- Title
- PCC Courier, November 04, 1983
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- Date of Creation
- 04 November 1983
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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, November 04, 1983
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Trustee Candidates Debate
By Lisa Lowery
Staff Writer
Candidates seeking election to the
PCC Board of Trustees are split on the
issue of tuition, but they all agreed
administrative positions could be cut or
reorganized. Six of the eight candidates
attended the League of Women Voters’
Oct. 26 debate.
The Nov. 8 election determines
which of the candidates will hold the no
salary, four-year term for district
Areas 2, 4 and 6. In Area 6 John H.
Martin, board vice president, runs un¬
opposed.
In Area 2, Jeanette Mann, an admin¬
istrative officer at Cal State North-
ridge, and Michael Blumenthal, a
wholesaler’s representative, challenge
Dr. Gary B. Adams, board president,
who is seeking a second term. Adams’
other opponents, Charles Compton of
Sierra Madre and Earl Gottschalk of
Pasadena, did not attend the only
trustee election debate.
In the race for Area 4, Susanna
Miele, community volunteer, competes
against incumbent Roger Gertmenian,
who is running for a fourth term.
At the debate candidates presented
their campaign programs. They an¬
swered audience questions on issues
such as tuition, tenure in respect to
collective bargaining, administrative
cuts, funding plans and faculty union
involvement.
District Area 2
Gary B. Adams
Adams stood and said, “The board
has been accused of slashing dozens
of faculty members and programs,
financial mismanagement, and sag¬
ging morale.” He also expressed his
views of the faculty union leader¬
ship.
Adams defended the board against
the accusations during his five min¬
ute introduction. “The faculty reduc¬
tion, which was forced upon us be¬
cause of state decreasing funding,
did not in any way decimate any
programs at all. Out of about 350
faculty members 19.75 faculty mem¬
bers that were with us last fall are
no longer with us. We have not
eliminated any single academic pro¬
grams,” Adams said.
“PCC was not forced to pay back 10
percent of its operating budget mid¬
year as Chancellor Hayward posed to
us last year. And PCC does not face
bankruptcy at this time,” Adams said.
“In the last four years . . . With the
exception of hourly employees all em¬
ployees have received a 15.5 percent, or
better, increase in salary and fringe
benefits.
“I truly believe that the faculty union
leadership does not have the same
dedication and interest the faculty as a
whole has in keeping this institution
alive. The PCC/CTA’s position is one
essentially saying that in order to
arrive at an equitable position we
should fire or dismiss additional classi¬
fied and clerical college employ¬
ees, ’’Adams said.
Concerning tuition Adams said,
“Education is not free. If we get down
to the point of not having high quality
education because we cannot pay for it,
then I am in favor of tuition.”
Addressing the issue of possible ad¬
ministrative cuts, Adams said, “Dr.
John W. Casey, superintendent-presi¬
dent, was told when he was hired that
the board was interested in his looking
into a reorganization plan. He has that
plan started. It’s important to point out
since 1978 and the passing of proposi¬
tion 13, PCC has reduced its manage¬
ment positions 32 percent from 42.8 to
29.3. Much of that responsibility has
been moved upward and is now housed
with the vice presidents. At PCC now
we have just short of 30 management or
administrative positions. Almost half
of those positions are department
chairs. We have 15 departments at
PCC, and we are looking at reorganiza¬
tion.”
When asked how he felt about tenure
and its respect to the collective
FREE ENTERTAINMENT— Doug McComb, one of the many musical artists at the Inscape Arts
Festival last weekend. — Courier photo by Jerome Gibson
bargaining process, Adams said,
“Tenure has been a good thing for
faculty, but it may have outlived its
usefulness in some ways. It eliminates
merit as a reason for reward. Tenure
and collective bargaining do not recon¬
cile each other.”
In his concluding statement Adams
said, “It’s important for board mem¬
bers to approach information and areas
in a forthright and honest manner. The
board has done a good job in dealing
with the difficult situation over the past
four years.”
Jeanette Mann
“The heart of a college is the educa¬
tional programs. As a professional
educator my concern is with the educa¬
tional programs,” said Mann, a strong
advocate of women’s education. “I can
help to strengthen the programs for all
students, help to turn around what has
happened to this college and help to go
into a forward mode.”
Throughout Mann’s campaign pres¬
entation she referred to the present
board’s actions as being budget
motivated. She proposed that any col¬
lege must be program driven and the
people involved be consulted in order to
solve problems without damaging the
academic process.
Mann answered questions about her
funding solutions, management cuts
and tenure. “One of the things that can
be done when a crisis arises is to go
into a crisis mode : freeze expenditures
and do without things for a while.” She
said that tenure was important, but she
could not see the conflict between
tenure and collective bargaining. Mann
cannot see why a college would need
four vice presidents. Most Cal State
Universities have only two. Northridge
has a third, and that salary is privately
funded, according to Mann.
