PCC Courier, May 04, 2006

Serving PGC and the Pasadena community since 1915 May 4, 2006 pcc-courieronline.com Yol. 93, Issue 9 Board to Discuss Stronger Student Voice Dean Lee News Editor The Associated Students will ask the board of trustees to grant the stu¬ dent trustee the power to make motions and second them during their regular board meetings - a priv¬ ilege currently reserved for communi¬ ty-elected trustees only. The issue will be discussed among other topics today at noon during a joint meeting the board of trustees and the AS board. “The idea was brought up at the last board meeting that I sat in on as interim student trustee,” said Stephen Juarez, student body president. “I think that every trustee in the past has asked for the power to motion and vote on the board.” Juarez also said previous AS members had asked for a vote along¬ side the power to motion the board, which he thought created a problem. Currently, a California education code prohibits any of the 109 com¬ munity colleges from allowing stu¬ dent governments to vote on board agenda items. Student trustee Connie Chung said 46 student trustees out of 83 total in the state currently have the power to motion. “As I see it, the student trustee is just there,” Chung said. “It would be great to be more involved in the process. It is the closest thing we can get to a vote.” Along with a discussion on the role of the student trustee, the board and AS will also discuss the use of funding and student lobby committee activities, including the lobby com¬ mittee’s regular trips to Washington, D.C. “I think some of the administra¬ tors think we could better use the resources in the local area,” Juarez said. “It’s our own money and we can do with it as we choose. What we want to do is say that it’s going to a good cause and we plan to do that with a presentation about the trip to D.C.” Twice a year the board of trustees holds a daytime meeting so students get a chance to see how the board works. This time, the AS will be included as well. “This is the first time this has hap¬ pened that I’m aware of,” Juarez said. The idea behind the meeting is that the AS and board of trustees will walk away with a better understand¬ ing of each other, Juarez said. The meeting is open to all students and will be held in the Creveling Lounge. MARCHING INTO HISTORY Daniel Belts I Courier Past and Present: A father and son march alongside almost half a million people on May 1 in front of City Hall. This protest, organized by the March 25 coalition, was one of many that took place across the nation. Oasis Room Dispute Generates T ensions Nathan Solis Staff Writer A congregation of 30-plus stu¬ dents meets throughout the day in the Palm Cafe to play card games, socialize or just be noisy. Second- year student David Yepez said, “When I first came to [PCC] there was always someplace to sit [in the Palm Cafe].” Now the room has only four tables and a dozen chairs. Tables and chairs have been moving around since the Palm Cafe moved outside the CC build¬ ing. Students blame cadets, who have been ordered to accommo¬ date clubs that reserve the Oasis room. The multimedia center cur¬ rently caught between being a classroom and a social cafeteria. However, according to campus use specialist Marcelia Ambrose, the Oasis room is off-limits to stu¬ dents unless they are in a club and have made proper reservations. Ambrose, who oversees Oasis room reservations, has received complaints of trash being left in the conference area by students who have had lunch there. “I’ve seen students practicing karate moves in [the room],” said PCC police officer Steven [see Oasis Room, PAGE 4] LAG Director Awarded Lifetime Achievement Sara Tweed Staff Writer John C. Wood, who runs the Learning Assistance Center, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Tutoring Association, which provides certifi¬ cation and opportunities for tutors and trainers. This award is given annually and is offered to all high school and col¬ lege tutor trainers across the nation. “ [Wood] won this award because of his passion for tutoring,” said Aida Dzhanunts, an assistant in the LAC, about her friend and co-work¬ er. “He is very involved with the stu¬ dents and wants them to have the best tutors.” Wood’s students agree. “The Learning Center is very organized and has a lot of resources for us to use,” said Denise Arroba, who goes to the LAC for tutoring in math and various other subjects. Wood designed and wrote the book “Tutor Training,” which offers 10 lessons with a step-by-step process to becoming an excellent tutor. The book covers the proce¬ dure of preparation and prompt reading and finishes with a conclu¬ sion of each tutoring method. This book is what the LAC uses and is very successful with the students receiving tutoring each day. Before this book was used, the LAC was open fewer days and there were fewer tutors. Currently there are eight full-time staff members and 40 student tutors. The LAC staff is very proud of Wood’s contributions to the LAC. “There is no one more deserving [of this award],” said ond of his coworkers. “Way to go, John!” After winning the award, Wood is now focusing on getting the cam¬ pus even more involved with train¬ ing tutors for the LAC and having students use the LAC. The LAC is open Monday