PCC Courier, December 18, 1986

The Golden Child is Made of Brass Page3 Merry Christmas Feliz Navidad Joyeux Noel Hoopsters Take Four Out of Five Page 5 The VOL. 63, NO. 16 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA DECEMBER 18, 1986 sure you do. It's is something the enitre family will enjoy. — Courier photo by Alison Kuehn LET THERE BE LIGHTS — The Balian Mansion, located in Altadena on East Mariposa St. near North Allen, is beautifully lit up every year with hundreds of Christmas lights. If you get a chance to see it make Survey By Natalie Shore Staff Writer Can ESL students (English as a Second Language) at PCC speak Eng¬ lish intelligibly? Some instructors don’t think so, according to a recent opinion survey conducted by the Spoken Eng¬ lish Proficiency Committee. The committee, which is headed by communications department chairman Michael Bloebaum, was formed at the request of Dr. David Ledbetter, Assist¬ ant Superintendent of Educational Services, to assess the status of spoken English among PCC students. Ledbet¬ ter charged the group to investigate growing concerns expressed by campus instructors and local four-year colleges and universities that some graduating students demonstrate inadequate speaking abilities. The six-week old committee’s first step was to conduct an “exploratory survey" according to committee mem¬ ber and communications instructor Dr. Robert Wright. Distributed to departmental repre¬ sentatives and members of the Faculty Senate, the survey asked intructors to respond to one simple question: To w hat extent do you think that student deficience s-in speaking, hearing and comprehending English-are a problem in the classes you teach? The survey then requested instructors to estimate the degree of the potential problem. The committee received 121 re¬ sponses thus far. The results indicate clearly that teachers see a deficiency in their students’ spoken English skills. An overwhelming 60 percent of the instructors who responded to the survey believe a significant problem exists in the student’s speaking, hear- • Lockers may be renewed in the Art Dept, or the Campus Center, starting in January. If you wish to keep your locker for it must be renewed. • You can visit Japan, Germany or Finland. Students may learn and study the traditions of these great countries. Interested students must provide their own air transportation. For more in¬ formation, see Dean Kauti in the Cam- Reveals ESL Deficiencies ing and comprehending English. Only 2 percent of the instructors indicated they perceived no problem. Twenty- eight percent estimated their students have a slight problem, and 10 percent believe a severe problem exists. While Bloebaum admits that the survey is not exhaustive, he does be¬ lieve that instructors’ opinions are tell¬ ing. “If teachers say there’s a problem, it’s a fact.’’ Bloebaum, who “was not at all suprised by the results,” attributed the lack of spoken English proficiency amongst non-native speakers to “their considerable cultural disadvantages.” Estimating that the problem of spoken English proficiency has in¬ creased dramatically over the past five years, Bloebaum believes that support systems which develop naturally among new immigrants inadvertently cause the problem. Cultural ties that cause people to stick together often don’t require them to learn the lan¬ guage to survive, explained Bloebaum. Continuing world political crises which have drawn many new immigrants to the United States, have made “south¬ ern California has the highest concen¬ tration of non-native speakers.” Prop 63, the ‘English Only Initiative,’ puts more official pressure on the community to ensure clear com¬ munication, said Bloebaum. California state laws require students to demon¬ strate competence in reading and writ¬ ing English before they can graduate. Currently no official policy on spoken English proficiency exists. Both Bloebaum and Wright agree that the committee’s purpose is to pinpoint needs and respond to them. “We don’t want to turn students away, but to identify who has the problems and how to help them,” said Wright. The survey raises some important issues and may eventually lead to changes. The committee is leaning towards the development of a screen¬ ing test to properly place students in the prerequisite classes they may need. We want to discriminate for the stu¬ dents in order to avoid discrimination against them later on, said Bloebaum. The belief that many non-native speakers have significant problems with spoken English raises questions regarding the college’s educational re¬ sponsibilities and the general concern of the nation’s alarming illiteracy rate. Although the committee is primarily concerned with non-native speakers, their efforts raise the question about campus-wide communication problems with native English speakers. On this issue, Wright only gave personal opin¬ ions. “The spoken word is deteriorating in politics, in business and everywhere we look. Where the school may not discriminate against lack of profi¬ ciency, the marketplace will.” Lack of spoken proficiency also causes lowering of academic stan¬ dards. Students deficient in spoken English circumvent the system in two ways. “Teachers either have to water down course material or allow students to remain as special cases,” said Bloebaum. Without a screening process, the tendency to pass students through the system unfortunately continues, ac¬ cording to Bloebaum. “Students get through without a real ability because they come into the class without it.” Another consideration, according to committee member Ben Rude, “is the fact that spoken English proficiency is not vital to vast amount of the majority of courses.” Rude, an English instruc¬ tor, coordinates the campus ESL pro¬ gram. Rude pointed out that spoken English proficiency may not “affect students’ academic success, particularly in math and science courses.” He also won¬ dered whether or not the instructors’ perceptions supports the contention that there is actually a problem. “ESL students often do not partici¬ pate orally in classes for a variety of reasons that do not affect their achievement,” said Rude, who at¬ tributed this to cultural habits. Finally, the school must accurately assess a student’s lack of spoken profi¬ ciency. “There are so many intercon¬ nected skills from pronunciation to comprehension. A reliable test would have