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@TheSkylineView
The
Skyline View The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, California
October 11, 2012
Volume XXXI - Issue 4
www.theskylineview.com
Thief strikes Skyline offices for the second time Textbooks stolen as thief pries open doors. by Chris Korp TSV Staff writer
Early childhood education student Karlla Silva studies her algebra textbook.
Daniel Chee/The Skyline View
Open-source textbooks signed into law SB 1052 and SB 1053 become law to provide free digital textbooks for California public colleges and universities. by Daniel Chee TSV Photo editor
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills into law on September 27 that guarantee 50 free, open-source textbooks to students of public California higher education institutions. The two bills, SB 1052 and SB 1053, were introduced by Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Sen. Elaine Alquist (SD 13). They will go into effect next January.
“The current cost of traditional textbooks is so high, some college students are forced to struggle through a required class without the textbook, forced to drop classes or sometimes even drop out of college altogether,” said Steinberg in a statement. SB 1052 would establish the California Open Education Resources Council (COERC) to research and select 50 textbooks to digitize for open-source sharing. An open-source textbook is not protected under traditional copyright laws as a regular textbook.
“Open source is a movement of software developers that allow others to reuse and customize their code, under one of several different software licenses,” said Elliot Harmon, the communications manager of Creative Commons. Creative Commons (CC) is an organization that promotes sharing creative work for reuse within certain boundaries by issuing licenses. These licenses are not an alternative to copyright law, but works instead with existing law to ensure creative protection. “Good ideas spread more quickly
when you reduce legal and technological barriers,” said Harmon. A CC license entitles students and instructors free access to the online course texts that can be accessed via tablets, smartphones and laptops. Print editions of open-source textbooks would be available for $20 each. “It’ll help the students,” said Raymond Concepcion, a Skyline student who spent over $300 on books this semester. “But I think they will find another way to make Books continued from page 2
On Oct. 3, between 8:18 and 8:40 p.m., a burglar, for the second time in less than a month, has pried open Skyline office doors and made off with textbooks. The thief broke into two offices in Building 7 and four offices in Building 8, and absconded with an assortment of textbooks. As previously reported by The Skyline View, a break-in also took place on Sep 15 that involved four offices in Buildings 7 and 8. On both occasions, the thief left behind a trail of frayed nerves. “People are a little scared,” said Raymond Hernandez, dean of Skyline’s science, math and technology division. “But we need to keep an open and fostering environment for our students to learn.” Skyline’s Public Safety office has told TSV that the suspect has been identified and the San Bruno Police Department are presently searching for him. “He is good at what he does, “says Rob Dean, Skyline College’s chief public safety officer. “He’s efficient, he’s quick, and he dresses the part of a college student.” This new break-in by the brazen thief included prying open the door of the Language Arts/Learning Resources office on the first floor of Building 8. The new burglaries in Building 8 were not discovered until Stolen continued on Page 2
California community colleges may increase parking fees Student Senate to decide on newly passed state law allowing rise in permit costs. by Eric Wong TSV Circulation Manager
A law was recently passed by the State Legislature that would allow California community colleges to raise their student parking fees. This would be the first time in five years that the costs would be increased. The new fees would be $50 for a Fall or Spring permit, $25 for the Summer, and $90 for an academic year permit. Approximately 45 percent of the district’s students who receive low income and qualify for a Board of Governor’s Grant would pay $30 for Fall of Spring, $25 for Summer or $60 for a year.
“I think that is going to be a big problem since the tuition is going to be higher too,” said Kathleen Decena, a student of Skyline College. “I don’t think it’s going to be practical for a lot of people.” The district has looked on prior figures and hopes that the increased fees will eventually return $300,000 back to students in terms of programs and funds. “The fees pay for security on all three campuses in the district, parking lot up keeping, striping, lighting, facility maintenance, cleanup, garbage pickup, etc.” said Chief of Public Safety, Robert Dean. “The
parking fund district wide is $1 million and the district subsidizes that.” The student senate will make the final decision on whether there will be an increase or not. If they pass it, the new fees would most likely take effect in the Spring 2013 semester. “So is it definitely going to happen? No, but it is something they will look at,” said Dean.
Photo Illustration by Daniel Chee/The Skyline View