As for tuition, Mann said, “Tuition is
really a numbers game. It is better to
have a solid tax funding base for
education.” In conclusion Mann said,
“There are better ways to deal with a
community college crisis.”
Michael Blumenthal
Blumenthal, who is spending less
than $100 on his campaign, has a four
point plan. He stated it briefly and to
the point, “It is a simple program for
complex problems. If I am elected, the
board will take on a very progressive
attitude. This we do need in Pasa¬
dena.”
Blumenthal’s plan includes the es¬
tablishment of a department of the
peace, free day care for single parents
and no tuition. No closed board meet¬
ings is the final point of his program.
He does not think a college should
have four vice presidents, and he be¬
lieves in tenure.
District Area 4
Roger Gertmenian
Gertmenian considers himself the
best friend the teachers have and said
that since he lives so close to the
college he maintains an open-door pol¬
icy.
He began his campaign debate say¬
ing, “I personally consider the main
issue in this campaign is tuition, and I
back the governor’s party for tuition.”
His next statement was that he was
proud of the board and the college. He
defined the management as good man¬
agement. He said, it was able to cut the
budget and “keep all programs open
even if a few people had to lose their
jobs.
“The
СТА
has become an issue in
this campaign,” Gertmenian said.
“They (PCC/CTA) are applying the
pressure and money for the opposition.
We hear criticisms not from the ma¬
jority of the teachers but from a very
small vocal group.”
He agreed with the others that “four
vice presidents are too many.” He said,
“I voted that way last year and worked
on trying to decrease the number two
years ago.”
In concluding, Gertmenian said,
“What I am trying to do with another
term is protect what we have gained,
not lose ground, and raise the institu¬
tion to even heights that we haven’t
seen before.”
Susanna Miele
Susanna Miele, founding member of
the Pasadena’s Commission of the Sta¬
tus of Women, opposes what she calls
T'dosed-door policies” at PCC. Her
description of issues, and her proposals
arise from her conducting “more than
fifty interviews with PCC adminis¬
trators, faculty, staff and community
leaders; three years of newspaper ac¬
counts and reading minutes of the
board meetings,” Miele said.
“Responsibility clearly lies at the
feet of the board.” and this statement
became the basis for Miele’s campaign
program. She is concerned “with a
seeming lack of quality of leadership at
the board level, a negative impact at
the college due to low morale and lack
of trust, the financial crisis, and in-
tsitutional priorities taking a back seat
in decisions made for the college.”
Miele, endorsed by the PCC/CTA,
backed these statments with actions
that she described as having “created
confusion and loss of direction for the
college.” Miele said, “I plan to bring to
the board a clear proposal for estab¬
lishing a philosophy of budget setting. I
will work on the board for a voice of
moderation with the skills I have to
work openly and cooperatively with
diverse viewpoints.”
She also proposed to work “diligently
with state legislators to influence legis¬
lation providing community colleges
with an ongoing and guaranteed fund¬
ing base.”
As for Miele’s plans to aid in the
morale and financial areas she said,
“If elected I will immediately propose
the creation of a representative blue
ribbon committee within the bounds of
collective bargaining. I will make the
library a personal priority. I will work
for reorganization and will fully ex¬
plore all avenues of local funding
sources.”
Miele stressed the point of a top-
heavy administration and said, “We
need to look at reorganization in these
tight times.”
On the subjects of tuition and tenure
Miele said, “The tuition plan as
proposed is to put (the money) into a
general state fund. It becomes more of
student fee for service. As for tenure,
relationships can be smooth under both
tenure and collective barganing.”
In conclusion, Miele explained that
PCC to her is a personal story. She said
she was a PCC student, and it helped
her to become a community leader.
“Now I can give some of that back,”
Miele said.
District Area 6
John H. Martin
Martin began his campaign state¬
ment with a speech decribing his en¬
trance to PCC 10 years ago. “Just shy a
decade ago, a starry eyed graduate
from a local high school took his first
seat in a Pasadena City College
classroom.” He went on to say as vice
president of the board of trustees “that
starry stare has been replaced by an
illuminating luster of pride. Pride in
PCC.
“The community college system has
become an innocent victim in a state
political shootout,” Martin said. He
agreed with Miele concerning adminis¬
trative cuts and said, “We (the board)
will be taking a mean look at the
administration.”
In the conclusion of his introductory
speech Martin said, “lam proud to be
associated with PCC. I’m grateful for
the contributions I have been able to
make the last four years, and I’m
elated I’m going to get to do it again.”
AS By-laws Take Priority Over Agenda Items
By Richard Riehl
Staff Writer
The AS Executive Board suspended action
Tuesday on all major items except the budget
and by laws. Progress on the 1983-84 budget and
by-laws is hampered by organizational delays,
according to Helen Hanson, AS president.
