PCC Courier, November 17, 1978

VOL. 46, NO. 11 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA NOVEMBER 17, 1978 Lancers Win Mud Bowl, See Page Four ASB Board and Senate Raise Each Other's Ire known as a riotous group. This meeting has gotten outrageously out of hand." He asked Tiberi to apologize to Coleman. Tiberi extended his apologies and asked if they could hold a formal debate on the matter. The student trustee amendment was “I’m not too pleased with the way we’re going about it.” — Tyrone Patrick introduced to the ASB Board at us meeting by Tiberi. The meeting preceeded the senate meeting. Tiberi distributed information concerning the statute to the board members. Coleman asked Tiberi if this was part of the senate report. It was moved to continue with other agenda items, since the statute was on the' agenda under "old business" Coleman quickly ran down the agenda, and gave Tiberi the floor. Tiberi referred the ASB Board to the law. statute 72023.5 of the education code, and answered their questions regarding the amendment. Les Thompson, finance com¬ missioner. made a motion to discuss this at another meeting. Lisa Albanese. ASB vice president, then made a move to adjourn, an action that halts any further discussion A quick voice-vote on the motion was passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned, leaving the amendment automatically tabled to the next meeting. Mike Tiberi. student senator and author of the senate amendment stressed the importance of the amendent and felt that it should be voted on as soon as possible. The amendment creates a new ASB office for a student trustee and requires an election by the student body. “It says in the law itself that the student trustee be chosen by the students enrolled in the community college of the district,’- he said in an earlier interview. “It's now in our legal right and we don't have to ask the board for premission,” he said. Tiberi wants the amendment passed as soon as possible, have someone elected to the position and the Board of Trustees at the earliest possible date. Lisa Albanese, ASB vice-president, thinks the taw is confusing enough. "I've read it, but it’s very confusing. We really haven't had a chance to sit down and look over just what we're voting on. It would be unfair to ask us to vote on something that hs just been given to us. "It's an important issue, but we shouldn't rush in to it. The person should probably be appointed, though, because they should have some kind of knowledge of how meetings are run, and parlimantary procedure" “It’s an important issue, but we shouldn’t rush into it.” — Lisa Aloanese The statute does not state that the "student shall be enrolled in a com munity college of the district, and shall be chosen by the students enrolled in the community college of the district in accordance with procedures prescribed by the governing board.” Strictly interpreted, this means the Board of Trustees select the process by which the student trustee is chosen, and student government has no voice in the matter at all. If the Board of Trustee wants to prescribe the method the student trustee should be chosen the have that right: and it they chose not to prescribe that selection process, then it is up to student government to decide . Misinterpretations Reign Over Statute About Student Trustee CROWNED IN THE GOLD— Vickey Turner enjoys the crowning af¬ termath with escort Bobby DePriest. She was voted in as homecoming queen by the students. A total of 380 votes were cast. See page 6. —courier photo by s.k. By Kathy Braidhill News Editor Student senators used parliamen¬ tary procedure to antagonize the ASB president during the senate meeting, and a surprise move by the ASB board to adjourn was used to delay any ASB board action yesterday on the con¬ troversial amendment concerning the student trustee during the ASB Board meeting. The two meetings brought to a climax the subliminal tensions bet¬ ween the two student government groups. Derek Coleman, ASB president, gave the executive board report and was addressing the senators on the amendment. According toi Charlotte Hutchins, senate vice president, he was to talk strictly on what happened at the executive board meeting, and she called numerous points of order to bring his discussion back to the agenda. Ms. Hutchins and Mike Tiberi, student senator, brought more points of order to correct Coleman's reference to the statute, and made motions to limit his time on the floor, and to complete the agenda, per¬ mitting Coleman to speak during audience participation. The senate voted to let Coleman speak for five minutes. During his presentation, he was interrupted numerous times by loud coughing from Cynthia Mayert. student representative, while Coleman explained why the ASB president should represent the students as the student trustee. Coleman also said, “I’m afraid you’re getting shang-haied into voting for this amendment. I think you were given false facts and...” Tiberi then interrupted with a point of order, claiming Coleman was “attacking” him, and Tyrone Patrick, senate president, called the