PCC Courier, June 10, 1977

VOL. 43, NO. 16 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA JUNE 10, 1977 Candidates Violate Election Laws By Blake Sell Managing Editor Numerous and repeated violations of ASB laws and blatant unethical con¬ duct forced the invalidation of last week’s student body election. The action came after complaints by candidates and students that rules were being broken and were not being enforced. Rules governing the election state that any violation is grounds for the elimination of a candidate from the race. However, the election was so marked with controversy that com¬ plete cancellation was the only alternative, according to Phyllis Jackson, dean of student activities. •Rather than declaring any can¬ didates ineligible, 1 declared the whole election null and void,” she said. The decision came shortly after the polls closed Friday. Dean Jackson said she conferred with Alvar Kauti, co¬ dean of student activities, and he agreed with her decision. The ballots were collected and destroyed without being counted. ‘‘If an election is declared null and void, you don’t go out and count the ballots. It’s as if the election never existed,” Dean Jackson said. Much of the controversy centered around the campaign of the so-called “slate” candidates Ron Weekley, Elena Rodrigues and Moses Jones, ASB presidential, vice-presidential and Senate presidential candidates, respectively. In addition, a well-organized write-in campaign was waged to elect Toni Wilson to the office of Associated Women Students president on the same “slate.” “Slate” supporters were observed campaigning well within the marked 30-foot neutral area bordering the polling table, a violation of ASB law. In addition, “slate” handbills with the candidates’ names appearing on them were being circulated at the table. Dean Kauti instructed the cam¬ paigners to stop circulating the hand¬ bills in accordance with a Board of Trustees policy which forbids distribution of such materials on campus. Kauti said he was unfamiliar with the 30-foot rule. “If it (the 30-foot rule) wasn't en¬ forced yesterday, it was Phyllis’ and my fault,” Kauti said. He said that he would not disqualify any candidates for violation of this rule, although ASB law says violating it is grounds for elimination. “If you want to nitpick, you could disqualify every candidate in all school elections.” Kauti added. Dean Kauti instructed the same student to stop handing out the material on three occasions. One student manning the poll said he was not aware of the 30-foot law and that he did not care, although he Conduct Forces Calling of Last Week's Voting pointed to a copy of the rules taped in front of him and said it would be on there if it were true. “If I were being paid, it would be a different story,” he said moments after a handbill was given to a student who was about to vote. He said the reason he was manning the poll was because Ron Weekley asked him to. Elections commissioner Mark Tellez, the person responsible for organizing the election and selecting people to operate the polls, said a sign¬ up sheet was posted in the Campus Center and anyone who wished to collect ballots could do so. He said he instructed students on the rules and procedures before they were allowed to sit at the table. Tellez said when he was not available, Dordo Byles, Campus Center receptionist, or someone else informed the poll sitters about the rules. Another student was seen in¬ structing people who to vote for while operating the polling table for a half- hour period. While she manned the poll, a “slate” handbill was on the table in front of her. As Black students approached the table, she pointed to the handbill and told them to vote for the people on the paper. “These are all Blacks,” she said. She also instructed voters to write down Toni Wilson for AWS president. During this period, she accepted library cards and voter registration cards instead of student ID cards, allowing students to vote with these. When voting, a student ID card is required by ASB law. The card is punched with a hole-puncher to prevent students from voting more than once. Thomas Whiting, Senate president, said he manned the poll on the first day of balloting and found a set of ballots which had been pre-marked in the same handwriting for a fictitious candidate. He said the incident was reported to Dean Jackson. Whiting added that while he was operating the poll, many of the can¬ didates stood at the table. He did not know it was not allowed. “I didn’t know they were supposed to be outside the limit,” he said. Dean Jackson said the candidates are allowed to loiter around the polls but are not allowed to campaign while doing so. Jones, the only Senate presidential candidate, said that he was not in¬ formed of the campaign rules until Thursday morning, prior to the opening of the poll. He said he did not even know who Tellez was until then and only found him by coincidence. Jones said he asked Tellez about the rules and was given a rule sheet. On it, he discovered that candidates were not allowed to campaign within the 30-foot area around the poll so he avoided the area completely, he said. Because of the rule, he continued, he left the campus completely on Thur¬ sday so there would be no question of any infraction. In addition, Jones said he avoided the Quad on Friday on his way to classes. Another controversy arose over the display of publicity. Jim Razor, publicity chairman and presidential candidate, said he was unable to control unlawful