Exchange Instructor Chen
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— Courier photo by Tina Andris
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— Courier photo by Barbara Nack
NICKEL TOUR — Pasadena Mayor Loretta Glickman, the first black
woman mayor in the country, tours the PCC campus by
invitation of Dr. Richard S. Meyers, superintendent-president.
>und’
Joe Krovoza looked relaxed when he
arrived for the Wednesday night Board
of Trustees meeting. He entered the
board chambers dressed casually in
beige slacks, an open neck plaid shirt
and white tennis shoes. Instead of
heading for his usual seat next to
Trustee Roger Gertmenian, he selected
a chair in the final row.
His term as student trustee is over.
He relaxes inconspicuously hidden in
the audience and watches as Board
President Dr. Gary Adams swears in
Learned Jeremiah Hand as the new
student trustee.
Looking back over the past year,
Krovoza said it was sometimes frus¬
trating being the student member of
the Board. “Unfortunately, several
trustees are very unresponsive to what
the student trustee says. However, if
you consider where we were three
years ago, we’ve come a long way.”
Three years ago the first student
trustee, Derek Coleman, was elected to
office and then resigned, citing the
inability to meet the 2.5 grade point
requirement. “At that time there was
not a lot of information available.
Everything new takes a while to get
used to,” he said.
“We’ve come a long way and have
got a lot further to go. I’ve seen the
progress made and we must keep mov¬
ing forward and not regress.”
Another equally frustrating problem
Legal Aid Consultation Offered
To Students; First Meeting Free
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a
casts
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from
rid. It
i it of
By Doug Brown
Staff Writer
Students can obtain free legal advice
beginning Tuesday, June 1. The legal
aid includes free consultation or advice
on any legal topic.
“This is one of the few services that
PCC doesn’t offer. I feel that we have a
need for such a service,” said John
McTeague, ASB president. “Many stu¬
dents need legal aid, but don’t know
where to get it, or can’t afford it. I
arranged this (legal aid) so that stu¬
dents will be able to get the legal aid
they need.”
The service is provided by Murphy
and West, a legal services organiza¬
tion. Murphy and West also offer free
legal aid to other groups and organiza¬
tions. In order to provide services to
the groups that subscribe, Murphy and
West have a partnership with 10 limited
practice firms serving the different
facets of the law which a majority of
people might have questions about.
The legal aid includes a free first
consultation, either in person or by
phone. Further costs of legal services
will be discussed, and the student then
has the option to employ the organiza¬
tion’s attorney, go to another attorney,
or drop the matter.
“The legal services will also provide
a newsletter with legal tips,” said
McTeague. “Then the students might
be better at understanding the law, and
knowing what the law is about.”
was “The majority of trustees don’t
honestly realize the impact they are*
having on students. If they do it is often
not apparent in the meetings of the
Board of Trustees,” he said.
“They don’t consider individuals or
realize that some students may not be
able to continue their education due to
a decision they make.”
For example, “The current student
trustee is older than one of the Board
members (John Martin). With that in
mind, coupled with the fact Jeremiah is
on the campus every day of the week, I
honestly feel the Board is defeating its
own decision making potential by not
affording him executive session
(rights) and the right to make and
second motions.”
Krovoza unsuccessfully fought for
those rights while in office. When
Assembly bill 1369 passed in January,
1982 it became mandatory that the
Board adopt at least one of four options
designed to upgrade the position of
student trustee.
The bill directed the individual
boards to either extend the term of
office two months, provide compensa¬
tion for the student trustee, allow him
to participate in executive session
meetings or allow him to make and
second motions.
The Board unanimously approved the
option that extended the term of office.
Krovoza also presented his argument
that the student trustee must be able to
make and second’ motions, but received
a resounding 6-1 defeat.
In addition to these problems,
Krovoza said he sees tension mounting
between the adminsitration and the
Board. “It is my feeling that the
adminitrative ‘infra-structure’ is vir¬
tually unchangeable when matters
reach the Board of Trustees.
“A lot of decisions are made before
they come to the Board. I feel the
Board is very often reluctant to buck
the administration because it has hired
them. That in and of itself is a very
serious decision making disadvan¬
tage,” he said.
For that reason he stressed the need
for a unified and coherent student
voice. “The ASB has done a fantastic
job in a short period of time by develop¬
ing a high rapport with both the faculty
and the administration. We don’t
always agree, but when there is mutual
respect, it breeds a coalition where you
can get together on some issues.”
Krovoza said the overriding objec¬
tive during times of financial crisis “is
fairness and equity.”
—Debbie Gehlken
America
I give
I the
Э
to:
lena.
the end of this program in June 1 shall
have a loss of about $6,000.”
On the other hand, a house is
provided on the Shih Chien campus for
exchange faculty, relieving the finan¬
cial burden. “It’s the way of Chinese —
more hospitality for friends from fan
away.”
When Chen reported for work he was
assigned to the English department on
campus, then transferred to the Com¬
munity Skills Center. He teaches Eng¬
lish as a second language.
Chen observed a fundamental dif¬
ference between the American and
Taiwanese students. “Free tuition to
students is excellent, but it is very easy
for the young people to abuse this right.
If
уоц
pay your own tuition you will
value your education. This is my be¬
lief.”
In Taiwan, “Degrees are regarded as
some type of social status. Many
parents struggle to provide schooling
for their children.” He also said the
college entrance exams are much more
stringent. “The test is given to the
people once a year. If you fail you must
try again next year.”
Along with his teahing duties, Chen
completed an administrative in¬
ternship. He spent time with cabinet
members and their support staffs while
learning the administrative process of
a large community college.
