- Title
- PCC Courier, October 07, 1983
-
-
- Date of Creation
- 07 October 1983
-
-
- Description
- Student newspaper published and edited for the Associated Student Body of Pasadena City College weekly during the college year by the journalism students.
-
-
- Display File Format
- ["application/pdf"]
-
PCC Courier, October 07, 1983
Hits:
(0)
























Board Forced to Revise Budget
By Leann Sumner
News Editor
PCC faces a $2.5 million deficit due to the
state legislature’s failure to reach a com¬
promise on the issue of community college
funding by Oct. 2.
Funds cannot be distributed to the colleges
during this school year unless a funding bill is
declared emergency legislation and passed in
the Assembly by a
2/3
vote.
Compensation for this deficit requires major
budget revisions, and the Board of Trustees
must have a plan of action no later than
December, said Dr. John W. Casey, superinten¬
dent-president.
The board adopted a balanced budget in
August “with the understanding that revisions
would ()e made within that framework," said
Casey.
“We do not want to do long term damage to
the quality of education in solving a short term
problem," he said.
“At this point we want to examine all the
options and get the views of faculty, classified
and administration on the best method of
meeting the deficit. We are all in this together.
In order to get out of it we are going to have to
work together.
I’m doing my best to keep the lines of
communication open and keep everyone up to
date.” Casey plans to attend the meetings of
each department to talk about “conditions at
the college and solicit recommendations from
the faculty.
I am interested in any ideas that anyone has.
Our combined wisdom is better than the wis¬
dom of several individuals.” Casey intends to
present a composit of all the suggestions to the
board.
“We have examined some of the possibilities
and found that by simply not filling positions we
cut the unmet deficit down to $836,000 without
laying anyone off.
Salaries and fringe benefits account for 85
percent of our expenditures, and it may be
difficult to cut $836,000 from the other 15
percent.
There is not much cutting we can do before
the spring semester. We are committed to
offering all the classes now underway. All we
can do is keep costs down and plan for spring."
In the meantime, college personnel will
continue to put pressure on assemblymen to
reconvene and allocate funds to community
colleges. “We’re not going to give up," said
Casey. Funding decisions affect the college's
financial status in the future as well.
“We are working toward involving the com¬
munity in our efforts also. This is the key to
legislative lobbying, since legislators listen to
their contributors.”
Casey met with members of Pasadena
Chamber of Commerce and president Robert
Finch to persuade them to “adopt us and make
sure their voices are heard in Sacramento on
our behalf. We must establish a closer working
relationship with the business community,"
said Casey.
The main thrust of the pressure is on the
Assembly to reconvene and pass AB 207. the bill
which combines restoration of $108.5 million
and tuition. The bill passed the State Senate 25
to 10 (71 percent). "Most of us at PCC are
comfortable with that compromise." said
Casey.
"There is a possibility that the legislature
will reconvene in November. If they do not, we
will pressure for a compromise when they meet
for regular session in January."
The executive branch is being pressured to
compromise on this issue also. "We are not
placing blame on either side. Community col¬
leges want state funding — with or without
tuition."
PCC
Busboys
Perform
See page 3
VOL. 56. NO. 6
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA. CALIFORNIA
OCTOBER 7. 1983
Candidates Campaign for AS
Executive Offices
Elections to be Held Next Week, Oct. 11,12
By Richard Riehl
Assistant News Editor
Candidates seeking Associated Stu¬
dents executive offices embark on a
second week of campaigning today.
Campaigns conclude on the last day of
elections which occur Tuesday and
Wednesday, Oct. 11 and 12, from 8:30
a.m. to 2 p.m. in center quad and 6:30
p.m. to 8:45 p.m. on the campus center
porch. All students enrolled in credit
classes are elgible to vote.
Helen Hanson and Kathy Minges, are
vying for the presidential position. Min¬
ges and Hanson rely on their individual
backgrounds and ability to articulate
ideas effectively in a leadership role.
Both candidates stress the importance
of a collective student voice forged
from student awareness.
Hanson, a sophomore majoring in
physics, intends to “work toward the
goal of a strong, united AS Board that
will function effectively and serve as
an example to the students of the
potential power inherent within a col¬
lective voice.”
Minges, a sophomore majoring in
political science, believes the student
constitution must be amended to
provide specific operating guidelines
for the board to communicate more
effectively with the student body.
