- Title
- PCC Courier, March 02, 1979
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- Date of Creation
- 02 March 1979
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- Description
- Student newspaper published and edited for the Associated Student Body of Pasadena City College weekly during the college year by the journalism students.
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PCC Courier, March 02, 1979
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!
Pink Slips Eliminated
Summer School Still in Doubt
By Steve McManus
Staff
After lengthy discussion the Board of
Trustees postponed action on the fate of
summer school.
The administration had hoped that a
proposed restricted six-week summer ses'-
sion would have been approved at last
night’s regularly scheduled meeting in the
board’s chambers.
The board, however, felt that it did not
have enough information to make a
proper decision. In order to give Dr.
Richard Meyers sufficient time to
prepare any notices that might be
necessary, the trustees unanimously
agreed to move their next regularly
scheduled meeting from March 15 to
March 13.
Five major arguments were, outlined
by Dr. Meyers in is presentation.
“At the present time there is indication
from all other community colleges in the
area that they have decided to offer a
summer school or are leaning toward of¬
fering one,” he said.
“This is different information than we
had a month ago when the budgetary
planning guidelines were drafted.”
Trustee Richard Green asked if any
districts had indicated they would not be
financing their own program, but might
possibly contract with an outside agency
for a tuition-based plan. Dr. Meyers
responded that he knew of no such plans.
His second reason was related to stu¬
dent attrition. “The Los Angeles Com¬
munity College District research has
shown that when they did not have a
summer school last year there was a
reduction in their fall (average daily at¬
tendance because of it),” he explained.
Estimates from the financial aid office
are that fall enrollment at PCC could
drop by 2000 students if summer session
is eliminated, Dr. Meyers stated.
“Another argument,” he continued,
“is that certain categories of instruction
must be held because they are either
year-round courses or are two-semester
courses.”
Dr. Meyers also cited a “moral com¬
mittment” on the part of the college to
offer summer school, “because the
money we received was based on summer
school-generated ada (average daily at¬
tendance).”
Lastly, Dr. Meyers announced that
“budget cuts have been made in every
department” in order to meet the 7 per¬
cent overall cut that was set up in the
budgetary guidelines.
“We can now afford to have a limited
summer session,” he said, “though much
more limited than other area community
colleges.” The reason that course offer¬
ings would be much more limited at PCC
is because the board does not want to dig
into the district’s reserves to finance a
full-scale session as it did last year.
The cost of the proposed six-week ses¬
sion would be about $300,000 — teacher
salaries would account for approximately
$200,000 while the balance would cover
classified and administrative costs.
Trustee David Hannah questioned the
monetary factor, saying, “The legislators
I’ve talked to have told me there is not
going to be any answer as to what the
funding is going to be until June.”
Hannah felt that cost of living in¬
creases for faculty and staff should take
precedence over summer school, but Dr.
Meyers countered that if the money
budgeted for summer school was used for
salary increases it would come to about a
1
/2
percent raise.
Trustee Robert Spare asked Dr.
Meyers if other areas could be cut to
allow for salary increases while still
retaining one summer session.
“We can always cut more,” Dr.
Meyers answered, “But I believe the in¬
tegrity of the college would be in
jeapordy if we do.”
In addition, Spare commented that the
faculty should be given a chance to res¬
pond to the proposal.
The administration was not prepared
to offer an exact list of courses that
would be offered. Dr. Stanley Gunstream
spoke generally to curriculum questions.
“What I would interpret as absolutely
necessary would be courses primarily in
nursing and allied health, and some
prerequisite courses that feed those
special entrance programs for the fall.”
By a 4-2 vote the Board of Trustees
passed a resolution Monday night
which would eliminate second summer
session and avoid termination notices
to full-time faculty.
Pink slips would be made un¬
necessary by a reduction in the months
of service of a few certificated
positions and by the elimination of
three other vacated positions.
The resolution also gives the
Superintendent-President the power to
“give notices of recommendation not
to re-employ ... to the appropriate
number as necessary of certificated
employees pursuant to the Education
Code. . .”
The special meeting in the board’s
chambers was characterized by a
lengthy amount of time in executive
session.
Trustees Roger Gertmenian and
David Hannah cast the dissenting
votes. Trustee Robert Spare was
absent.
Those certificated positions to be
reduced are:
— the coordinator of cooperative
education and placement services
(from 12 to 11 months).
, — one regular instructor of
cooperative education (from 12 to 10
months).
— the teacher-coordinator of the
learning assistance center (from 12 to
11 months).
— two librarian III reduced to
librarian I (from 12 to 10 months).