through Thursday in D 300. Elizabeth Barnes / Courier Learning Assistance Center director John Wood. Citizenship Through Education Proposed legislation will allow illegal immigrant students resident tuition fees and quicken the citizenship process. Meghann Baker Contributing Writer The DREAM Act of 2006 that is currently before the U.S. senate as part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2612 Subtitle C), would change the current dynamics of higher edu¬ cation in this country by allowing illegal immigrant students to pay resident tuition prices at community colleges, state colleges and universi¬ ties nationwide. In addition to a cheaper education, a student who qualifies for this benefit could change from an “alien” to a condi¬ tional legal, permanent resident. Some states, such as California, already offer this opportunity to ille¬ gal immigrants. In California, bill AB 540 grants resident tuition to illegal immigrant students as long as they have a diploma or a G.E.D. from a California high school that they have attended for at least three years. They must also file an affi¬ davit with the college or university that promises they will apply for legalization. Policies like this are seen as unfair by some because they favor illegal immigrants over United States citizens. However, immigrant rights groups argue that many immigrant families cannot pay non¬ resident tuition because they are not paid fair wages for their work. To many immigrant parents, the tremendous danger and hardship they face while bringing their chil¬ dren to the U.S. is worth the benefits of an American education. The Associated Students lobby committee pledged its support for the DREAM Act in its 2006 Legislative Report. The document states, “We believe permanent resi¬ dency status for people brought here by their parents through no fault of their own is an equitable agreement with our higher education system and our state governments.” In the U.S. , the disparity between resident and nonresident tuition prices is growing, and often limits the choices low-income students have for going to college. The University of California system [see DREAM Act, PACE 4] Ivy Leagues Cut Tuition Christina Bustamante Staff Writer The price of attending communi¬ ty college is higher than ever. However, Ivy League colleges are actually lowering their tuition to ensure that all students will be able to further their education at one of their institutions, whether they are able to pay for it or not. A 2003 study done by Harvard found that just three percent of stu¬ dents at some of the most selective schools in the United States came from the poorest socio-economic quarter of families, while 74 percent came from the richest. Now, a small group of selective colleges is turning its attention to the low-income stu¬ dents that attend community col¬ leges. Although Stanford University already provides a strong financial aid program, it does not pay for all of the costs that may not be included in college fees. Under a new program starting this year, students from fami¬ lies with an annual income of less than $45,000 will not have pay tuition at Stanford. Students with families with incomes of $60,000 will pay about $3,800 in tuitions. Stanford estimates that with about 1Д00 cur¬ rent and new students enrolling for the fall semester, the new program will cost the university $3 million in its first year. Harvard, Yale and Princeton Universities are a few of the elite schools that will also begin similar programs. In addition to offering gen¬ erous financial aid, Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Stanford are making an effort to ensure that students around the country are aware that an Ivy League education is possible, regardless of financial circumstances. Throughout history, low-income students have been ignored by elite colleges, which recruit mostly at high schools and often accept few or no transfers because they want to offer a distinctive four- year experience. Currently, students from the poorest 25 percent of families make up 11 percent of the student population at Ivy League schools. “The financial barrier is one thing that stops [students] from wanting to attend such colleges as Stanford and Harvard,” said Kim Miles, assistant dean of financial aid. “I want stu¬ dents to put these fears behind them and just go for it.” Because almost every state suffers the effects of tax cuts and legislation has slashed funding for higher educa¬ tion, colleges most often respond by raising their tuition, reducing finan¬ cial assistance and adding new fees. According to CollegeBoard.com, over the last 10 years the average tuition and fees for a public four-year college have increased by 40 percent and private four-year tuition prices have increased by 33 percent. Many community colleges have also increased their charges. Tuition and other fees for many community colleges have risen. These colleges have already mandated an increase of more than 10 percent, according to the National Center on Public Policy and Higher Education. Some com¬ munity college officials in California estimate an enrollment decline due to this increase in tuition. “Everyone should have a chance to go to a good college, no matter what income bracket they’re in,” said student LaShonda Riddle.