur, efforts and reorganization will be required for "several years to come" shesaid.
Although Heinselman says, "Our problem is that it takes so long to get things done," he is positive abouttheprogressbeingmade.
"So far the progress has been very good. It will take a lot of effort on behalf of a lot of people to keep the momentum going,” he said. According to Wong's report, most of the people involved in decentralizationareequallyaspositive.
"The recent communication from the District Academic Senate president to all faculty in the District enthusiastically supports (the board's] mandate on reform and reorganization,"shesaid.
— ELIZABETH GARFIELD, LACCD Board of Trustees President
New ASO Prez has higher hopes for Pierce
Following a tumultuous semester, new ASO president is taking over
By Yosuf Kahn StaffWriter
Confronting challenges and rising to the occasion to deal with changes are some of the qualities effective leaders should possess.
Delivering on promises made during election campaigns, is yet another facet of displaying strong leadership.
All eyes are on the Associated Students Organization, Heather Putnam, who was elected as ASO president on April 9. Putnam faces formidable challenges in the monthsahead.
The previous administration's inept handling of ASO funds and poor planning of events, are some of the legacies that Putnam is currently working on. Putnam will be under scrutiny by the academic senate during her term, expectations are high and she certainly has her workcutout.
Putnam said she is up to the task of representing the diverse needs of students on the campus. . “This organization (ASO) has the potential to bring changes beyond campus related issues, through state legislation,”saidPutnam.
“We will be working with the California Students Association of Community Colleges (CALSACC) on issues affecting students at the state level,” Putnam said. One of those issues is lowering the prices of textbooks, and the other is educationfunding Putnam will be attending a congressional committee on education funding in Washington D C on Monday, to learn more about the resources available for students whoneedfinancialhelp.
Communication as one of the tools essential to a representative government was one of the slogans used during elections by Putnam. Shehasliveduptohercampaign
HEATHER PUTNAM, ASO President promise by posting her office hour on the ASO trailer, making herself more accessible to students. “My role as ASO president is to represent and to be aware of all the studentsneeds,"saidPutnam.
Putnam plans to bring the ASO booth out of storage, and assign each senator to put in one hour a week to promote awareness of the ASO and the services they provide. Currently the ASO has five senators, they plan on having as many as15.
The ASO has a monthly bulletin posted in the trailer to promote awareness of all the events taking placeeachmonthduringthesemester. “We are inviting all students to the ASO trailer Open House today, to find out what is happening at the campus, district, and state levels," said Putnam. The Open House starts at I Oam and will continue till Ipmrefreshmentswillbeserved.
"We are reaching out to everyone. this is what communication is all about,” said Putnam. ASO Club Day also lakes place today on the mall.
Other events planned by the ASO for the semester includes the votefest and the homecoming dance.
The votefest will take place Oct.8, Councilman Richard Alarcon, Councilwoman Laura Chick and Trustee Georgia Mercer will bring voter awareness by speaking at this event, in the campus center. Homecoming activity dates are yet tobeset.
studentsandmembersneedsonand off the campus," said Putnam. Members can now enjoy free admission to all home football games. Cafe Bellissimo in Woodland Hills where Putnam is a manager will honor a 20 percent discount to ASO members.
Members can also purchase discountedticketsforMagicMountain
Other charitable events taking place during the semester will include the Canned Food Drive to help the poor and the needy during the Christmas season. “We are planning an essay contest. The five winners will receive $50 book scholarships in credit redeemable al thebookstore,"saidPutnam.
Besides opening communication channels with students another one
of Putnam’s goals is accountability for ASO funds. “I'm not going to spend $800 to lly to Washington D C. for two days,” said Putnam in reference to former ASO president Nicole Land's trip to D C. during theSpring1998semester.
The ASO budget of $214,000 for the 1998-99 fiscal year has already been allocated by the previous administration in April. "We can only move funds around when scheduled events that have funds allocated to them fall through, which creates a surplus a funds to be used towards other events," said Putnam.
Upon transferring from Pierce, Putnam plans on pursuing a degree in international relations. She is looking into a few schools namely Georgetown, Harvard and John Hopkins.
Putnam is currently also working on revising the constitution with the help of the academic senate. Students can vote for approval of the constitution on Oct.8, along with the new position of vice president for clubs. Julio Garola acting vice president of clubs is running for this new office. “I think the new constitution will be approved." said Putnam. Putnam, 21, a political science major aspires to run for student trustee for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) after her term as ASO president expires in June 30. 1999. "I'm thinking about running for this position,"saidPutnam.