“I’m going to write a proposal for
my college president and board of
trustees to show what kind of things we
have to do in order to improve our
college.”
The exchange program is strictly
volunteer and this year no faculty
members have expressed interest in
the program. Chen said the problems of
Taiwanese teachers coming to the
United States are twofold. Financial
problems make it difficult as well as
the language problem. Their native
tongue is Mandarin Chinese and the
faculty member must have a basic
command of the English language
before they can be considered.
Despite all the difficulties, Chen has
enjoyed his stay. “I want to express my
gratitide to all my friends, both faculty
and staff, who have made my stay a
memorable experience. Because of the
number of names I apologize for not
being able to list them all.
“Our college welcomes any faculty
or staff to visit or stay in the faculty
house, or to continue the exchange
program.”
No Stranger
The last 10 months passed quickly for
Michael Chen. The birth of a son, a new
teaching position, new friends and a
new country all added to the whirlwind
year. In just two short months he’ll
return home to Taipei, Taiwan and
continue teaching English at PCC’s
sister school, Shih Chien College.
Chen came to the United States as
part of an exchange program. Joseph
Probst, a communications instructor,
“exchanged” positions with Chen as
part of both a cultural and academic
enrichment program.
But, Chen is not a stranger to the
United States. He studied at Smith
College in Massachusetts between
1976-78 and received a diploma in
American studies. Prior to that, Chen
received a master’s degree in Ameri¬
can studies at Tamkang Taipei Univer¬
sity. He taught English in Taipei at the
Chinese Cultural University, the Taipei
Medical College, as well as his current
position at Shih Chien, an all female
college.
“I think the exchange program is a
very valuable experience for teaching
faculty. I was in this country as a
student and I wanted to come here as a
teacher,” Chen said.
Upon arrival last July, Chen and his
wife had to adjust to American cus¬
toms and way of life. “The biggest
difference is the value system. It is
very difficult for a person to adjust.
“In my country, we are taught to
behave seriously. If you behave casu¬
ally people will think you are not well
educated. In this country it is different.
It is very difficult to explain, but this
culture accepts outgoing people like
that. Most Oriental people are serious
and reserved.”
to
The Chens also had to adjust to the
birth of their first son, Duke. Born on
August 30, 1981, only seven weeks after
their arrival, Duke had an early view of
American life. However, he was sent
home to his grandmother last January
to allow the Chens the opportunity to
devote their time to studies. Mrs. Chen
attends Azusa Pacific College, major¬
ing in business adminstration.
“Duke being born here and our being
able to do some advanced studies are
considered as two highlights of this
very fine exchange program,” Chen
said.
“The most difficult part of the ex¬
change program has been the insuffi¬
ciency of salary required to live ade¬
quately in this country,” he said. Chen
receives $500 per month from his col¬
lege in Taiwan, but estimated his
monthly expenses at $1,000. “Through
Budget Battle Rages On
By Debbie Gehlken
News Editor
Funding battles continue to rage as
our state leaders prepare the budget
for fiscal year 1982-83. The general
attitude seems to be cut, then cut again
and community college funding is no
exception.
The ominous threat of tuition
charges for all community college stu¬
dents grows as rapidly as state deficit
figures.
Assembly concurrent resolution
number 81 passed the state legislature
last March and directed the California
Postsecondary Education Commission
(CPEC) to study “the impact of stu¬
dent charges on access to public post¬
secondary education.”
But, CPEC stated in its report re¬
leased this month that since a plan
doesn’t currently exist for implementa¬
tion of an across-the-board student
tuition fees at community colleges, the
target date for the new charges is
1983-84. However, if the need should
arise, tuition may be charged during
fiscal year 1982-83.
The commission looked for other
ways to cut back the statewide com¬
munity college budget and proposed a
$30 million cut in courses considered
recreational or personal benefit
courses.
CPEC found “The heavy concentra- “A significent portion of the current
tion of student enrollment and resulting course activity in these areas
со
J ■
state apportionment payments in rec- . offered more appropriately as n-
" The absence of charges in the community colleges
will continue to mean higher charges for university
and state university students. "
reational and avocational courses munity services on a fee-support
which yield primarily personal benefits basis. ’ ’
represent a serious imbalance in the Approximately nine percent of state-
use of limited state resources. wide credit courses are comprised of
physical ec -anon classes while 10
percent is fine and applied arts. The
. . port stated that although these
classes are part of a liberal arts educa¬
tion, “The majority of students
enrolled in such courses are enrolled
for only one or two courses per term
and are not taking the courses as part
of any certificate or degree program.”
CPEC recommended that the state
give higher priority to academic de¬
velopment and occupational programs
while determining which classes should
be classified as fee supported.
In addition, the commission recom¬
mended that $50 million in state appor¬
tionments be reduced by draining dis¬
trict reserves. The statewide level of
year-end reserves remains around $400
million and this one time deduction
may alleviate the need for any new
tuition charges during this fiscal year.
“The absence of charges in the com¬
munity colleges will continue to mean
higher charges for university and state
university students. Continuation of ex¬
isting practices of across-the-board re¬
ductions and enrollment limitations as
responses to fiscal crises will have a
direct and adverse impact on access
and can, by diluting instructional sup¬
port, threaten educational effective¬
ness and excellence.”
MIDSUMMER
IGHT'S DREAM
30 at 8 p.m
at 8 p.m.
2 p.m.
ives
VOL. 53. NO. 14
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE. PASADENA. CALIFORNIA