meeting back to order to let Coleman continue. Coleman said the job discription of his office names him as the representative of the students at PCC, and requires him to be presen at all Board of Trustees meetings. He said one who may be elected to the trustee position might not understand about the rules and procedures and “know how the administration works.” Ms. Mayert protested Coleman's “[A student trustee] is our legal right and we don’t have to ask the board for permission.” — Mike Tiberi statements and claimed he was in¬ sulting the intelligence and political savvy of the senators. Patrick called for order when she continued talking loudly, and Ms. Mayert challenged the senate to throw her out. She was asked to leave or remain quiet. At the conclusion of the meeting. Patrick said. "I don't want this to be DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A BAD GUY— Paul Smith, one of the Turkish guards in the movie “Midnight Express,” came to PC Ts Little Theater last week to talk with theatrical students. He answered questions and talked of his start in films. Eight Months Added For Board of Trustees trustees taking office in March are An education code statute misun¬ derstood and misinterpreted by student government and the press has created confusion and tension between the student senate and the ASB BOARD. A lack of communication between the members and leaders in student government combined with views of the significant statute through cloud у interpretations, and changing forms almost daily are factors in the dissidence. The heart of the controversial statute concerns a studentmember on the board of trustees, or the governing board of the community college. That means that a student no longer has to be "recognized” by a board member to be heard at a board meeting Members of student government first heard of the law from the delegates to the California Community Colleges Student Government Association (CCCSGA) conference Oct. 20-22. Derek Coleman, ASB president. Tyrone Patrick, senate president, and Charlotte Hutchins, student senator, represented PCC at the conference. The CCCSGA delegates returned from the convention with AB591, the law in the aassembly bill stage. This was the loosely worded proposal brought before the state assembly. The govenor signed the bill into law in June, 1977 and it became Ch. 1184. The rights and priveleges of the student trustee remained to be clar- fied, and the method for selection of the trustee was unclear. Both sections of ASB are unsure of the power the student trustee would have, and are conflicting over the method by which the student trustee is chosen. It states the student trustee member be "chosen by the students on the board pursuant to procedures prescribed by the governing board." This was interpreted by some senate members to mean that students already on the board are to select the students to serve on the board. An amendment was passed unanimously in the student senate to add an article to the ASB constitution including election of the student trustee in the general spring elections, creating an entirlely new ASB office. The ASB board has not yet decided on this amendment. Coleman said the job description of the ASB president requires him to attend board of DEREK COLEMAN LISA ALBANESE trustees meetings. “They may elect- someone who doesn't know enough about hpw meetings are run. But I think it can be worked out,” he said. "I don't believe in rushing it" said Lisa Albanese. ASB vice-president. "It probably should be an appointed position. I need more information before I can sav." A new discovery wound its way into the picture. Ch. 1184 was amended July. 1978. and is now Statute 7202:1.5 oi he education code. This revision minimizes much of the ambiguities of the bill and of the chapter. Although at no time did any of the laws state the student trustee would have voting rights, a Courier reporter received the wrong information in¬ dicating the student trustee would have a vote and his November 3 story in the Courier only served to muddy the picture. The major points of Statute 72023.5 are: —The governing board of each community college district shall order the inclusion of one or more non-voting student trustees: —Students selected to serve on the board must be residents of the district, enrolled in that community college, and must serve for one year com¬ mencing July 1: —Student trustee has the right to attend all trustee meetings except executive sessions; —Students enrolled in the com¬ munity college shall choose the trustee, and can be recalled by the same; —They get a milage allowance but don't get paid for attending the meetings; —Student trustee seated with the board is recognized as a full member and receives all materials presented to the board members, and can par¬ ticipate in the questioning of wit¬ nesses, and discussion of issues; —Student trustee cannot cast a deciding vote to defeat or carry a motin.and is not liable for any action of the governing board. Several points remain to be settled between the senate and ASB board. What will be the position of the student