PCC Courier, November 09, 1984

Benefits Gained from Early Scheduling By Lorene Rosen News Editor Registration for continuing students has been moved up to Dec. 5 through Dec. 14 and counseling has begun. The Spring schedule is posted and permits to register with priority numbers are now in D Building. “Spring registration will be different this year,” said Ernestine L. Moore, counseling serv¬ ices dean. “From now until Dec. 14, all efforts will be geared toward continuing stu¬ dents. They will have better counseling service and registration will be out of the way before Christmas vacation. Another advantage of the new plan allows working students to know their schedule earlier and plan around it,” Moore said. “We haven’t felt good about the quality of service we’ve been able to offer students,” said Moore. Register¬ ing more than 18,000 people in three weeks, with a large percentage waiting until the last minute, left counselors rushed and occassionally students with inadequate planning, Moore continued. In the past, Spring registration in¬ terfered with course reviews and final examinations. “Some students felt compelled to miss class for counseling and registration,” Moore said. The focus will switch to new and re¬ entering students Dec. 19 when their counseling appointments begin. Those taking 12 or more units will be required to complete an orientation program. Registration resumes Jan. 22 through Feb. 1. But, no program changes will be accepted for any students until Jan. 31. “We think the new schedule will be advantageous and we plan to study it to see how it works,” Moore said. With this plan, departments have time to review enrollment, check patterns and add or change courses accordingly, Moore said. THE FIRST LINE— Spri ng registration lines are forming already. For the first time, continuing students will be programmed before Christmas vacation. Better counseling service has been promised for all students. — Courier photo by Scott Finchein PCC COURIER Homecoming Defeat: Lancers Tie Three Ways See story pg. 4 VOL. 59, NO. 8 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA NOVEMBER 9, 1984 CROWNED AGAIN — Frank Skoko escorts his daughter, Dena Rene Skoko, as she wins her fourth crown in the last two years. See Story pg. 4 — Courier photo by Josh Weidman Criminal Case Pending Counter Suit Launched Districts Agree on Enroll ment Policy Incoming Spring Students Affected By Lisa Lowery Editor-in-Chief A political science major has filed a $1 million law suit against the college in Federal court stemming from crimi¬ nal charges filed by the college against him, following an incident involving the campus safety officers. Stephen A. Pla claims he was beaten for no apparent reason by campus safety officers on July 11. The alleged beating occurred after he complained to the Board of Trustees at the July 5 meeting about a campus officer detaining him while he was talking with another student about campus police ticketing jurisdiction. After Pla’s second encounter with campus police, he was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, and as¬ sault and battery on a police officer. Later, Pla was charged with threaten¬ ing a police officer on the telephone. He was banned from the campus pending the outcome of college disciplinary proceedings. Pla may only come on campus after giving prior notice and receiving administative consent, ac¬ cording to a spokesman for Pla’s coun¬ sel. College officials would make no com¬ ment about either lawsuit. However, Dr. Henry P. Kirk said because dis¬ ciplinary action is in preliminary Joan Stuart-Morris, leading actress for the Shakespeare Festival of Ashland, Oregon, will lecture Friday, Nov. 16 at noon in the Forum on how to approach drama and acting, using clas¬ sical literature and Shakespeare. Dis¬ cussions include Shakespeare’s numer¬ ous comedies and tragedies. A question and answer period will follow. The Ashland Shakespeare Festival will present “The Taming of the Shrew” on Nov. 15 and 16 at Caltech. Tickets are available for $10 by leaving their name and telephone number by 1 stages between Pla and the college, “a ‘no comment’ protects the student as well as the college from any prejudice before the case is processed.” The case involving criminal charges goes before the court for the fourth time on Nov. 13. Pla’s defense counsel will ask the court to dismiss the “entire case against Pla, citing no probable cause.” According to Pla’s legal counsel, Pla sustained injuries to soft tissue, bruises and abrasions mostly to the upper torso. Both the college’s and Pla’s legal representatives have met several times with the the intention of reaching a settlement. However, no change has been made in the status