to be designed,” said Rude, who didn’t know of any existing objective test. Committee members are looking at evaluation methods already im¬ plemented by other school systems across the nation to help ESL students upgrade their spoken English. Despite these concerns, Rude ul¬ timately believes that some kind of screening process is necessary. “It is important to have the test available if we wish to serve the students better.” The committee has just begun its investigations and has yet to reach any conclusions. It is unlikely that any major changes will be instituted for at least two years. Bloebaum expects the committee will have some solid recom¬ mendations for Ledbetter during the upcoming spring semester. NEWSLINE pus Center. • The Lancer Band wll perform in the quad today. Come out at noon and see the Choir and the Brass Ensemble for a special Christmas concert. • The PCC United Way campaign is closing soon. Students and staff may return their donation envelopes and receive their pin in C209 or the Campus Center. • Part-time jobs are available to PCC students. If you wish to help promote the AS Benefit program during regis¬ tration between now and January, pick up an application in CC203. • Hundreds of Christmas jobs are available! For more information, go to (C236.) • Bandfest will be held Dec. 30. Top notch bands from all over the world will perform at 1:30 p.m. on Horrell Field. Be there! • Every year thousands of dollars in scholarship money goes unclaimed! You may be eligible for a scholarship. For more information, check with the Financial Aid and Scholarship office (D205.) MEChA Mix Up Continues! By Andre’ Coleman News Editor Former MEChA president Jean Otto is continuing with her request for the Supreme Council to review her im¬ peachment proceedings despite threats received in the form of threatening phone calls and harrassment. The calls, which reportedly began soon after it was announced that the SupremeCouncil would hold a special meeting and witnesses would be sub¬ poenaed, shocked everyone involved, including members of the AS Board. “That shows a great deal of im¬ maturity, and I hope they stop because it’s really unnecessary,” said Brendon O’Brien, AS executive vice president. Dean of Student Activities Alvar Kauti and the Supreme Council held a special meeting on Dec. 4. At that meeting it was decided that a review was in order, and it would have been held Dec. 11, last Thursday. But as both sides were choosing their witnesses and the Supreme Council was researching the situation, Otto dropped all charges. “I was followed around campus, and at night my phone would ring con¬ tinuously until I picked it up, then they would giggle and hang up. I reported it to campus safety. Since the Courier wrote the first article I have been taunted and verbally abused. I was really scared so I decided to call the whole thing off, ’’said Otto. After additional consideration, how¬ ever, Otto decided to continue to press charges. The special meeting was to be held to check on the legality of the impeach¬ ment against Otto and to view the accusations made against her by then- MEChA vice president Gino Morales, who claims Otto was making decisions without discussion by with club mem¬ bers. These accusations led to a heated meeting that not only ended in a 15-5 vote against Otto, but the resignation of every MEChA officer except Morales. In Otto’s absence, Morales moved into the position of president. The officers and then-adviser Enrique’ Orozco, who also resigned, agreed that the impeachment proceedures were unconstitutional. They claim that Otto was denied the opportunity to speak on her behalf, that no official record of minutes were Former M EChA Officer Starts Club When a political scandal oc- a controversial subject among the curs, everyone connected with the AS Board. organization usually scrambles to Insiders say the club, which disassociate themselves with the will be open to anyone interested, situation. But that isn’t the case in will attempt topromote education, a situation developing on campus, understanding and cultural events One of the resigned officers of dealing with the Chicano race. MEChA has decided to form a new “I think once the new club club. The new club, which will be starts many of the current mem- called MECCA, will stand for the bers that are trappedin the Mo- same things as MEChA. rales-Otto controversy will come “One of our main purposes over to the new club,” said Huerta, will be to regain the name At press time it is not known if MEChA,” said Sal Huerta, former Dr. Orozco will be considered for MEChA social chairman. the adviser position or if any of the “MEChA offered a lot to the other former MEChA officers, campus,” said former MEChA ad- besides Huerta, will join the club, viser Enrique C. Orozco. “The last None of the current MEChA AS president (Jim Mares) and the officers or its acting adviser could current one (Steve Amezola) are be reached for comment by press both former MEChA officers.” time. The officers resigned their MECCA is expected to hold its positions in protest when former first meeting next semester. For MEChA president Jean Otto was more informationcontact Sal impeached, a situation that is still Huerta at 578-7384. taken, and no roll call was taken. It has been further charged that several of the people that voted for impeachment were not active MEChA members. According to Orozco, “The impeach¬ ment was handled unconstitutionally and the proceedure was completely unparliamentary. I was ignored, so the officers and I resigned and I have turned the matter over to dean of student services and the Supreme Council.” Although several former MEChA of¬ ficers have voiced their disappoint¬ ment with Otto’s decision to withdraw the complaint, it is not known at this time if that was the reason for renewal of the charges. Kauti was shocked about the situ¬ ation and talked about the conse¬ quences of harrassment. “Any evidence revealing the identity of the parties responsible will result in disciplinary action,” he said. Harassment violates Standard 5 of the Student Conduct Standards, which states: Physical or verbal abuse of any person on college owned or controlled property which threatens or endangers the health of any such person is subject to disciplinary action. Otto’s special hearing has been rescheduled and will be held after Christmas vacation. JEAN OTTO