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I
ELESCOPE Friday, May 14, 1993
Palomar Community College, 1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos CA 92069-1487
Volume 46, Number 22
4,000 students protest in Sacramento pate in "Budget Brawl '93." Although 28 tickets were purchased, only 22 people participated Over 4,000 California commu- in the event. Eighteen ASG memnity college students, including 40 bers, who were already in SacraPalomar students, ascended the east mento to attend the California Stusteps of the State Capitol May 10 to dent Association of Community protest the governor's proposed Colleges (Cai-SACC) Conference, joined them. enrollment fee hikes. Six Palomar EOP&S students The students were there to denounce Governor Pete Wilson and and Alpha Gamma Sigma member urge state legislators to implement Trish Hodny were part of the delthe half-cent sales tax. They also egation that demonstrated with lobbied to reject Wilson's proposed picket signs. Hodny said she was 300 percent fee increase at the com- showing her disapproval of munity college level. Wilson's proposal and said it was For over four hours, the students unfair. waved signs that read "Educate "I believe everyone should have Wilson" and "No More Wilson," a fair chance at an education," said and they chanted ''Wilson Must Go." Hodny,alawmajor. "lftheincrease The protesters huddled around goes through, one third of Palomar the east entrance of the capitol about College students will be excluded 100 feet from Wilson's office. Wil- next semester." Wilson has proposed an 11 person never came out to speak to the students or show his face through centcutincommunitycollegefunding which translates into $301 milhis window. However, at 4:30p.m. after most lion in lost funding. He has included students had left, Wilson was es- a provision that would offset this by corted by seven security guards from increasing fees by 300 percent raishis office in the State Capitol to an ing the per unit fees from $10 to $30. adjacent building. For students with bachelor's deThe Associated Student Government used funds from the student grees, fees will increase from $50 a representation account to fly mem- unit to $105 a unit As the crowd protested outside, bers of the general student body to Sacramento so they could partici- ASG leaders were inside the capitol
By Roger Fregoso Staff Writer
lobbying representatives. Several ASGmembershadappointmentsto see assemblymembers Bill Craven (R-Oceanside), Robert Frazee (RCarlsbad), Jan Goldsmith (RPoway) and others. ASG vice president of social affairs Joe Coyle met with Assemblymen Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside). "He thinks a fee increase should only be 10 percent because the budget has a lot of waste and 300 percent is not necessary," said Coyle. "He's not in favor of continuing the halfcent sales tax because the money from the tax is not specifically earmarked for colleges." Coyle added that he thinks Morrow understands the plight of the students because his wife is a Palomar College alumna Former ASG President Lowell Kepics was optimistic with the events earlier this week at the State Capitol but added that there is always a need for more student sup-
port "It was great, we got quite a few students out there but we would have liked to see the entire lawn filled," said Kepics. "It's great that we got inside the Capitol's walls and didn't just yell from the streets," said Coyle about lobbying assemblymembers in their offices.
Repr-esentation fee sparks confusion By Kathy Combs Staff Writer Since 1989 nearly half of Palomar' sstudentsbave been voluntarily kicking in $1 each semester for the student representation fee. The account has grown to over $&),000. The fund was established in a student election four years ago to financettavel,correspondenc;eand poone expenses for students who want to fight for their views by lobbying government officials. Palomarisoneof30schoolsinthe state that collect such a fee. Since the fee went into effect, student government leaders have traveled to Washington, D.C. and Sacramento to meet legislators on theit own turf. In September, fonner Associated Student Government PresidentDarleneLarimersaid student lobbying helped to keep proposed fee hikes to a minimum. Despite these successes, much confusion seems to surround the legal parameters for spending the fees. The state education code says the funds tnust be used for lobbying before city, county, dis-
have also been used to fmance trips for special interest groups on campus. In April, the Palomar Gay and Lesbian Association received $1,500 in matching funds to participate in anwch for gay rights in Washington, D.C. Students protested the fund's use by GALA because the clnb did not represent the entire school. Despite the dispute, Kim Huggett, director of college relations at the state cbancellor's oftice, said there is some fle:llibility trict and state government agen~ in the law. Hnggettmaintains that the state cies. Spending must be approved by the ASG and is supervised by education code specifies that the the school's head financial offi- funds should only beusedtocover e1penses for lobbying at the state cer. But according to Student Ac- and Iocai levels. tivities Director Jim Bowen, who Bowen agreed, but he argued oversees the fund, the way the that there is a way to use the fees code is worded leaves it open to for federal lobbying as well. He referred to Title 5 Califorinterpretation. Because the language is rela- nia Code of Regulations which tively vague, student Ieadets and says funds can be used at the fed~ their adviser have had to make eral level as long as students sign decisions on how to spend the a form that explains how the money will be spent At Palomar, money on a case-by-case basis. In addition to using the money this explanation appears on the for bus and plane trips to local, registration form. • See FEES, page 3 . state and federal offices, funds California education code section 76060.5. "The money collected pursuant to this section shall be expended to provide for the support of governmental affairs representatives who may be stating their positions and viewpoints before city, county, and district governments, and before offices and agencies of the state government."
Roger FregoM>IStaff Photograpller
Cal-SACC President Doug Morrow delivered 100,000 studentsi2ned postcards to Gov. Pete Wilson's office in Sacramento.
Student trustee obtains advisory vote on Board By Paul Raineri
Staff Writer The ASG pushed two resolutions through the Governing Board March 11 giving future student trustees an advisory vote and a salary equivalent to elected trustees. Student trustees (trustee is the official title for a Governing Board member) previously earned $200 per month, half the $400 received by elected trustees. They were only able to voice their opinions during discussion of resolutions. ASG Senator Garret Collins made a presentation at a previous Board meeting proposing that, in addition to the advisory vote and salary increase, the student trustee should also be given the right to move and second motions and be allowed to attend closed sessions. The latter two measures failed unanimously. Board members said they were concerned that some student trustees might not be as capable of handling the position as others and that passing the
resolutions might create problems in the future. Robert Trustee Dr. Dougherty, Jr. said he thought that making motions and attending closed session had nothing to do with shared governance. ''Frankly, I don'tlmow why a student trustee would want to sit in on a closed session," Dougherty said. "It's about as exciting as going to an aquarium and watching the fish swim back and forth." Former ASG President Lowell Kepics, then the student trustee, told Board members that giving the position more responsibility would improve the interest and dependability of the student trustee, making them more accountable to their constituents. Collins explained that many districts throughout the state allow their student trustee three out four of the above privileges, but he said only Napa Valley allowed entrance into closed session. ''These rights are all allowed by the state educational code," Collins said. "In the interest of • See TRUSTEES, page 3