PCC Courier, January 22, 1987

The Force Forensics Team Lancers Is With you Page 3 Wins First Place in Cypress Tourney Split Two Page 4 The VOL. 63, NO. 19 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 22, 1987 InCar, the International Committee Against Racism, held a speak-out meeting last Thursday to by members of the committee, as well as representatives from nearly every campus organization, discuss the Spoken English Proficiency Committee Survey. The jam packed meeting was attended such as Bill Logan (above left) and committee chairman Mike Bloebaum (above right). — Courier photos by Vern McGuire InCAR and Committee Members Meet By Andre’ Coleman News Editor InCAR, the International Committee Against Racism, met with Communica¬ tions Dept. Chairman Mike Bloeabaum and members of the Spoken English Proficiency Committee last Thursday to discuss the findings of a recent committee survey. The meeting, which was suppose to be an open forum for questions con¬ cerning the committees findings, turned into a shouting match between committee opposers, InCAR sup¬ porters and members of the faculty. The trouble began after the commit¬ tee, which is headed by Bloebaum and formed at the request of Dr. David Ledbetter, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, was asked to investigate the growing concerns among some campus instructors, local four year colleges and universities that some graduating students, particulary ESL student, demonstrate inadequate speaking abilities. To accomplish this task, the commit¬ tee formed a one question survey ques¬ tion which asked, To what extent do you think that student deficiencies-in speaking, hearing and comprehending English are a problem in the classes you teach? Of the 121 responses the committee received the results indicated that 10 percent of the instructors polled be¬ lieved a severe problem exists, over 60 AS Vice President Resigns; AS now Accepting Applications By Keith Foster Staff Writer If you want to get on the AS Board without the election hassles now is your chance. At a recent AS meeting it was announced that Denise O’Brien, Vice President of Student Services will be resigning, and that her position will be open on the AS Board. The Courier has learned that O’Brien’s position may not be the only opening. Inside sources have indicated that two members of the current board may apply for the position. Although examination of the AS Constitution did not reveal an es¬ tablished line of succession, there exist in the Constitution, a section in article 5 which says, “Any vacancy which occurs among the elective or appointive offices of the Associated Students (except as outlined in article II, sections 7,8 and 9) shall be filled by AS Presi¬ dential appointment upon ratifica¬ tion of the AS executive board by a two-thirds majority vote. Although the constitution does not state specificly if the open position must be publicized, this is the proceedure that has been used in this type of situation previously. According to AS President Steve Amezola everyone should know abou the open position. “I think their are a lot of eligible candidates and they should know the position is open,” said Amezola. Currently the AS Board is accept¬ ing applications for the position of VP of Student Services. Anyone interested in applying for the open AS position may pick up an applica¬ tion in the Campus Center. percent belived a significant problem exists, 28 percent concluded a slight problem exists and two percent in¬ dicated they did not see a problem. After the Courier published the re¬ sults of the survey, INCAR published a flier criticizing the survey and went on to say, “Such a “survey” is designedto generate the right answer ; it is a thinly disguised effort to engineer a reaction from faculty against foreign students. It was also revealed that InCAR was planning to protest the findings of the survey. In an effort to diffuse the situation Bloebaum agreed to meet with the group and field question concerning the survey and the function of the commit¬ tee. An effort he thinks has helped the situation. “I think it was a vauable meeting. People aired their views, and that’s what the meeting was for,” said Bloebaum. InCAR adviser Roger Marhiem also felt the meeting was valuable. “I was amazed at the size of the of the turnout, the voice of the group was wonderful. I commend all of the students that par¬ ticipated,” said Marhiem But the results of the meeting may have done everything but diffuse the situation, at the meeting, which was attended by members of every major campus organization, accusations of racism, communism and red baiting were thrown. But one group decided to voice their opposition to the survey in a more refined manner. The students of Dan Meier’s ESL class wrote a letter which Meir read to the audience. We the students of Mr. Meier's English la ESL class, overwhelmingly oppose the Spoken English Proficiency requirement test on two grounds: First, we do not perceive a problem in a foriegn student’s ability in speaking english. Many foriegn students do not participate enough in class because of cultural differences, but this fact does not mean they do not speak the language well. Weoppose the wording of the survey question “To what extent do you think that student deficiencies in speaking, hearing and comprehending English are a problem in the classes you teach?’ because it is misleading. We are not quite sure what you mean by the word “hear¬ ing,’’ and comprehension skills are some times separate from a student’s speaking skills. The fact is many foriegn students maintain very high grade point averages, an indication that the perceived deficien¬ cies in their hearing, comprehending and speaking skills do not exist, just look at the Dean’s List! However despite the yelling and ac¬ cusations one thing appears to be clear, the battle has just begun. The Courier has learned that InCAR will hold an informational picket in front of the cafeteria Thursday at noon. MEChA Mix — Up Over By Eric P. Scott Staff Writer It had been a tense 4% hours for Jean Otto last Thursday when Jose’ Rodriguez read the unanimous verdict of the Supreme Council: Otto’s Nov. 25 impeachment was not conducted in accordance with the MEChA constitu¬ tion. Otto served as president of the MEChA (chicano students) club until her controversial ouster last fall when then-vice president Gino Morales as¬ sumed her position. The Supreme Coun¬ cil granted her a hearing to decide whether the impeachment was prop¬ erly handled. AS Executive Vice President Bren- don O’Brien led the pledge and called the meeting to order. Rodriguez served as chief justice, with Andrew Bravo and Tim Owens as associates. Otto began by condemning the han¬ dling of her Nov, 25 impeachment as “very unconstitutional and very un¬ parliamentary.” She said that Robert’s Rules of Order were “thrown out the window.” Otto also claimed that some of the people who voted didn’t have the 51 percent attendance required to vote. “Also, the secretary was not present to make the agenda or to get the roll call.” The proceedings started before the adviser (Enrique C. Orozco) ar¬ rived. She said that no roll call or agenda was presented upon request by the adviser. Morales responded by saying that Otto had “violated Robert's Rules of Order, four items of our constitution, two bylaws,” misused the MEChA name and logo, and had the club placed on probation as a result of her actions. He then repeated his accusations citing the specific articles and sections. Morales introduced what he claimed was the roll sheet for Nov. 25 to support his contention that the 21 votes cast were legitimate. Several of the signa¬ tures were questionable. Both parties then elaborated their claims. Otto said that Morales had been given the floor to discuss his recent participation in a statewide con¬ ference and changed to “surprise” impeachment. She said, “I was shocked.” Morales said he gave her ample opportunity to defend herself and she refused. Otto claimed that Morales presented insufficient evidence, and that he relied on verbal rather than written “documentation.” Morales produced a copy of a flyer allegedly distributed by Otto in September opposing Psych 31 (Studies in Chicano Behavior) and a letter from dean Alvar Kauti repri¬ manding the distribution of literature in class (a violation of Board of Trustees policies). Morales said that some members wanted the vote conducted by closed ballot but the adviser insisted on a show of hands. Morales explained that some students have classes with Dr. Orozco and didn’t want to “expose themselves.” Each party brought three witnesses, who gave alternate testimony. Sal Huerta, Paul Guerrero and Israel Re- goza spoke for Otto; Nancy Martinez, Alfonso Villegas and Isabel Torres spoke on Morales’ behalf. Huerta pointed out several dis¬ crepancies on the roll sheet, including the omission of his signature. Martinez said she’d motioned for the closed ballot and harshly criticized Orozco for his furor and continual tardiness. She also said that the club was “still on probation” and feared the consequences of a second offense. “We wanted to impeach Jean Otto so we wouldn’t lose our charter,” an ap¬ parent reference to the flyer incident. O’Brien asked why MEChA had two ICC representatives; she said that there was only one— Torres, and that she accompanied her as an observer. Guerrero, MEChA’s ICC representa¬ tive, had not been present Nov. 25 and said he “never resigned. I still retain my ICC position; no person can take my spot at ICC meetings.” He too questioned signatures on the roll sheet. Villegas recounted the events of the Nov. 25 meeting and criticized the club’s boycott of a recent statewide conference. He explained the dubious roll sheet: “A few people knew there was going to be an impeachment so they missigned their names ... so when the hearing came up they would be able to count off their names as illegitimate.” Regoza, former MEChA secretary, also did not attend the Nov. 25 meeting. He said he “didn’t know about the impeachment” and would have canceled any job or appointment he had to be there if he had. He wondered why everyone left the meeting so upset at the outcome if the majority wanted Otto impeached. Torres also began to relate the his¬ tory of the Nov. 25 meeting but broke off her testimony to address the Coun¬ cil. “I’d like to comment on some¬ thing,” she said. “I’m a freshman here ... I can’t believe what’s gone on . . . How could this be occuring?” She went on to praise Otto and her performance, then called her an “emo¬ tional and unstable person” lacking leadership qualifications. Torres claimed she had been branded a “com¬ munist” by club members and de¬ nounced “racist attacks” on hispanic and chicano students before she was excused. The former and acting advisers were then invited to speak. Orozco characterized the witnesses’ testimony as “contradictory” and said “there seems to be some maliciousness here.” He pointed out that the “truth usually comes out in the end.’’ Ynez said that Otto’s impeachment was subsequently “affirmed” at the Jan. 13 meeting. “There’s no reason she cannot be duly impeached,” he said. Morales and Otto then gave their closing statements before the Council adjourned for what was to have been a 20-minute recess. After over an hour’s deliberation the verdict was in and Rodriguez read several parts of the MEChA constitution that should have been followed in an impeachment pro¬ ceeding. Otto had triumphed.