trustee in student govern¬ ment? Will he have a vote and or a voice in the student senate and the ASB board? Does the student trustee have the right to make, table, or amend motions? The education code only names two restrictions; that they cannot vote and are not allowed in executive sessions. However, parliamentary procedure (rules on running formal meetings), states that those who do not vote also do not have the right to make, amend or table motions. The law doesn't put a limit on the number of trustees, and does not hold him accountable to anyone. Is he on the same level as the ASB president, or will he be the fourth check and balance of student government? It's up to the leaders of student government to overcome their dif¬ ferences and work together on deciding these essential issues. -Kathy Braidhill By Sharon Stafford Staff Writer Board of Trustee member’s will get an extra eight months in office next year due to a change by the California Legislature concerning board of education elections throughout the state. The change is a result of AB 2224 which was authored by Assemblyman Bruce K. Young. D-Norwalk. and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown It is ef¬ fective January 1 Under the new law. trustees whose terms would have expired March 31 will serve until November 30. Newly elected trustees w ill take office at that time. The reason for the change in school board election dates is that new immediately saddled with budget decisions, negotiating with employee unions and preparing lor the next school year. By November, these problems are usually resolved, which should make it easier for new mem hers to assume their duties. The PCC Trustees who will be af¬ fected, by the new law next year are: Board President Charles Briscoe. Roger Gertmenian. and Robert Spare. When asked if he was in favor of the change in election dates Trustee Robert Spare laughed and replied. "Certainly. It means 1 11 he in office lor six more months " Spare says that he is generally in favor of the new assembly bill because "it'll certainly save .the district nev " /^Campus News Briefs5^ Orchestra The Pasadena City College Community Symphony Orchestra will present its first concert of the season tonight at 8:15 p.m. in Sexon Auditorium. The 55-member orchestra is comprised of PCC students, and musicians in the community. Director Wayne Reinecke said the orchestra is stronger this year than it was this time last year. With rehearsals once a week, Reinecke said they are working hard to prepare for the performance. Admission to the concert is free. The selections performed will be Beethoven's “Fifth Symphony,” the "Nabuccu Overture” by Verdi, and Wagner’s “Music From Parsifal.” This concert will open a series of four this season. Forensics "Often we are too busy running the tournament to participate, but this year we did exceptionally well,” commented Joe Probst, forensic team faculty adviser. PCC hosted the Lancer Division Speech Tournament. Dave Jackson received third in the novice division of the Lincoln- Douglas debate and first in the extemporaneous division. In the expository division, Beth Fernandez took a novice first, and Don Vecchioni received a superior certificate. Margie Dolnick received a novice superior in oral interpretation and, in the persuasion category, Susan Sadag won a novice superior. The tournament is the largest community college tournament in the nation. More than 300 students from 26 colleges participated. Probst is optimistic about this year’s forensics team. “In the past we have been strong in one or two divisions, but this year we are outstanding in all areas.” Cal State Northridge hosts a three-day tournament this weekend, starting today. Canned Food .Today's the final day of Adelphians canned food drive. Every fall and spring, this all-women service club collects canned food from students and from the nearby neighborhoods. "The canned food drive we hold is in association with the Pasadena Ecumenical Council,” said Loretta Clarke, Adelphians president. "And all the food we collect goes to the needy families in Pasadena" The drive began November 13. Tonight the Adelphians will go to houses and collect food that families have donated. Students may deposit their canned goods in boxes located in the library, the women’s gym, the C building, and upstairs in the Campus Center. Income Tax A tax practitioner seminar will be offered December 9 from 8:30 a m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Forum, in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service. Its purpose is to familiarize the public with the new tax law changes, as well as to teach the do's and don'ts of filing federal income tax returns. . The office of extended programs will sponsor the eight hour seminar. Three IRS tax experts will speak on tax laws pertaining to business-type returns, and current developments. “It's a very fine service, keeping the community well informed of tax changes,” said William Simmons, chairman of extended campus programs. More than 150 tax preparers have attended the seminar, which is in its fourth year. V a