FEATURES: World renowned
Check us out online -
look us up on Facebook or Twitter!
music return to skyline to perform.
OPINION : Learn student
ENTERTAINMENT : Find out
views on the legalization of what you should be watching. marijuana.
www.theskylineview.com
October 28, 2010
Volume XXVIII - Issue 5
Skyline meets the candidates Students and staff get a chance to meet presidential candidates by Kiriakos Vilchez
Skyline College held a presidential open forum on Oct. 26. Over 100 people attended the event including students, faculty, staff, administrators, and members of the community all wanting to hear from the next possible president of Skyline College. Donna Bestock, the dean of the Social Science/Creative Arts division, introduced the candidates and led the forum. The candidates for Skyline president-- Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker, Dr. David Smith, and Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud-- were each given an hour to give a brief introduction and answer questions, with a 15 minute break in between presentations. All three were not present at the event together, and instead took their turns separately. Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker, the vice president of instruction at Clatsop Community College in Astoria, Oregon, was the first to speak. He highlighted his academic qualifications and professional experiences and answered questions on issues such as equity, Skyline’s budget, his qualifications, and personal experiences in regards to administrative decisions. Schoonmaker also expressed his opinion on the importance of community college connection with the citizens of a city or town. “I need to go as president to com-
munities and say ‘how is it that we can better serve you?’” he said. He was also questioned on how he would address discrimination, harassment, and hate crime here on campus. “I think that we have to be clear that we are talking about zero tolerance in addressing this issue,” he said. “A crime of hate is a crime not against that person only, it is a crime against our campus, and we cannot tolerate it.” Dr. David Smith, vice president of Instruction and Student Affairs at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colorado was the next candidate to present. Smith was asked several of the same questions that were posed to Schoonmaker. “What would you plan to do at Skyline to promote science and healthcare education?” asked Melissa Michelitsch, a professor of biology and chemistry here at Skyline. Dr. Smith described science projects he oversaw and took part in at Lamar Community College in Colorado, and how he saw economic and educational opportunity to participate in an observatory construction program that brought revenue and international scientific credit to Lamar. Dr. Smith had an appreciative closure for his presentation: “I appreciate you having me. This is a great opportunity. You have a
Milan Subedi/ The Skyline View
Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker begins his presentation.
choice to make and I would welcome an opportunity to do a good job for this campus. I believe that I could do a good job for this college.” Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, the vice president of instruction for Skyline College since 2001, was the third and last to present. She answered questions after speaking on her personal and academic experiences. Stroud was asked by a faculty member about what she would do for Skyline College regarding community college open access and success rates among students. “We should take more initiatives, and put them in place in more programs,” responded Stroud. She was also asked about equity,
and how she would address it in regards to educational opportunity. “There is much more we can do. If students of color are not achieving success, then that has to be abnormal to us. It has to become a way of thinking among us to address these problems that students face,” said Stroud. Dr. Stroud made it clear to those at the forum that she has dedicated her educational career to students, and helping support social justice in the education system. Dr. Stroud closed by distributing a handout with her personal philosophy on education and leadership. “I lead to liberate, strengthen and educate,” her handout began. “I lead to free the oppressed and to change
the racist and sexist structures of power and privilege in society-atlarge and in our daily lives. I lead to develop the depth of humanity and to maximize human potential. I lead to make a difference in the world.” Michelitsch, who questioned all three candidates, spoke about what she thought of the forum. “One of the biggest things that impact my students is the ability to get into the classroom, because they are all over-enrolled and waitlisted to full capacity. Since I am a new faculty member here, I am coming to appreciate how important the budget and the administration is.”
Skyline Against Cuts plans conference attendance Meeting urges students to vote and fight budget cuts by Katherine Ramirez
The Skyline Against Cuts is essentially a group of people who have come together in order to mobilize against the budget cuts being not only threatened, but actualized by California. “Skyline Against Cuts is specifically to organize against the budget cuts,” said Skyline staff member Michael D. Hoffman. “The most important thing is building a mass movement for the future,” continued Skyline economics professor Masao Suzuki. The meeting was attended by a mixture of students and staff, adding up to about 15 people. The roundtable discussion spanned subjects like the upcoming election, a run through of the different proposition, and the upcoming conference in S.F. State. The time spent speaking about the election was spent mostly discussing the importance of student participation and interest. “This election, more than any other, is going to be pivotal,” said Ashley J. Smith, a skyline student
in attendance. During this section of the meeting, the most prominent subject was the choosing of a candidate who had the best in mind as far as budget cuts was concerned. “The question,” said Suzuki, “is which candidate will help build the mass movement.” Hoffman, however, believes that, for this particular election, it is not who will do the most good for California schools, but who will do the least bad. “Until we have some form of organized alternative,” said Hoffman, “it will always be a vote for the lesser evil.” After the election portion, the meeting veered into the neighboring subject of the propositions being put up to a vote. Hoffman commandeered the discussion not only on what the propositions actually were, but also on the effect they would have to the group’s cause. Proposition 25, in particular, was of interest to the group. The proposition would effective-
ly eliminate the 2/3 majority necessary in order to pass a budget, instead making it so only a “simple majority” is needed. According to cainitiatives2010.org, the proposition also makes it so that if the Legislature does not pass a budget by its due date, legislators are required to forfeit their salaries and living expense allowance. There was a bit of discussion time allotted to this particular proposition, with Robyn Graham/ The Skyline View most of the room in agreeMichael D. Hoffman explains the different propositions. ment with its passing. Suzuki expressed that even The attendees of the meeting “A 2/3 vote means that a minority can keep the budget from though the conference would be hope that Skyline students show regarding budget cuts for state their support at the conference on being finalized,” said Hoffman. The meeting then turned to talks schools, it was still important to Saturday. Raymond Cotella, a student of the Oct. 30 conference happening show solidarity. “The statewide movement is try- who did not attend the meeting last at San Francisco State University. The students and staff present ex- ing to connect all sectors together,” Wednesday, said that he, too, hoped pressed the hope that students from Hoffman agreed. “Instead of orga- student interest would be piqued. “We have to show a united front Skyline would rally at S.F. State nizing separately, and getting money the way they did with the march on from the state separately, we’re so that the state knows this is an istrying to come together to get more sue we care about,” said Cotella. Sacramento last year. resources for public education.”