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Jazz vocalist returns to MHCC for a 'Soul Walk'
dvocate Mt. Hood Community College Gresham, Oregon
Music p. 7
www.advocate-online.net
May 21, 2010
Volume 45, Issue 29
Parking fee remains in 2010-2011 budget proposal Students ask budget committee to delay approval until all students are given 'adequate' notice of changes Ron J. Rambo Jr. The Advocate
The Mt. Hood Community College District Budget Committee approved the 2010-2011 budget Wednesday night as initially proposed May 5 despite pleas from students to change implementation of a $50 per term parking fee. A new fee schedule, effective fall term 2010, was also approved. The college’s current proposal would generate $4.28 million in new revenue, most of which will come from a $5 per credit hour tuition increase and the parking fee, but also from an increase in administrative charges on federal and state grants and higher course fees. The cuts made will amount to $1.83 million and include eliminating six department chairs and associate dean positions, reducing part-time faculty costs and eliminating six full-time employees. Many students who spoke out during three meetings since May 5 voiced concern over so many changes taking place as soon as summer term, including opposition at a meeting Wednesday morning seven hours prior to the budget committee approval. These changes include delays in financial aid distribution by a week and a half, increased tuition of $5 per credit hour and the parking fee in order to help relieve a $5.8 million budget deficit for 2010-2011. “If we wanted to go to PCC, we’d go to PCC,” said one student at the Wednesday morning forum after MHCC President John Sygielski suggested the proposed fees, tuition and parking fees would make the college “competitive with other colleges in the region.” At the Wednesday night meeting, three students spoke to the board asking the college to reconsider adding and increasing fees. A handful more held signs that said “Don’t be rash with our cash.” Heather Nichelle-Peres, Queer-Straight Alliance president, emphasized the burden the proposed changes might put on students. “I do what I can to budget my money to become a better person and a better student,” said Nichelle-Peres. “It’s important to focus on staying in school. I understand the budget issues that are concerning the college. But please don’t make rash decisions. Please delay the financial aid changes, the tuition increases and the increased fees. Please take this decision seriously.” Kate Burns, a political science major, said she was speaking for herself and other members who could not make it to the meeting. “I am sympathetic to the budget crisis,” said Burns. “I know about the proposed changes. What I am concerned about are those who don’t know. We must allow students more time to get notice. These decisions affect real students, and they affect real lives. Delay decisions until all students have had adequate time to prepare for these changes, and until all students are made aware.” None of the students who spoke proposed changes. When time came for committee members to comment, Brian Freeman said, “What a lot of people don’t understand is that we have a schedule we have to keep to, according to law. We can’t really wait to make these changes.” Committee member Duke Shepard said these issues should have been raised prior to the meeting.
"Coming to us at budget time and asking us to make all these changes is not a good time to talk to us about cost-curbing"
Duke Shepard MHCC Budget Committee member
Budget continued on page 3
Photo illustration by Ron J. Rambo Jr./The Advocate
Disciplinary student senate bill approved, awaiting ASG presidential signature Jen Ashenberner The Advocate
The Associated Student Government Senate approved a bill Wednesday to establish a new disciplinary process that could allow removal of the president or member of executive office, The measure was approved 9-1, with Richard Ison casting the lone dissenting vote. The bill requires the signature ASG President Bradley Best, who had not signed the measure as of Thursday morning and was unavailable for comment.
Sen. Charles Cookman wrote the bill and said, “There is no formal way to discipline an elected official and rather than going through the resolution process, I thought it would be nice if there was a formal way of doing it.” Cookman said he began reviewing the bylaws when the membership committee was going through the resolution process after ASG President Bradley Best had been accused of harassment. “The wording was not quite clear enough,” he said. “I also came upon the problem that there is no formal impeach-
ment process, so rather than creating an impeachment process — people don’t necessarily and fully understand what impeachment means — I decided to tie that into disciplinary procedures and make it a removal process.” The original bylaws stated that students would have an opportunity to vote in the case a recall election was necessary to warrant the removal of a president. The new document bypasses the recall election process and calls for an investigative committee comprised of the membership committee, one member of the executive cabinet and
a member of the Student Activities Board. Cookman said when re-writing the bylaws, he consulted several people including other senators, Vice President Bethany Peterman, Director of Student Life Meadow McWhorter and Student Events and Special Projects Coordinator Pam Kuretich. “I was told by several people that there are two ways to remove an executive officer from office and to just use the easiest method,” he said.
Senate continued on page 3 Index
Current MHCC students can register online now for fall term; open registration begins Monday
Opinion
Broadcasting major 'energized' entering the studio A&E p. 6
QSA "Pride Days" offer something for every student News p. 8
Saints at risk of ending 16-year streak of playoff appearances Sports p. 4
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News
p. 3, 8
Sports
p. 4-5
A&E
p. 6
Music
p. 7