It is a matter of “making everybody under¬
stand what they have to do and getting them to
do it,” said Hanson.
Constructing clear and adaptable by-laws is
Hanson’s major priority. Despite this
emphasis, last week’s by-law committee meet¬
ing was cancelled because committee members
failed to attend. Several committee members
convened informally the following day at which
time Hanson directed them to produce measur¬
able objectives for their jobs.
There is not a lack of commitment among the
individual members. However, some officers
are not aware of the responsibilities and duties
within their respective jobs, Hanson said.
One reason for Hanson’s frustration is her
ambitious goal to have the board organized
earlier in the semester. However, Tuesday
marked only the fourth executive session. The
apparent slow rate of accomplishment has been
like a “slap in the face” according to Hanson.
A reason for Hanson’s sense of disorganiza¬
tion is the timing of mid-term examinations so
close to the AS election period. Officers are
scrambling to catch up with their studies
according to Hanson.
Two officers suggest Hanson’s limited knowl¬
edge of her board members’ personalities is an
obstacle in forming solid working relationships.
Hanson denies this.
“Personalities are not a problem,” Hanson
said.
“I provided a basic structure, a philosophical
idea,” said Hanson. “I want the board to have
maximum flexibility but still achieve certain
standards.”
Glenn Schoenfeld, vice president of business
affairs, echoes some of Hanson’ sentiments.
“Members must move forward with assertive¬
ness” when assuming and carrying out their
duties. Schoenfeld is responsible for assembling
the AS budget.
Officers submitted itemized budget requests
to Schoenfeld during the AS Executive Board
meeting Tuesday.
Schoenfeld admits to difficulties in forming a
budget based on members’ input when the
members themselves may be unsure of the
specifics within each job function.
Hanson agrees with Schoenfeld. There are
“no written parameters— nothing concrete— to
operate within,” Hanson said. “It has really
hurt us.”
Hanson believes that the by-laws and the
budget can be built simultaneously without
adversely affecting either operation. She has
scheduled a by-laws committee meeting at
noon, Friday, Nov. 4, in CC 204. Executive
Board members will submit job definitions at
that time.
Meanwhile, Schoenfeld will continue for¬
mulating an accurate budget, and has formed a
fiscal policy committee. The selection of com¬
mittee members is in progress.
72 Homecoming Queen and Court Finalists Selected
By Richard Riehl
Staff Writer
Twelve Homecoming Court finalists
were selected and announced Wednes¬
day afternoon in CC OMD.
The twelve finalists are: Paula
Defterios, Debra Gomez, Kim Lyles,
Diane Marin, Brenda Phelps, Rena
Smith, Danielle Trenzini, Elizabeth
Trujillo, Julie Van Dine, Kimala Virgil,
Tracey Wilson, and Heather Wukelich.
Homecoming Queen will be elected
by the student body on Tuesday and
Wednesday, Nov. 2 and 3, from 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m. in center quad. Photographs
of the 12 contestants will be displayed
at the polls.
The Queen and Court will represent
PCC at the Homecoming football game
against the Long Beach Vikings on
Saturday, Nov. 19.
46 Students Compete
46 students competed in the initial
screening by five judges on Tuesday.
Each contestant introduced herself and
verbally delivered a brief biographical
sketch to the panel of judges. The girls
were evaluated for overall appearance,
personality, poise, smile and verbal
expression. Each category carried a
maximum of six points and a minimum
of one point with a score of six indicat¬
ing excellence in that category.
The 26 highest-scoring contestants
were invited to return for a second
screening the following day. Each can¬
didate responded verbally to a set of
five questions posed by the judges
panel. Identical questions were asked
of all students.
Questions directed to the candidates
were:
—What would you do in order to
promote more school spirit at PCC?
—What do you like best about PCC?
—What is your favorite class at PCC
and why?
—Who is your hero, idol, mentor or
person you look up to and why?
—If you received an all-expense paid
trip to anywhere in the world, where
would you go and why?
Of the 26 girls responding, 12 were
chosen to sit on the Homecoming
Court.
David Dawson, AS coordinator of
campus activities, announced the win¬
ners to the group of nervous hopefuls.
Winners and losers alike shared the
news with smiles and tears.
Homecoming elections will
eliminate six finalists leaving the
Queen and her Court of five princesses.
The Queen will be coronated during
half-time of the Homecoming game.
The panel of judges consisted of:
Norka Manning, public information of¬
ficer; Bessie Radcliff, assistant
professor of cosmetology; John
Eikenberg, retired dean of student ac¬
tivities; Elaine Broerman, student per¬
sonnel services records technician;
and, Don Hunt, men’s physical educa¬
tion instructor.
The contest was extremely close
according to the judges.
HOMECOMING COURT — 12 finalists were selected from a total of 46 contestants by a panel of
five judges. — Courier photo by Jerome Gibson