PCC Courier, December 10, 1987

‘Christmas Treasures’ Dec. 12-14 Page 3 PCC Volleyball Finishes Fifth Best in State Hoops Grab 2nd Straight Trophy With Citrus Win Page 5 The COURIER VOL. 65, NO. 14 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA DECEMBER 10, 1987 AB 1725: Sign o’ The Times for Junior Colleges By Mark McElrea News Editor Calling it the most sweeping reform bill concering Community Colleges in the last decade, Dr. Jack Scott, superintendant-president feels that if AB 1725 lives up to its potential, all community colleges in California will benefit. AB 1725 deals with a multitude of issues. The changes proposed would encompass such areas as funding, instructor tenure, governance and missions. “The key to all reform bills is funding,” said Scott. “Without more funding, reform bills often mean only a change in regulations. Such changes often cost more to implement than they return in benefits.” According to Scott, the key to AB 1725 being successful hinges on amending the Gann initiative. “The two are intrinsically linked,” said Scott, who added that the amount of money needed for the reforms can only come by freeing up the money that was taken away from the Community College system when the Gann initative was passed. “The current game played by our governor says that when you get reform, you get money,” said Patrick McCallum, executive director of the faculty association of California Community Colleges (FACCC). In a move to help the faculty at PCC to better understand the particulars of AB 1725, Jane Hallinger, president of the faculty senate, invited McCallum to speak in the Forum last week. McCallum expressed his beliefs that every teacher, worker and student, tied to the Community College system, has a stake in AB 1725. “The most vital aspect to the continued growth and health of community colleges is to break away from the belief that we are just an extension of the K-12 system,” said McCallum. Such a move would bring changes to the way in which community colleges are alloted funds. The current system is based on average daily attendance of students. “The proposed system would take into account several factors,” said Scott. “Such things as total square footage of the school and the various programs being offered would go into the amount of funds alloted.” This is the first in a series of articles The Courier plans to run on AB 1725. p AS A DBA : n\ e:o itECE ■ (" . -• • • Courier/Jeanine Graham Once again, the Mirror Pools are reflecting a warm welcome to the students at PCC. Closed Meetings Defy Brown Act By Sally Blake Opinion Editor Courier reporters and interested stu¬ dents were banned from two AS Ex¬ ecutive Board meetings by Alvar L. Kauti, dean of student activities, and Connie Hurston, student activities ad¬ viser. Calling it an attempt to break the impasse that exists between AS Board members, Kauti and Hurston chose to hold the meetings behind closed doors. The topic discussed during the meet¬ ings centered on who is legally the successor to former AS President Brendan O’Brien, who was forced to step down Nov. 4, three weeks after winning the popular vote. O’Brien was ruled inelligible for failure to maintain the nine units required for candidates and office holders. Lance Oberholtzer, who finished sec¬ ond in the election was appointed presi¬ dent on Nov. 4, a move that Jose Rodriguez, executive vice president, feels is in violation of the AS Constitu¬ tion. It is Rodriguez’ claim that under article seven of the constitution, if the president has to leave office, the vice president moves up to the presidency. According to Kauti, the reason for the closed meeting “was so that the board members could converse and express their feelings with each other, myself and Connie (Hurston) — without feeling inhibited.” Kauti said the meeting was an in¬ formational gathering and in no way violated the Brown Act which requires that public bodies hold open meetings. The Brown Act (California code number 54950) states: “In enacting this chapter, the Legislature finds and de¬ clares that the public commissions, boards and councils and the other public agencies in this state exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business. It is the intent of the law that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly . . . All agencies are to be included in some Open Meeting Act unless expressly excluded.” Student government Board meetings are not expressingly ex¬ cluded. “I told Connie I stand for an open- door policy,” said Lance Oberholtzer, who was appointed AS President on Nov. 4. “What’s the point of a closed meeting, nothing was solved. I was not behind the decision to close the meet¬ ings. It was strictly an act by the administration.” Rodriguez also was against the ac¬ tion. “Kauti and Hurston decided to make the meetings private,” he said. “Our advisers asserted their control over us.” Following two closed meetings, the problem of who should be the AS president still remains Kauti admitted that nothing has been resolved, but thinks progress towards some kind of understanding was made. “When peo¬ ple get together, they get a better understanding of what is going on,” Kauti said. “They wrote a lot of their thoughts and feelings down. This is a step in the right direction.” It is Rodriguez’s feelings that a new election will be held, hopefully before the Christmas break. “I will not condone another elec¬ tion,” said Oberholtzer, “nor will I take part in one.” Plans Heat up for Energy Conservation Master Plan Aims At Moving PCC into Next Century By Jim Gunther Staff Writer PCC is very close to beginning a universal change in heating and cooling systems throughout the entire campus. According to facilities director Jim Menath, who is directing the project, this Energy Conservation Master Plan, as presented to the Board of Trustees on Nov. 18, has been designed to make optimal use of energy-saving projects already in progress, as well as evaluate new and updated measures. The report, prepared by the private firm of Brown and Caldwell, also ex¬ amines how many campus energy con¬ servation projects are interrelated. The firm organized collected data to show how programs can be integrated for better usage based on a demand- rate ratio. The firm’s $75,000 