publicity because of his conflict of interest. Razor said posters were placed in areas that were deemed illegal, such as the brick surfaces of R Building and on glass panels. Much of the material did not have the “OK Publicity” stamp required on all posters and banners, he explained. He said he informed Mrs. Jackson and Continued on Page Six Policy Still Restrictive YSA Ready To Sue Board 4,'Ш By Blake Sell Managing Editor The Young Socialist Alliance (YSA) is prepared to take the Board of Trustees to court to battle its policy concerning the distribution of reading materials on campus. Della Rosa, member of the Socialist Worker's Party and represenlativ£"of the YSA on the matter, said attorney Frederick Tepker believes he has a good case against the Trustees but legal action will not come im¬ mediately. The Trustees last week revised its policy and gave the Socialists the right to sell the Militant and other publications on campus. However, the Board said that anyone selling the materials would have to be restricted to a table and could not roam the campus with the literature. Miss Rosa sees the Board’s change in policy as a victory for the free speech rights of all students but, she said, “We don't see the battle as en¬ tirely won as yet.” Tepker feels that the Board’s refusal to allow his clients to sell freely is in violation of First Amendment rights and is contradictory to recent rulings involving similar cases. A supporter of First Amendment rights, Tepker was referred to the Socialist Worker’s Party and the YSA through the American Civil Liberties Union and is volunteering his time. Miss Rosa said attorney costs therefore~XCTTC not a factor in the decision to delay court action. She said the YSA will attempt to consolidate other campus organizations in the cause and insist to the Trustees that they be free to cir¬ culate materials. She said the right of one group to sell reinforces the right of others to present their ideas. “It's a fight for everyone.” The Socialists are basing their argument on the idea that persons should be free to walk anywhere on campus, talk to students and sell literature, except in areas specifically designated for other purposes such as classrooms and study areas. This, they feel, is a part of everyone’s con¬ stitutional rights. Miss Rosa said Tepker had been in communication with the County Counsel's office, the Board’s legal representative, and was under the impression the Board would allow the Socialists to sell in this manner. Board discussion indicated that it was strongly opposed to the Socialists’ request. Robert Spare, president of the Board, said he wished to impose the maximum restrictions possible although Tepker told the Board minutes earlier that the law states the governing body of any institution shall impose the minimum restrictions necessary for maintaining order. Brad Baldwin, ASB president, said he was against granting the YSA the right to sell freely because he felt students would resent being intruded upon. “To force something on someone is definitely wrong,” he said. Tepker said fear does not justify action against the distribution of material. “I was amazed at the backwardness of his thinking." Miss Rosa said of Baldwin’s statement. “We're interested in presenting our ideas and this is the only way to do it,” she said. “All around campus there are people who are hungry for this information.” She said PCC is an institution which exposes students to new ideas but Socialist philosophies are not available. If given the right to approach students freely. Miss Rosa said it will be done in a peaceful manner. She said all the Socialists want is the op¬ portunity to express their ideas and that the publication the Militant is a good way to do it since “it is attractive to young people.” She emphasized the title “Militant” in no way implies terrorism. PC. —Courier Photo by Brad Haugaard VOTE FOR HIM— Two students campaign illegally within the 30-foot radius of the polling table during voting hours last week. Infractions such as this caused the elections to be declared invalid. Students Recast Ballots for ASB. Senate Races English Department Head Plans Retirement After 31 Years at PCC By Joseph Riser Editor-in-Chief After 19 years as head of the English Department and 12 years as an English teacher at PCC, H. Woodrow Ohlsen will retire to his new home in Santa Barbara at the end of this month. Ohlsen i& quick to point out that he does not have to retire since he is three years shy of the mandatory retirement age. “I'm not leaving because I don’t like it, I'm leaving because I think it’s time," he said. Ohlsen holds a masters degree from the University of Michigan and has taught at that school as well as at PCC and UCLA. In his 31 years at the college, the curriculum in the English Department has grown until it now offers “more than any other junior college,” ac¬ cording to Ohlsen. In addition to serving as chairman during most of this departmental expansion. Ohlsen personally began many courses in masterpieces of literature, an area he considers his major interest in the field of English. He instituted the Masterpieces of Literature course in 1948 (now English 44 A, В and C) and the Literature of the Bible course in 1972 (English 45 A and B). Produced Bible Course Ohlsen has produced, in conjunction with colleagues in the department, a series of 45 half-hour tapes on the Bible course that have been broadcast over radio station KPCS-FM as a credit course for the radio’s listeners. The chairman's hobbies