Nations as a policy maker,” sail Putnam.
Putnam is currently furthers her political career by internin, with Congressman Brad Shermat Democrat-24lhdistrict. "I work with Sherman’s con stituents on casework ranging fron Immigration and Naturali/.atia Services (INS) cases to the prolj lems of the elderly with health an housing issues. Who knows 31 years from now I might run for con gross.”saidPutnam.
ThreeyearsagoPierceCollege gardener.DueTran,startedsomethingoncampus. Whathedidwasnotdifficult. Whathedidwasjustdifferentand nice. own them pus.
This started a friendly competition among the gardening staff, and every semester since they have donated their own time and money tobuyplantsandflowers.
“We
Each semester they get donations from the
This semester they got donations " from Pierce College president, E. Bing Inocencio, and Carmelita Thomas, vice president of academicaffairs.
“We
When
According
“I went straight to the top and did some arm twisting this semester,” said Dave Bush, Plant Facilitiesmanager “Aslongaswehavepeoplelike GardenersDueTranandToddSchrotenboerplantflowerspurchasedwithdonatedmoneyalongsideMasonAve. dedicatedgroup,”saidBush. thisonourcampus,Ibelievewe
Lisa Matheus/Roundup StudentThomasBecklinwatchescuriouslyasBethBenne,registerednurseand directorofthePierceCollegeHealthCenter,measuresBecklin’sbloodpressure.
by Latryshia Jones StaffWriter
project will be completed and ready to submit to the Pierce College Council (PCC) bythewinterholiday. With the PCC approval, she would like to see construction work begin on it by the following summer. 'I've been trying for two years to getalargerspace,”saysBenne.
“We need the space to facilitate the needs of our students and our growingstaff.” Services provided by the Student Health Center include emergency and first aid treatment, crisis intervention, physical exams, immunizations, treatment of acute medical problems, hearing and vision screening, health and family counseling and family planning services tonameafew.
The Student Health Center also provides various services for an additionalfee. Some services include a urine pregnancy test and a blood sugar test.
A Tetanus/Diptheria shot and a flu vacine will be available in October and November. “I will send out notices about the vaccine schedule,"Bennesaid.
Also, students requesting a vitamin B-12 booster can have it administered by the attending staff physician but must get the prescriptionfilledatapharmacy.
Other Health Center activities include an AIDS Awareness campaign beginning Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. and Oct. 14 and 15 from 9 a m. - 3 p.m. There will be an oral test and a self-test offered.
“We will have speakers going to the classrooms as part of the AIDS Awareness Program," commented Benne. “I would like to have everyone get involved in this. So many are infected and are not being treated.”
The health center is headed by Beth Benne. a full time staff member. registered nurse and director of theStudentHealthCenter.
Dr. Stephanus Ong. the directing physician, is in attendance up to five hours a week and Mary Dromi, GYN/adult medicine practicioner. is available for 21 hours on campus. Also on staff is
Cuts push Cafeteria on to back burner
by Noel Hall StaffWriter
A district hiring freeze and seven retirees last spring has left the Pierce College cafeteria with 12 employeescoveringtwoshifts. Whatdoesthismeantostudents? Itmeansashortageonsandwiches, fewer hours and a buffet line of empty trays where the hot line used tobe. Pierce College is not the only one to fall on hard times. Of the nine colleges in the district, Pierce and ValleyCollegesaretheonlycam-
puses to still offer food service to theirstudents.
“It all comes down to money,” said cafeteria manager Marty Vargas. “We will do what we can withwhatwehave.” The cafeteria's deficit is $24,723 according to their net profit or loss figures for 1997-1998. This figure includes the wages and benefits of theunionemployees.
Based on actual dollar loss from sales, the cafeteria is running over $3,000inthered.
new employees for the cafeteria because they don’t want to pay union wages and benefits to more employees,” said Vargas in reference to the district hiring freeze implementedlastspring. Despite the lack of staff however, the
“If
Roxanne Kotzman /Roundup
Ready... set spike!
ByRichTerpanjian StaffWriter
“Unfortunately,
every division qualifies for the playoffs," said head coach Turhan Douglas, who is entering hissecondyearinthatposition.
“Last year we had a very strong team, very experienced and very poised. But we lost two of our key players to Cal State University Northridge, a Division I team, and one to Whittier College, a Division III team. It's going to be tough to repeat the good performance we had last year without them," said Douglas.
The Brahmas will definitely have to initiate a different strategy than they had last season considering the different makeup of this year's team. The team, partly because of itsyoungplayersandpartly
because of its lack of height, will need to “utilize its speed and outside players more so than last year,” saidDouglas.