The three posts which will become
vacant by attrition on July 1, and are
not to be refilled are:
— dean of registration and extended
day services
— assistant chairperson,
engineering and technology
— supervisor for media services
The reduction or elimination of
termination notices to full-time faculty
Continued on Page Six
m
SISTER CITY EXCHANGE— PCC gymnasts ex¬
change gifts with gymnasts from Pasadena’s
Sister City, Ludwigshafen in an international
competition Wednesday night in the Lancer gym.
(See Page 4.)
VOL. 46, NO. 20
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
MARCH 2, 1979
PCC Handicap
Provides Services
Student Senate Investigates
School Fees, Test Requisites
By Terry Robertson
Staff Writer
In a fast-moving, highly productive
meeting, the student senate approved
two committees and altered the
makeup of another.
Committees were formed to in¬
vestigate potential and current
mandatory school fees and English 1A
placement test requirements. An
amendment altering the committee
investigating alleged ASB election
irregularities also passed in the
Thursday meeting.
On the election issue, committee
chairman Steve Lambert had reser¬
vations about allowing Les Thompson,
former ASB finance commissioner, on
the committee. Lambert felt Thomp¬
son's participation could cause a
conflict of interest, since he was
directly involved in ASB elections as a
ballot collector.
Lambert’s motion was ruled out of
order because senators had already
approved the committee and its
members at the last senate meeting.
Senate vice president Mike Tiberi
said, “everybody is biased. Having
Thompson on the committee would
actually improve it. giving an input
from both sides of the issue.” Tiberi
also referred to a parliamentary rule
that states “the rule of the majority
and the voice of the minority.”
The original motion allowed only
four senate members on the election
committee. The senate passed an
amendment to that motion allowing a
fifth member. Thompson was the only
senator who voted against the original
motion.
Lambert made a proposal for senate
consensus approval of whether the
election committee should count the
ballots.
“If we get any bureaucratic flack on
the situation it should make the
committee a stronger voice having the
entire senate behind it, instead of just
five people,” said Lambert.
Tiberi said, “He would testify to the
fact that the ballots were correctly
counted.”
Committee member Thompson
stated it was the job of the committee
as a whole and not one member to
make proposals.
The proposal was not voted on.
ASB president Derek Coleman has
some question about the purpose of the
committee. Speaking about the girl
who said she stuffed the ballot box,
Coleman said, “She told me she didn’t
do it.” Many senators informed
Coleman his statement contradicted
one he made at a prior senate meeting.
A senator made a point of order
asking for the name of the girl who
said she had stuffed the ballot box.
Tiberi, substituting as senate
president (leading the meeting),
stated it was the committee's job to
investigate and that the question was
out of order. The purpose of committee
is to check election rules and
irregularities of past elections and
formulate future election guidelines, it
was stated.
Tiberi added, “Dean A1 Kauti said he
would cooperate with the investigating
committee.”
Senate member Charlotte Hutchins
introduced a motion to form a com¬
mittee to investigate potential and
current mandatory school fees. The
fees make up for lost revenue caused
by the passage of Proposition 13
Current fees charged are health,
field trips, field trip insurance, in¬
structional material, nonresident
tuition and parking.
Some of the potential fees include
fees for classes, program changes,
athletic insurance ’and student
records.
“The fees are not ridiculous and will
do us good in the long run. Fees being
charged now are the best of the bun¬
ch.” said Coleman.
“Additional fees could cause
problems for lower-income students. I
really think we nbed this, it’s up to
you.” said Hutchins.
The motion passed unanimously.
Should they (PCC) decide to charge
additional fees “we’ll be ready for
them.” said Hutchins.
A complete list of fees and potential
fees (with law codes) was distributed
to each senate member.
Senator Cathy Fede submitted a
report pointing out questionable
grading practices regarding the essay
part of English 1A placement tests.
Fede’s motion to form a committee
to investigate English 1A placement
tests and practices passed
unanimously.
“How can one professor ‘flunk’ an
essay while another passes it?” is one
question the committee will try to
answer.
Dr Richard Woods, English
department chairman, has agreed to
speak before the senate on the matter,
according to Fede.
The committee will formulate a
series of questions for Woods to answer
on the senate floor.
Fede also stated it is the senate’s
responsibility to inform students of
their right to retake the test should
they fail. She said. "It should also be
included in the PCC Bulletin.”
Many senators expressed strong
feelings on the matter, especially since
English 1A is a requirement for
graduation.
By Stephen Share
Staff Writer
Despite recent reports of financial
difficulties, PCC has been relatively
successful in providing a variety of
free services for handicapped
students. The current budget for the
program is approximately $192,000 per
year. But, according to Mrs. Francisca
Neumann, coordinator of services for
the physically handicapped, the ideal
budget would be “in the area of
$300,000 per year.”
The current benefits for students in
wheel chairs are numerous. For
example, there are special parking
areas in convenient locations. By
constantly patrolling the campus and
ticketing illegally parked cars,
campus security has been successful
in keeping these areas open for the
handicapped.