fee also included a computerized model of the campus which is able to forecast energy con¬ sumption. This highly sophisticated model allows for variables such as the thickness of walls, student and staff occupancy at various times, the amount of shade a building receives, and historical weather data. The model also allows for changes in structures which will become increasingly impor¬ tant when the college begins remodel¬ ing many existing buildings. Already installed and ready for the go ahead is a 60-ton heat recovery system in the C Building. These fuel efficient systems known as “chillers” use much less energy to pipe boiling water as a heating source, and are also able to recover heat from the already processed cooled water and extract the difference. Also underway are plans for the installation of a central control system to replace the existing steam condensa¬ tion boilers. They have proven not to be cost effective given the amount of energy needed to generate steam, and the amount of energy which is lost in the heating cycle. Long-term goals involve the con¬ version to variable speed pumping which allows for the heated water’s speed to be regulated for warmer days. Also domestic city waters for precool¬ ing will be circulated through the loop as chilled water. The final addition includes the installation of a 1050 KW cogeneration system which will provide 200 ton-hours of thermal storage which will provide energy us¬ age for the daytime and allow energy to be stored at nights when costs are lower. According to Menath, these projects are more cost avoidance programs. “In the last 12 years natural gas consump¬ tion has significantly decreased from almost 2.5 million therms to less than 500,000. This area has been a major concern in our conservation efforts.” Consequently, in reducing this amount, it was necessary to use more electrical energy or kilowatts. As a result, a major focus of the program is to make use of every available source of energy conservation. Approximately $1.4 million has been invested in this 12 year period toward energy management, yet the college has netted a savings of $5.6 million. “What’s so unique about this pro¬ gram,” Menath stated, “is that the college can only benefit from our ef¬ forts.” Since previous programs such as the replacement of the steam boilers to electric ones has been so successful, the board has allowed the monies saved by these programs to be used for other campus needs including the college’s general fund. Items funded in the past have included football field lighting, sprinkler systems, thermal pool blankets, as well as surface blacktop- ping. \ j Courier /Scott Tate The steam boilers were the first to go in the energy conversion project. Forensics 4th in Southland Showcasing their talents in the 1987 West Coast Fall Championship Tourna¬ ment held at Pierce College, the PCC’s Forensics team finished fourth overall. Competing against 42 Colleges (21 Community Colleges and 21 four-year Universities), individuals from PCC defeated competators from such noted powerhouses as UC San Diego, Biola University, UC Irvine, and USC and Orange Coast College. Dennis Anderson, Mike Impostapo, and Daniel Hurst all trophied in the Impromtu segement of the tourna¬ ment. For the first time ever, PCC entered two Readers’ Theaters competitions, both written, directed and produced by Dr. Patrick Brown and Leana Koeppel. Doyle Sterkin broke through for the only first place finish for PCC, captur¬ ing the Speech to Entertain category. Sterkin teamed with Wendy Hovland for a second-place finish in Duo In¬ terpretation. Phillip Sheridan and Vic¬ toria Wilner took home third place in the same category. The next two upcoming tournaments are by invatation only. The USC 1987 Trojan Tournament will be held De¬ cember 29, 30 and 31, with over 85 four- year schools competing, and the UCLA Invatational on January 2, 3 and 4th, with over 94 universities. PCC has been asked to take part in both compete- tions. Suzie Boline Newsline . . . Newsline . . . Newsline . . . Newsline Theater The California Music Theater pres¬ ents She Loues Me featuring Rex Smith and Beth Howland on Dec. 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Ticket prices are $15, $12.50, and $10 available by mail at 30 N. Ray¬ mond Ave. Suite 608, Pasadena, CA 91103. PCC students and faculty are offered 50 percent off of regular prices. For more information, call (818) 792-0776. Library Library /, a course to acquaint stu¬ dents with the facilities and resources of the PCC Library, will be offered in the spring semester. This course will teach students the most effective and efficient uses of the library resources as well as de¬ veloping a familiarity with the basic reference sources and tools for re¬ search and study. For further information, interested students may see their counselor in room D200 or call the library at (818) 578-7221. Scholarship A scholarship is being offered by the Publicity Club of Los Angeles for students pursuing careers in the fields of public relations, journalism, or communications. Applicants must have sophomore standing, have completed a minimum of two field-related courses, and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA. Application deadline is Monday, December 14. Further information is available in the Scholarship and Fi¬ nancial Aid Office, room D205. Fashions A contest is being held for students interested in a career in fashion design. Contestants may enter in several categories, which include fashion promotion, fashion illustration, merchandising plan, bridal wear and children’s wear. Entries must be re¬ ceived by April 1, 1988. For further information, contact the PCC fashion department or call (415) 574-6295. Lake Trip The International Club is planning its first major trip of the semester, a camping trip to Lake Isabella, De¬ cember 27-29. Students interested in participating can contact co-president Fernando Marti or Alma Interiano in C219 before Tuesday, Dec. 15. Concert PCC’s Percussion and Brass En¬ semble will give a public per¬ formance Friday, Dec. 11 in the Fo¬ rum at 8 p.m. Admission is $2 for non-students and $1 for students. The Forum is located on the east end of the campus between the parking lot and life- sciences building.