"This year, at least so far, we are not as big height-wise, and we arc notasexperienced."saidDouglas.
"It's tough because we can't give out the scholarships that all the big schools do and the girls have to work and often have tough schedules to work around, but I think we’llbefine,"hesaid.
Coach Douglas seemed excited to renew old rivalries with some of theteamsintheconference.
“Santa Monica College, from what I hear, is going to be the team to beat this year in our conference. We also want a shot at Bakersfield who beat us out last season for the playoffs,"hesaid.
“The advantage is that we haven't lost to Santa Monica in two years, and we’ve had a very exciting rivalry with Bakersfield the last twoyears."
In fact, it has been Bakersfield barely beating out Pierce for that lone playoff spot in the Western State Conference (WSC) Southern Division the past couple years. The “revenge" factor will play a key roleinbothmeetingsthisyear.
TheWSCDivisiongamesare
what will be the main focus of the team as that is what will ultimately determine whether or not the team makes the playoffs. "That's what every team plays for,” said Douglas.
Pierce’s youth and inexperience will be tough to overcome in a conference with a history for its smart, experienced play.
“Realistically, we need to focus on learning the basics. Most of the players are in their first year and this will be their first experience in conference play. We only have two returningplayers.”
One of those returning to the squad is team captain Kim Cox, a 6-foot-l middle blocker. “She’s our leader and a strong player.
Definitely our oldest and most mature, experienced player. She could probably cut it at the next level,”thecoachsaid.
Douglas will undoubtedly need her leadership capabilities to help withtheyoungteam.
Part of the team’s success last year, an “extra advantage” Douglas called it, was the crowd at the games. Part of that is putting a winning team on the court, but Douglas knows what an advantage the crowd can be. “It creates a good, competitive atmosphere that the
girlscanfeedoff."
The young team will be a challenge for the coach, but “he’s a miracle worker," according to a fellow coach who walked by Douglas’ office,“he'lldojustfine."
Douglas hopes the first game against Cypress College September 16 will give him a good idea of what the season will be like and what adjustments he will have to make. “Above all, a positive attitude and willingness to win are mostimportant,"Douglassaid.
Lyons pulls his weight
By Nick Kaprelian StaffWriter
The
The Pierce Budget Committee I approved Bob Lyons, the Pierce Collegeathleticdirector,appeal.
According to Lyons, the Athletic Department is different than any other department in that they needed the money immediately rather than to start off with 50 percent of their planned supply funds as will theotherdepartments.
"We need to spend money up frontjusttogetgoing,”saidLyons.
The Athletic Department was ! in such dire need of equipment that as of Aug. 25, the Pierce College Girls Volleyball team did not have theirownvolleybails.
This budget predicament is a situation that neither Lyons nor the rest of the departments were accustomed to. The budget committee decision was to give out only 50 percent of each department’s allocation and put another 16 percent in a pool, which would be used on an as-neededbasis.
Despite the sudden change in the department's financial freedom, I having their funds drastically | reduced is not a concept totally foreigntotheschool.Infact,last I April, “the district put on a freeze." onallofthedepartments'money.
Despite being theonly department to receive all of its allocated | funds up front, they still aren't j receiving the amount of money that I the athletics of other community collegesarereceiving.
“It’s my feeling that none of the current [schools] have the same financial problem,” said Lyons, • referring to the other schools in the Idistrict. Because of the lack of funds, the I Athletic Department has been |forcedtoattempttoraisetheirown
“We’reflatbroke.”
—BOB LYONS, athletic director
money. In fact, the Labor Daj| Pierce College Carnival was at event partially coordinated bf Lyons, with many of the booth having been manned by Picrcf Collegeathletes. ‘ Lyons has been trying to brim the carnival to Pierce College foe almost three years and calls it th? [biggest] carnival west of the Mississippi.”
A majority of the Budges Committee's representatives havt supported Lyons support, rcalizinf that sports has different needs that mostactivities.
“There was a question raised Why should athletics be held outf Most of the departments are willing to cooperate with [the] crisis 1 hand. They were able to see the need. The faculty has been great I’mverygratefultothem."
“People are beginning to realm we generate income. Athletics pro' vides students, students provide) money,"saidLyons. U Unfortunately, the Athlelitj Department still is not receiving thefundsthatitneedstorunacon>' sistently successful program. 1
In
“We're flat broke. We havj
“These
Lyons
“My take is, contracting
ues the downward spiral.. .1 hoper goesaway."
