PCC Courier, April 28, 2011

For exclusive stories and photos check out the Courier on the web at PccCourier.com COURIER Pasadena City College Softball Lancers defeat El Camino Page 11» Volume 103, Issue 8 “The Independent Student Voice ofPCC, Serving Pasadena Since 1915.' Thursday, April 28, 2011 Hands across California Amber Lu / Courier Students gather and joins hands in front of the Mirror Pools for a Hands Across California benefit on April 1 7. Students link up to raise funds Mercy Fabila Staff Writer Students, faculty, and residents of nearby cities assembled together in front of the Mirror Pools at PCC to form a human chain in an effort to raise funds for scholarships for California's community college students on April 17. The event was one of several that were held throughout the state in support of Hands Across California, in an attempt to reach out to communities for the purpose of awareness and fundraising. Participants were encouraged to submit a donation of $10 via text message and to meet at their local, designated area to link arms with other participants. Student representative Daniela Rueda, 22, business adminis¬ tration, arranged the event and ensured that it was promoted through various outlets including Lancer Radio, board meet¬ ings, and videos on YouTube. Ultimately, she hoped people would learn of the event from other students speaking out on campus. Continued on page 11 Amber Lu / Courier AH Oligny, student and intern for the PCC Faculty Association, holds a sign asking for a donation at the Hands Across California benefit on April 1 7. Search for new VPs approved Amidst outcry, Board of Trustees OKs search for six administrative positions. Sara Medina Editor-in-Chief Despite the objections of both the PCC Faculty Association and the Academic Senate, the Board of Trustees has approved a search for six senior admin¬ istrative positions. The positions to be filled are vice presidents of Computer Technology, Administrative Services, Student Services, Educational Services, Human Resources and a General Counsel position. In a letter sent to the Board of Trustees on April 6, FA President Roger Marheine urged a moratorium on any new hires. "I gave remarks and sent an e-mail to the Board saying that it's inappropriate," said Marheine in an interview. "It's simply not good to raise the [number] of highly paid senior level staff while cutting classes." In the letter, Marheine called the increase in admin¬ istrative positions "fiscally questionable, institution¬ ally unsound, and educationally irresponsible" since the district recently announced cuts to 600 classes. "The policy position of the Board is to preserve instruction," said PCC President Mark Rocha in an interview. "It would not make [a difference] if we had ten vice presidents [or] 20 vice presidents. That and the section reductions are caused not by the Board as we've explained, but by the state that has ordered what's known as a work load reduction." Also in the letter, Marheine told the Board that the Academic Senate "voted unanimously (with one abstention) against the hiring of new vice presidents." The vote took place during its March 28 meeting, but the minutes of that meeting state, "The motion . . . was later determined to be out of order. The topic was not agendized; as such, no motion and no vote should have been permitted." The minutes also recap the discussion on the hires and the overall concerns, such as "division feedback is needed before taking a vote," "more specifics and job description is needed" and "recommending new administrative positions is contradictory with the cur¬ rent budget situation." Academic Senate President Edward Martinez Continued on page 11 Former instructor and open government activist dies suddenly File Photo Richard McKee Macall Teague Staff Writer Richard P. McKee, a retired PCC chemistry professor and well-known advocate for open- government, died suddenly on Saturday. He was 62. The Los Angeles County Coroner is investigat¬ ing the cause of his death, said Ed Winter, an assistant chief investigator. "Only three weeks ago we threw a retirement party for him," said Dave Douglass, Dean of the Natural Sciences Division. "Rich was quite a phenomenal guy. He has been a huge force in the chemistry department here at PCC ... Even his adversaries admired him for his perseverance and tenacity." McKee had been an activist for open govern¬ ment for almost two decades and did not hesitate to take a stand when he felt that the rights of the public were being ignored. He fought to protect the public's right to access public records and promoted transparency in the government. In his lifetime he took on close to 30 lawsuits, mostly pertaining to The Brown Act - California's open meetings law - and First Amendment violations, and won the majority of the time. McKee helped found California Aware, a non-profit organization dedicated to promot¬ ing awareness of the public's rights. A longtime resident of La Verne, McKee served on the city's Planning Commission and was reappointed last year to start his second four- year term. He is survived by two daughters, a son and two grandchildren. ONLINE POLL Will more surveillance cameras improve security on campus ? vote at PccCourier.com Discount Pasadena Playhouse offers student discount Page 9» Poetry Lotus Club showcases poetic prowess Page 8»