of the case. As far as the million dollar law suit against the college, Pla’s representa¬ tive said the college has “responded in typical fashion,” and Pla’s counsel “will have some equity of justice or will take the case the whole nine yards.” The suit names the college, the district, and four members of the safety office for violation of civil rights. Pla has been on the dean’s list and attended summer school. He is over 30 years of age, a Vietnam War veteran, and married with three children. p.m. next Friday in C217 with Jane Hallinger, assistant professor of Eng¬ lish. Every summer the English depart¬ ment organizes a one-week tour of Shakespeare enthusiasts to visit the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. Dr. Phyllis Mael directs the annual tour. Students receive tickets to seven plays, and receive board and breakfast for approximately $200 per student. Those interested in the trip should contact Mael, C229, for further information. —Suzanne Bogosian By Lisa Lowery Editor-in-Chief Dr. John Casey and four other com¬ munity college presidents reached a tentative interdistrict enrollment agreement Tuesday with Dr. Leslie Koltai, chancellor of the L.A. Com¬ munity College District. The agree¬ ment will go before the Board of Trustees for approval Thursday and will affect first-time PCC students who live in the LACC district and wish to enroll here in the spring for more than five units. “We negotiated a good agreement. It’s somewhat of a compromise, but it will benefit both districts,” said Casey who acted as the ad-hoc chairman for the president’s group. The agreement, beginning next semester, also will not affect continu¬ ing students or those enrolled in pro¬ grams not available at Los Angeles district colleges. Next fall, exemptions will remain the same except it will include continuing students who took By Donald G. Chandler II Assistant News Editor This year’s AS Budget was based primarily on a comparison of the previous two years’ AS Budgets and the actual expenditures made by the boards. The 1984-85 AS Budget was ratified by a full board vote on October 29. According to Joe Castro, vice presi¬ dent of business affairs, and Chris Coffer, president, they sat down with the respective office holders and de¬ termined that in most cases too much money was allocated to the officesby the past two administrations (refer to budget tabulation). Consequently, the current board has transferred the ex¬ cess funds into the discretionary and general funds. Coffer said by taking this action it allows the board “tighter control and streamlines the overall budget.” Last year’s fund allocations to the respective offices were overbudgeted. With board approval, Coffer and Castro made the decision to transfer excess funds. In order to transfer or allocate funds from the general fund, a full board vote is needed. As a result, if a board member needs more funds for his office he can submit a request to the board. Then a vote will be taken. six or more units this spring. Some of the restrictions apply to other districts. However, adjustment may occur through negotiations. Due to a 25 percent enrollment drop over the last two years, Koltai sent a notification to surrounding college dis¬ tricts in October. It presented a con¬ tract to ban the “free-flow” registra¬ tion policy which was implemented between districts two years ago. Koltai indicated in an Oct. 9 letter that unless an agreement could be reached, a total interdistrict enrollment restriction would be in place by next semester. The L.A. district was asking to limit interdistrict enrollment students to five units or fewer, summer sessions, mandatory service training, non- Coffer also stated, “the general fund will be used for unforseeable things, such as special events, guest speakers, sponsoring club activities, and athletic events.” The discretionary funds disburse¬ ments are solely controlled by Coffer and Castro. Second, in size to the the general fund, is the Coordinator of Campus Activities Ron Martinez’s budget which will be used for lunchtime bands and activities, and perhaps some band per- credit, instructional T.V., and contract education classes. Other stipulations included rules for recruitment, report¬ ing, renegotiation, and arbitration of disputes. Out of the 27,000 L.A. district stu¬ dents enrolled at colleges outside of its district, 3,600 to 4,000 attend PCC this semester. If the proposed enrollment restrictions were implemented, Casey said it would represent a $3.5 million to $4.5 million loss of state funding which is based on average daily attendance. Casey called for a meeting of the involved district presidents to discuss a collective response to the request. They agreed