Team hopes to end notorious streak
Norton sees pew look bn offense
Sy Nick Kaprelian
ijJtaffWriter
|A new quarterback and a new jbtlook on success brings hope to lead coach Bill Norton and the *998 Pierce College Football sea-
? Calvin Zinck, a transfer quarterSack from Moorpark College, leads ^potentially explosive offense and las high expectations placed upon tisshoulders.
g According to Norton, Zinck is, .‘the best’quarterback since the 1KPierce football program] was "^started.” 'D| Zinck should have plenty of ■ptions to throw to with the speed v‘oddepththattheBrahmashaveat "wdereceiver.
*1 Vaughn Corley, 1997 First Team dl- Conference, leads the receivtig corps along with returners
"Truce Johnsosn, All-Conference honorable Mention, and Basil ^funcantell along with Eastern .ArizonatransferDamonColeman.
Coach Norton should know a U(lingortwoaboutreceiversconsid|ing he converted Rodney ftilliams, currently on the Oakland Riders, from a quarterback to a Jceiver during Williams' years at lerce.
j_lThePiercegroundattackshould , Jso be solid with transfer running Wek Raymar Adams, Moorpark --allege,readytoleadtherushing
“Our strengthis in the skilled area,” said Norton, who runs a runand-shootoffense.
If returning offensive linemen Brian Fee, center, and Jeremy Atteberry,offensivetackle,canprovide consistency and protect Zinck, thePiereceoffensehasachanceof beinghighlysuccessful.
“It all starts up front,” said Norton.“Wehaveagoodgroupbut not]alotof]depth.”
The defense should be better than last year's with returners Ed
Lipskey, defensive tackle, and Rob Anamizo,defensiveback.
The strength of the Brahma defenseshouldbeinthesecondary, which brings a lot of experience to thehuddles.
UnfortunatelyforPierce,therest of the conference is vastly improved from last year. College of the Canyons has put a lot of money in to their brand new football program and expectations on themarehigh.
Even though Valley College is in another division than Pierce, the
rivalry is still going strong for their game to be played on Sept. 19 at PierceCollege. However,therearetoughteams in their division as well. “I would saytheteamtobeatisBakersfield,” saidCoachNorton. Withtheamountofmoneyspent byBakersfieldCollegeonthefootball program, they have the luxury of bringing in many out-of-state players which keeps their winning tradition alive, whereas Pierce only gets the occasional non-Califomian transfer.
According to Norton, the Pierce football program does not have much to offer over better-budgeted schools besides a nicer stadium than most and the potential for an iincomparableeducation.
“The trouble with football [is] we have the most expensive sport. Whenwegotogames,wetaketwo buses,"saidNorton,referringtothe team'scosts.
Another financial situation that Nortonmustdealwithishiscoaching staff. “My problem is I'm coachingacollegefootballteamby
myself in terms of full time [coaches],” says Norton who has four part-timeassistantcoaches.
But Coach Norton has a differentperspectiveoffootballnowthan he didwhen hefirst started coachingatPierce10yearsago.Hefeels that the biggest mark that he has hadonthegameoffootballisnotin. the X's and O's of football but on theimpactontheplayer’slives. Accordin g to Norton, “I’ve learned to tell kids what to watch out for. I'm not so much win and loss[anymore]."
Jennifer L. Lee /Roundup
It’s getting a little warm around here
Yay, phone bank!
Many faculty and staff took part in a phone bank July 29 through August 13 to generate higher enrollment fortheFall1998semester.
Students who had not yet to registered for Fall 1998 classes were contacted through this program to generatehigherenrollment.
Thousands of Pierce studentswerephoned.
Hundreds of hours were spent by faculty and staff who were not paid for their time.
By assuming this responsibility,thesefacultyandstaff
memberssetanexampleof actionratherthanapathy.
Contacting these students demonstrated faculty and staff’s willingness and determination to share responsibility for Pierce’s enrollment numbers and therefore, the futureofthiscollege. More importantly, contacting these students demonstrates a sense of community that can be fostered on campusandoff.
With the involvement of many, the college may have a chance to be helped through astressfultime.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
From our prez
TotheEditor,
As a lot of us have experienced, thelastyearhasbeenrockyhereat Pierce, as well as in the Los Angeles Community College District. Wehavebeenheardabout financial problems at both levels, leading to extreme budget cuts at bothlevels.Thedepartmentalbudgets have essentially been cut in half. Our teachers are left without the resources to effectively give instruction. All of this topped off by a very confusing strategy of DECENTRALIZATION. Now I believe that decentralizing the districts is an excellent idea, in concept. It is a way of minimizing expenses by reallocating certain duties to the individual schools, in effect reallocating the expense of those positions to the schools, would that not also imply that certainauthoritywasbeingtransferred to the school level? And yet, it seems that this is not the case. Accountability and authority are in twototallyseparateplaces.