Minges’ platform slogan, “Working
for Affordable Education,” indicates
her attitude towards tuition. “It’s un¬
fair for the state government to use the
community colleges as pawns in a
political game,” she said. “Tuition
may be a necessity at some point but
we are not at that point in time yet.”
Hanson believes a unified AS govern¬
ment must form a student lobby to deal
with community college legislation,
fortify evening security measures pres¬
ently enforced in the campus parking
lots, and establish an AS student schol¬
arship to be awarded to qualified civic-
minded students.
Minges supports a more structured
constitution with explicit bylaws to
augment AS efficiency. She is com¬
mitted to strengthening student politi¬
cal awareness through increased stu¬
dent participation in AS Board meet¬
ings, informing students of activities
available to them, and enlarging mi¬
nority student representation within
student affairs.
Minges hopes to form a league of
student voters to exert influence on the
state legislature and increase bi-lateral
communications between the AS Board
and the student body.
The issues with which Hanson is
concerned are the promotion of overall
political awareness among students,
and the formation of more serious
communication channels between stu¬
dents and the Board of Trustees and
administration.
Hanson was the 1982-83 AS Coordi¬
nator of External Affairs and member
of the AS interim summer board. Dur¬
ing the 1981-82 academic year Hanson
was AS Senate Vice President. She has
worked on a number of volunteer and
appointed student-oriented organiza¬
tions on campus.
Minges advances her presidential
candidacy with personal character¬
istics of self-motivation, excellence in
academic performance (3.8 g.p.a.),
thorough researching capabilities and
effective public relations skills de¬
veloped while working for a television
station.
Minges’ feels “the 1983-84 academic
year is crucial for student involvement
at PCC. We are facing major issues
such as tuition, fees, state funding,
staffing and class size — issues which
past AS officials have not dealt with in
an effective manner. I propose to bring
a new, more professional attitude to
student government, initiate some ma¬
jor changes in communication, create
more involvement with the individual
student, and speak out on important
issues which affect every student at the
college.”
When asked why she was running for
AS president, Hanson replied: “I’m the
best choice for the position because I
am extremely familiar with the terri¬
tory, having served on the executive
board. I am aware of the capabilities,
limitations and explicit and implicit
responsibilities of the office. I am
confident that, if I’m elected, this
year’s Associated Students government
will be as efficient and effective an
organization as it can possibly be.”
Jay Harvey and write-in candidate
Tony Mitchell are contending for ex¬
ecutive vice president.
Other vice presidential offices ap¬
pearing on the election ballot are those
of academic affairs, business affairs
and student affairs. The respective
candidates for these positions are:
Kevin Connors — uncontested, Joseph
Serrato and Glenn Schoenfeld, and J.
Sloan Williams — uncontested.
David Dawson, Angie Parker and
Monika Woods are running for coordi¬
nator of campus activities. The posi¬
tions of coordinator of cultural affairs
external affairs and special programs
are sought by write-in candidate David
Leatherberry — uncontested, Jayne
Davis — uncontested, and Lorelei
Mooney — uncontested, respectively.
— Courier photos by Ted Soqui
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES— Kathy Minges (left) and Helen
Larson vie for the top spot in the AS Board.
CROWDED CLASSROOM — Dr. J.G. Muha is one of 30 teachers
assigned large group instruction (LGI). The California Teachers
Association filed an unfair labor practice suit against the district in
an effort to have LGI removed. Teachers argue they were given no
opportunity to negotiate the increase in class size which is in
violation of their contracts. — Courier photo by Ted Soqui
PCC Foundation Made Auxiliary of College
By Lisa Lowery
Staff Writer
The PCC Foundation, which has operated as a non
profit organization since 1979 to solicit funds for the
college, becomes the first auxiliary of the district.
The Board of Trustees voted to allow the founda¬
tion to affiliate with the college and adopted the
regulations necessary to recognize it officially.
The PCC Foundation has raised and contributed
almost $1 million in goods and services during the last
three years. “It expects to raise another $100,000 this
year,” said Dick Ratliff, president of the foundation.
Adoption of implementing regulations is the first
step of many to make the foundation an auxiliary
organization. “The changes are largely technical
corrections more than procedural ones,” said Henry
P. Kirk, vice president for personnel services.
By approving the implementing regulations the
district is permitted to subsidize the foundation in
staffing and fiscal support.