Also benefical are the large numbers
of ramps and elevators on campus.
The majority of the campus is ac¬
cessible now, and by June of 1980,
much more will be open to han¬
dicapped students. “Some time ago,
all my classes had to be chosen due to
accessability,” said a girl in a wheel
chair. “Now I can move around much
more easily.” The music building is
WS>
:
Student Committee Responds
To Health Fee Complaints
"A recent Courier Editorial called
the Health Service fee unfair and
I essentially ineffective," said Carmen
brunol, chairman of the Student
* oncerns Committee of the Faculty
j Senate. Almost two months later
aware that the major causes for
resentment were due to the health fee
imposed on the students and also the
•act that students are not allowed to
[Pay by check, the Student Concerns
ommittee of the Faculty Senate
I decided to respond to complaints made
I’y, the students and faculty on the
|subject .
"We are trying to look at the
Iproblem and solve it as best as we
lcan. said Carmen Brunol, chairman
the Student Concerns Committee of
|the Faculty Senate.
Ihe health center is strictly for
■students and provides a variety of
services such as immunization,
tuberculosis testing, pregnancy
testing, referrals and prescriptions
which many students cannot afford
otherwise.
By law. community colleges cannot
charge tuition or student body fees.
However, a student cannot enroll
without prior payment of the $5 Health
Fee.
“The $5 fee is not a hidden form of
tuition, it is used solely for student
health care and to partially cover the
Health Center expenses. It also covers
the cost of a student health insurance
policy.” said Ms. Brunoi.
If a student alleges at the time of
registration that he is unable to pay
this fee he will normally be referred to
Dean Alvar Kauti. in charge of ASB
finances. He may either be provided
with a job to cover the fee or it is
possible that the office will simply
waive payment. Ms. Brunil said.
We require that the person do two
hours of work for which he is paid
minimum wage in order to take care of
the fee.” said Kauti. Jobs provided for
the students may include office work,
mimeograph or filing.
Any reduction in student fees would
result in the curtailment of student
services.
"If student fees were dropped or
reduced, so would most of the services.
Nurses now working at the center
would be reassigned to class
teaching." said Ms. Brunol.
Dr. John J. Kisser, school
psychologist, expressed to the com¬
mittee his desire that students be
made aware of the center's offerings.
He also requested that students and
faculty contribute to possible im¬
provements with their suggestions and
criticism
NEVER AGAIN UNTIL 2017— A view of last Monday’s solar eclipse
just a few minutes before reaching the period of totality. The North¬
western States and parts of Canada were affected by the eclipse.
Next eclipse is expected for the year 2017.
currently inaccessible, as well as a few
other areas
The blind are provided with quite a
few services, such as books on tape or
in Braille. Also, there are three talking
calculators for blind math students. If
a blind student is unsure about walking
around campus on his own, then an
attendant will accompany him. “It
gets confusing sometimes with all the
people around, but you get used to it,”
said one blind student.
Sign language interpreters ac¬
company deaf and mute students to
their classes and translate the
teacher’s lecture into sign language.
One of the interpreters complains that
“some teachers talk too fast to let me
convey the message to the student.”
A large part of the program’s suc¬
cess are the attendants and the
volunteers involved with the han¬
dicapped students. Attendants are
often paid, as are sign language in¬
terpreters, but some people volunteer
to help free of charge. As one han¬
dicapped girl said, “more individuals
are needed to volunteer.” Because of
Proposition 13 cutbacks, the school can
not afford all the help needed in the
handicapped services program.
Students
Eligible for
Assistance
More students are eligible for
financial aid now, than ever before,
according to Gene Miller, coordinator
of scholarships and financial aids.
“Students of families earning up to
$25,000 per year may now be eligible
for base grants.”
Grants may run from under $250 up
to $762 at PCC.
“The earlier the student applies for
aid, the better will be his chances of
receiving the money when he needs
it,” said Mrs. Miller.
Gay Parker, an advisor in the
Financial Aid Office (FAO), said the
priority deadlines to apply for aid are
April 13 for the summer, and June 29
for the fall.
The priority deadline is the last date
the FAO is able to guarentee that the
student receives aid in time to begin
the respective school session.
Mrs. Miller said that it is very im¬
portant for students who desire aid to
enroll for classes early, and to apply
for aid as soon as possible.
“If for any reason this (FAO) office
is closed during the summer, it would
be impossible for us to process all
applications in time for the Fall
semester.”
The financial aid program includes
such programs as Basic Edcational
Opportuinty Grants, loans, and the
Work Study Program.
“We will have a substantial Work
Study Program,” said Mrs. Miller.
“We will put as many students to work
as we have jobs.
Jobs are available on or off campus,
full or part time, including over the
summer."
It is important for students currently
receiving financial aid to re-apply for
the neu school year.