to request a “face-to- face” meeting with Koltai to negotiate an agreement, present possible legal formances or other events held in Sexson Auditorium. Angie Parker, the executive vice president, chairs the Inter Club Council and will dispurse her funds for sponsor¬ ing and promoting clubs. Scott Svonkin, vice president of stu¬ dent services, will allocate his funds for student surveys of various kinds and student forums. By consulting the respective officers, students can obtain further information about where and how the other budgets will be spent. action or pursue statewide legislation permitting free-flow registration. The college presidents considered litigation to obtain a restraining order against the LACC district, challenging the district’s right to force tuition paying students to attend classes in a particular district. Casey said perhaps those students’ constitutional rights were being violated. A possible problem area remains with the new restrictions, according to Gene Miller, director of financial aid. She said PCC offers a more adequately funded financial aid program than the L.A. district, and some problems might arise in application procedures. An incoming L.A. district student would first have to apply for aid in his own district, and if the funds were not available there, he could then apply here for the program. But doubled application time could subject students to late registation and closed classes. A meeting is planned this week to discuss the possibilites. FIX YOUR WAGON — Leroy Henderson, campus safety officer, has an alter¬ native for those who remove their license plates in order to avoid receiving citations while parking on campus without permits. An officer will re¬ move the vehicle's hub cap, attach a wheel-lock apparatus or ''boot'' and place a written notice on the windshield. If the offender tries to move his car while the boot is attached, wheel damage may occur. Before an officer removes the boot, the offender must report to the safety office where a citation will be issued. ’83-’84 ’83-’84 ’84-’85 Budget Expenditures Budget General Fund . . $ 8,470.00 $ 8,256.71 $10,250.00 Campus Activities . . 2,050.00 1,223.19 1,700.00 Discretionary . . 500.00 833.11 1,000.00 Executive V P . . 550.00 449.81 500.00 Student Services . . 650.00 650.00 400.00 President . . 250.00 190.47 250.00 Telephone . . 400.00 117.73 282.77 External Affairs . . 300.00 22.00 278.00 Adviser’s Contingency . . 100.00 100.00 100.00 Election . . 100.00 100.00 100.00 Academic Affairs . . 50.00 — 50.00 Business Affairs . . 50.00 23.00 50.00 Cultural Affairs . . 50.00 50.00 '50.00 Special Programs . . 50.00 — 50.00 Computer Fund . . 100.00 42.60 50.00 Banquet . . 800.00 319.39 — Totals $14,470.00 $12,378.01 $15,000.00 Leading Actress Visits PCC Parking Lot Vote Delayed; Student Input Insufficient By Gabrielle Meindl Staff Writer The Board of Trustees again postponed voting on the conversion of the Colorado Boulevard and Hill Street parking lot No. 1 to a daily fee lot. The request for the delay was made on behalf of the AS government by Joseph Serrato, student trustee, who presented an arguement that the board’s proposal lacked student input. The board is scheduled to vote on the parking issue Nov. 15. Two AS representatives on the Parking Committee last year failed to report back to the AS board regarding the daily fee proposal, according to Serrato. AS voted Tuesday to support the board’s conversion of parking lot No. 1 with the stipulation that a percentage of the net revenues go into a fund to acquire more parking facilities. AS members also suggested that a re-entry system be added to the parking committee proposal which would allow students who pay the fee once on a given day to re-enter the lot without additional fees. On Oct. 18, trustees postponed voting on the parking issue until Nov. 1 in order to see what input the college staff and city directors might offer. The second postponement Nov. 1 shelved the issue until Nov. 15 when Serrato will present the student feedback. A survey of the campus parking lots conducted in October, 1982 revealed the daily fee lot at Hill and Del Mar was more heavily used than the decal lots. The Parking Committee recommended that parking lot No. 1 be designated a daily fee lot on March 20, 1984. Due to lack of funds, “the recomendation wasn’t acted upon,” Alvar Kauti, parking committee member, said. However, the money from last summer’s RTD-Olympic Park and Ride project provided funding needed to convert the lot. AS Budget Ratified by Board Vote Money Transferred to General Fund ‘We negotiated a good agreement. It’s somewhat of a compromise, but it will benefit both districts.’ —Dr. John Casey, superintendent-president