include photography as well as camping, “but not hiking,” he said. He plans to stay busy during his retirement working around the house and fixing up his new home which “needs some work." He is especially proud of the creative reading club at PCC and of Poet magazine, a broad sheet he helped Continued on Page Six Late results of the ASB make-up election show Ron Weekley and Elena Rodrigues as winners for the offices of ASB president and vice-president, respectively. A final vote count was not available at press time. The election was held yesterday and Wednesday to replace last week’s election which was declared invalid. Weekley served this semester as chairman of the Supreme Council and member of the Pan Afrikan Student Alliance Steering Committee., Miss Rodrigues has previous ASB experience as a member of MEChA. She was opposed by Ron Grant Running unopposed and automatic winners are Moses Jones, Senate president: Anita Cosey, Associated Women Students president, and Michael Leonard. Associated Men Students president. Six candidates were contesting the office of ASB president. Last week's election was canceled due to many violations of ASB regulations. Phyllis Jackson, dean of student activities, said rules would be strictly enforced during the make-up election. “I don’t blame anybody for being enthusiastic and wanting to win,” she said, although she would not condone anyone’s actions. “From now on, I’m going to put my big foot in,” she said. Dean Jackson said that last week’s election showed her many areas which needed improvement in order to have smoother elections. She said she has never met with all of the candidates as a group in the past but that this would be done in the future. One of the complaints lodged by candidates was that there was not sufficient organization and candidates were left in the dark. She said by meeting with all the candidates she would be able to make sure they are made aware of the rules. Dean Jackson said the democratic process is not the most efficient way to carry out elections, but “those who get shafted usually do so because of their own errors.” Fall Fine Arts Editor Named to Courier Helm :: и Burglars Steal Library Audio Visual Machines 'РЩ ш ' %/- —Courier Photo by Annitta Hollis TWENTY-THREE SKIDDOO— Student-Faculty talent show held last week featured acts from the 1920’s to the 1970’s. These students perform the Charleston in a nostalgic backglance at the 1920’s dance. Burglars made off with more than $4000 worth of audio-visual equipment from the PCC Library May 28. PCC security chief Ralph Riddle said the burglars entered through a window on the northwest side of the Library sometime Saturday night. They left with two electric type¬ writers, a Monroe adding machine, a visual aid machine, several cassette players, a TV camera and monitor and several other pieces of audio-visual equipment. The stolen equipment is valued at $4395. According to Riddle, a guard was making his rounds early Sunday morning and found the window had been tampered with. The guard checked inside the Library but was unable to tell if anything was missing. Library staff members were called in and verified what equipment was missing. PCC security notified the Pasadena Police Department at 11:39 am. Sunday. According to Pasadena Detective Lee Baroni. the agent in charge of the case, the break-in occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28. Someone apparently unbolted the window during library hours and returned later to open it and gain access to the building, Baroni said. He said the burglars probably left through an exit other than the unbolted window. The window is only about 18 inches wide and some of the stolen equipment would not fit through it. Baroni said that at least two burglars were involved and that they probably used a van or other large vehicle to get away. He said one possibly had been identified. Dana Pedersen, staff writer and Fall 1976 fine arts editor, will assume the post of Courier editor-in-chief with the first summer edition of the paper on July 1. Miss Pedersen was selected by the members of the journalism faculty earlier this week. She has served as fine arts editor, columnist and staff writer. She has also worked as a staff photographer and as a photography laboratory assistant. Miss Pedersen works at the Arcadia Answering Service and, in her spare time, does volunteer work for the Help our Youth (HOY) Free Clinic in Ar¬ cadia. She is also publicity chairman for the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library. During the past semester, she has served as secretary for the Alpha Chapter of Beta Phi Gamma, a national journalism honorary society. The former fine arts editor is a graduate of Pasadena High School and has plans to attent Cal State L.A. in spring 1978 where she will pursue a journalism major designed for finding a job in newspapers. Miss Pedersen was recently awarded for her leadership and ser¬ vice as well as for superior achievement at the Communications Department award ceremony. She is currently conducting in¬ terviews for editorial positions on the summer and fall Courier staffs. йр*; ■Ш ш MATERIALS DUE All library materials will be due by Tuesday, June 14. Students should clear all overdues, fines, etc., well before the end of the semester so that “holds” will not be placed against grades and other end-of- semester records. Delinquent students will not be permitted to register lor later terms until library obligations have been cleared. DANA PEDERSEN New Courier editor