Kirk, the foundation’s appointed director said, “As
a private organization the foundation had overhead
costs of $75,000 to $100,000 per year. The reorganiza¬
tion of the foundation is still in the works. The articles
of agreement are filed with the California Com¬
munity College Chancellor’s office,” said Kirk.
As an “in-house operation” the foundation will
have “more campus input, more faculty, student and
staff involvement, and therefore cut the high ov¬
erhead costs,” said Kirk.
“A good foundation does not just raise money. It
raises community awareness, loyalty and support,”
said Kirk.
“It will enable us to have better coordination with
and evaluation of the college’s needs,” said Ratliff.
Dr. Bonnie R. James, vice president of business
services “has played a role in the development of the
regulations, and lie will continue as financial adviser
for the foundation. Other officials of the college will
be asked to help,” said Kirk.
In March 1980 the governing board of the com¬
munity college system passed Title V which required
each district to establish regulations to govern its
relationship with the auxiliary organization.
Since that ruling, “12 community colleges have
established auxiliary organizations. Many more are
in the process of doing so,” said Kirk.
Other steps involved to make the organization an
auziliary are: an agreement between the district and
the foundation, a district review of the foundation’s
existing articles and bylaws, a public hearing for its
estahalishment as an auxiliary, and the approval of
these agreements with the chancellor’s office.
“The implementing regulations are written very
generally in order to write specific agreements with
each entity according to its individual activities,”
said Kirk.
“Under the regulations other auxiliary organiza¬
tions can be formed to support services, programs
and functions such as the bookstore, food and health
services, student and alumi activities and organiza¬
tions, and campus facilities and equipment,” said
Kirk.
IN CAR Protests Fees
Demonstrators Rally
The International Committee Against Racism (INCAR) sponsored a rally
Tuesday protesting the imposition of drop fees during registration.
' “INCAR called this rally to focus on what it considers a blatant attack by the
administration on the working class and minority students of this campus,” said
Bruce Myers, co-chairman of INCAR.
In response to the charge of discrimination Dr. John W. Casey, superinten¬
dent-president said Wednesday, “Obviously, the deposit fee is not aimed at any
particular group or class within the student body. Deposits have been charged by
the district in the past for other reasons.”
The event was highlighted by a speech from Compton City College instructor
Joyce Mills, who said 70 to 80 percent of Compton College’s teachers are presently
on strike.
“We have a legal and binding contract. Yet our salary was cut five percent
and our fringe benefits 15 percent,” said Mills. “Also our workload has been
increased by 20 percent.”
“The student apathy concerning this rally alarmed me,” said PCC student
Doug McComb. “Students attending it seemed like they weren’t really listening to
what was said. This apathy is too bad because it can degenerate into complacency,
where we tolerate things we should not.”
Disability Center Gets
New Computer System
By Michael Collins
Feature Editor
The Learning Disability Center re¬
ceived a new computer through a
private donation made by Jobplans,
Inc. The money was received over the
summer and was used to purchase a
VIC-20/cassette system.
“Our dream is to utilize the com¬
puter in helping students read, spell, do
basic math, increase their attention
span, improve memory and increase
eye-motor coordination. It will also
assist students in learning the vocab¬
ulary of their occupational or academic
classes,” said Dr. Emy Lu Weller,
learning disabilities specialist.
Although the computer is installed
and in the process of being pro¬
grammed, the center still lacks a
monitor screen.
Fundraisers are being planned in
order to compile the necessary funds to
purchase a color monitor.
Bruce Gary, Jet Propulsion Labora¬
tory engineer, found the donor of the
computer. Last summer he volun¬
teered several hours a week at the
center. He saw the need for a computer
and sought out donations. Gary pres¬
ently volunteers four hours a week to
teach students, tutors and other volun¬
teers the computer programs he has
written.
One of the learning disabilities the
center deals with is dyslexia, or word
blindness. “This is just like color blind¬
ness, only with words. It has nothing to
do with intelligence. You can be
brilliant and have dyslexia." said
Weller.
The center’s staff if limited to eight
tutors and ten volunteers. With these
contraints the center cannot give dys-
lexics and students with other learning
disabilities the one-on-one tutoring they
need.
CORRECTION— Drop fees are refunded if the student drops a class within the
first two weeks of the semester. This information was misstated in last week's
article.
I
л