ON THE RECORD. HEAR THE EXPERTS WEIGH IN. PAGE 4.
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 8
WWW.UCSDGUARDIAN.ORG
Monday, OCTOBER 17, 2011
lost in Translation
A.S. Council
Council Passes Executive Budget in Record Time
Chancellor search
your guide to picking your study abroad program and the destinations worth exploring.
Committee Created to Aid Search for Chancellor
By Natalie Covate Staff Writer
By Nicole Chan Associate News Editor
Last Wednesday, A.S. Council passed the annual executive budget at a record pace of just over one hour. In past years, it has taken council until 1 a.m. or even two full meetings to pass a budget. “One of the biggest things that differed from past year is preparation,” A.S. President Alyssa Wing said in an email. “There were more people reviewing the budget than ever before. Vice President of Finance Kevin Hoang charged a Budget Appropriations Committee comprised of senators, and had the committee review past spending trends.” Wing and Hoang also put together an introductory presentation the week before the budget was discussed. Over 50 hours were spent in getting the $3.1 million budget organized. “We cleaned up the budget by making it more reflective of our actual expendable funds,” Wing said. “The previous budget included some numbers that could mislead us to believe we had more money than in actuality.” A.S. Council traditionally over-allocates funding to help ensure that all of the year’s student fees are used for the students who paid into it. To help make up for the $25,000 that was overspent last year, A.S. Council didn’t over-allocate as much this year. “The current budget has been reviewed by numerous individuals in every aspect. Unless there is an enormous enrollment drop, the over-allocation should work great,” Wing said. “We normally have some carry-forward amount, but this year we did not.” The budget will be available on the A.S. website for students to review. “If there are any questions, students can
University of California President Mark Yudof announced on Oct. 14 that a 17-person advisory committee will aid in the selection of Chancellor Marye Anne Fox’s replacement. The committee is aiming to hire the next chancellor by May 2012. “The advisory committee was released last week; however, the committee has not yet convened so I am unable to provide any information,” A.S. President Alyssa Wing said in a prepared statement. “I do know that the advisory committee will be seeking input from a variety of different communities including staff, faculty, students and other community members. This is an extensive and thorough process that will include opportunities for important campus communities to provide input and identify the qualities they are looking for in the next chancellor.” Although the committee’s first meeting is closed to the general public, committee member Wing welcomes input from students in choosing the next chancellor. Undergraduate students are invited to attend a closed input session with the committee in its first meeting on Oct. 28. “This is one of the only times in which undergraduate students, other than myself, will be able to participate in a session during the selection process,” Wing said. Interested students can email Wing for more information. The 45-minute session is limited to 15 undergraduate students. The session coincides with the committee’s first meeting. “[The search for the next chancellor]
▶ LEISURE
F
or some, the ideal study break would consist of climbing the Great Wall of China, or sipping tea on a balcony in Istanbul. Others want to ditch MTV spring break specials to volunteer in Ecuador. If it’s a case of wanderlust you suffer from, UCSD’s extensive study abroad program has a long list of options. “UCSD offers more choices than any other UC,” James Galvin, a director in the Programs Abroad office, said. “We’ve always been recognized as one of the leaders within the Universities of California in the field [of studying abroad].“ For the aspiring jetsetter, the Programs Abroad office, located in the International Center, offers several different programs. The Education Abroad Program (EAP) is the most popular, spanning 30 countries and 100 universities worldwide, and offers almost every major. “What students study in EAP are University See abroad, page 6
See budget, page 3
See chancellor, page 3
UC online
union protests Uc online CLASSES DUE TO potential job cuts By Rebecca Horwitz Associate News Editor The University Council - American Federation of Teachers is protesting the UC online pilot class program. The union members are trying to use their bargaining power to stop the program because they claim threatens their job security. According to a new provision, the university has to notify the union in case of a change to a term or condition of employment in the Memorandum of Understanding between the university and the union. UC - AFT President Bob Samuels said that the new provision made to stop the UCs from creating online classes gives the union veto power over any online program that it believes will negatively affect teaching jobs. “We feel we could stop almost any online program through this contract,” Samuels said in the Oct. 11 Inside Higher Ed article, “The Lecturers’ Filibuster.” The university stated that the union does not
sSPOKEN
“
have the power to shut down the program. “They do not have the power to block the university from implementing new online programs,” Spokeswoman for the Office of the President Dianne Klein said in an Oct. 11 Inside Higher Ed article “The Lecturers’ Filibuster.” Klein says the union cannot do anything more than provide a written notice that they do not like and agree with the program, which would hold the university to a discussion about the program with them no later than January 2013. Klein also said that although online classes could affect lecturers, they are not a valid reason to fire faculty. “We couldn’t say, ‘Oh, we’ve got a computer program that can do your work — we’re getting rid of you,” Klein said. The Online Instruction Pilot Project was created to test the effectiveness of online classes. If the program is successful, it will be integrated into the UC’s undergraduate curriculum by Jan. 2013. Members of the UC - AFT are worried that
FORECAST
Occupy Wall Street reveals status anxiety, but about an uncertain, perhaps damaged future.”
Monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
H 75 L 60
H 71 L 59
NIGHT NIGHTWATCH WATCH
monday
tuesday
Robert Horwitz
Professor, Department of Communication
H 66 L 57
H 66 L 57
WEDNESDAY wednesday THURSDAY thursday
the online classes will cut teachers’ pay or replace UC faculty through outsourcing. In 2009, California State University at Bakersfield administrators laid off four math instructors and created two math classes in its place based on mandatory lab time and an e-tutoring program. The program proved to be successful when it added the supervision of teaching assistants. UC- AFT has many concerns regarding the online pilot program. Union members are worried that there are not enough funds to support the program. They question the idea that the classes will be less expensive. “We also do not believe that online courses as a platform will be able to maintain the quality of instruction expected by UC students,” UC-AFT said on their website. UC-AFT has posted a list of guidelines they would like the UC system to follow with the integration of online classes on the website. They have not yet taken any formal action.
SURF REPORT REPORT SURF monday Height: 3 ft. Wind: 6-8 mph Water Temp: 66 F
tuesday Height: 3 ft. Wind: 7-8 mph Water Temp: 66 F
wednesday Height: 3-4 ft. Wind: 5-9 mph Water Temp: 66 F
thursday Height: 4 ft. Wind: 1-6 mph Water Temp: 66 F
“Make sure that no one loses a course or a job because classes are moved online: regulate workload; protect intellectual property; ensure academic freedom,” UC-AFT said. Professor of Electrical Engineering at UCLA and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution John Villasenor wrote an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times regarding the issue. Villasenor thinks that the option of online classes is incredible because it can reach people across the world. But he does not think it is a good alternative to teaching. “Something is lost when the classroom experience becomes virtual,” Villasenor said in “Online teaching’s disconnect,” a Sept. 28 Los Angeles Times article, “Instructors owe it to their students to be in the classroom, and students owe it to themselves – and the rest of us – to do their best to be there as well.” Readers can contact Rebecca Horwitz at rahorwit@ucsd.edu
GAS PER GALLON LOw
$3.59
7-Eleven, San Diego - South 8395 Otay Mesa Rd. & La Media Rd. HIGH
$4.18
Shell, Hillcrest 330 Washington St. & 4th Ave.
INSIDE Birdland..................................2 Lights & Sirens.......................3 Talking to Machines................4 On the Record........................4 Study Abroad Guide...............6 Sudoku...................................9 Sports...................................12