Is our education at the whim ofa group of politically inclined (not student-inclined??) trustees? It seems so. I have faith thatthosein power have the best of intentions, but I question whether they are actually thinking in terms of the students all the time. Are we not the reason for this institution to beginwith?
I have been told that “students come and students go,” and this is why students have no consistent voice at the district level or even hereoncampus. Unfortunately there is some truth
tothisstatement.Weareessentiallyacommutercampus;wecometo school, go to class and drive off. A minute percentage of us are even aware of the current events and importantissuesoncampus,inthe district, or for that matter, in the world.
This is why our student trustee does not even have an advisory vote. Students have not raised their voices loudly or effectively to demanditinthepast. Maybe they think “Oh, I'm out of here in a year or two anyway, so why should I care?” Well, the fact of the matter is that what we do now here on campus does matter and does make a difference. If we donotsetaprecedentofaneffective student voice NOW, the decision-makers will not begin to think intermsofstudents. In the end, my message is this: we need to be aware of the decisionsthatarebeingmadethataffect US,students. I implore the Roundup to be a more effective port of information to our students. You have been veryeffectiveinthepast,sokeepit up and make it better. I implore students to take an interest in what ishappeningoncampusandatthe district level, and offer your opinionwheneveryoucan. Ways of doing this are: joining theASOSenateorsimplyattending meetingssuchasthePierceCollege Council(PCC). Justdosomething.
HeatherPutnam ASOPresident PierceCollege
“I’m sure everyone will agreeit’slongoverdue.”
Such was the statement on the upcoming air conditioning project, made by Frank Vitone, plant facilities supervisor of heating, ventilation andairconditioning.
It is quite an understatement. Roundup archives indicate that an “air conditioning feasibility study” was last initiated in 1985, with hopes of an installation beginning in thefallof1986.
Whathappened?
Budgets were cut. Quarrels with the DWP ensued. In the end, the project was ill-conceived, and eventually scrapped.
But with the help of the state, the money has been procured and the project is slated to begin within weeks.
Pierce administrators have announced that Pierce will have air conditioning in two years. Vitone is even more optimistic, and believes the
Classes canceled, everyone
As if it weren’t hard enough to finish a college degree, there are now fewer classes available to students.
By the time school started, 75 classeshadbeencanceled.
Most of these classes were canceled mid-summer due to “lowenrollment”.
Because students have the opportunity to register as late as the beginning of the semester, it make more sense to allow students the chance to join classes that haven’t yet met the required enrollment.
Asofthethefirstweekof
school, enrollment was down by 10.6% (1,545 students) as compared to that time last year. It would stand to reason that by offering more sections to the student population, there would be more ofastudentpopulation.
The colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District get funds for each fulltime student admitted. In this era of budget cuts and limited resources, it behooves the administration to have as many full-timestudentsaspossible.
A full load is considered 12 units per semester. By cancel
ing even one-unit classes, a student could be one unit shy of a fullload.
Many students are being denied auo insurance, health insurance and some financial aid by being just one unit short.
Some studens were notified of a class cancelation by postcard that arrived just a few days before classes were sheduled to begin. Some of the classes canceled were unique to the scedule, eliminating the chance for a student to get credit for those specificclasses.Forexample,the
project can be completed in aslittletimeasoneyear.
Be it one year or two, we hope this long standing projectisfinallycompleted.
This campus cannot afford another disappointment. There are already too many reasons for students to look to other colleges for their education, such as better parking, more course offerings and, of course, air conditioning.
And with rumors of air conditioning projects dating back decades, the Pierce community has good reason to be skeptical.
It is now up to the administrators, plant facilities, and All Temperatures Controlled, Inc. to see that this long-overdue project is completed in a timelyfashion.
As students and faculty sweat it out in classrooms as hot as 103 degrees, it is time to give them another good reasontostayatPierce.
suffers
only section of History 81 (Introduction to Work Civilization I) has beei expunged. In contrast, despiti! the fact that two sections o English 101 have been canceled there are still 25 English 10 classesavailable. It is unrealistic and inconciey able to believe that Pierce cai preserve every section promise! in the schedule. But it simpl; makes good business sense
