PCC Courier, September 06, 2001

* ip $ I» ) I* ) <* > It > b ) t > * > b l t. I t i Ф ♦ f * * I 1 .1» > 4 V * i * t I / t 2001 Fall Fashion Report see page 2 ‘Jeepers Creepers’ Review see page 5 Daytime Football see page 6 COURIER Since 1915 VOL. 87 n6. 2 www.pcc-courieronline.com SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 Students are the targets of campus scam artists By Aaron Harris Staff Writer Con artists are once again on the prowl at PCC. No, not another credit card or fake parking permit scam, but something new that could cost students more than just a few dollars; it could cost them their entire savings. The scam has already been per¬ petrated on one student. He was able to escape the situation with his bank account intact, but police con¬ tinue to search for other victims who may not have been so lucky. Rodney Bonwell, a member of the Lancer football team was arrested and charged with fraud and attempted extortion. In the case that led to Bonwell’s arrest, the sus¬ pect approached the student while on his way to class. Details of the scam and how stu¬ dents were targeted came from Please see SCAMS, page 4 Cesar Macias / Courier Annual Traffic Crunch The fall semester kicked-off in familiar fashion with nightmarish traffic and park¬ ing conditions. The accident above occurred during a botched student pick-up on Colorado Boulevard. Campus authorities have assured that relief is near, citing that the congestion tends to loosen up after the first couple weeks of the semester For related story, see page 2 Student's Complaints Dismissed Investigation concludes that student was not a victim of racial discrimination By Vincent D’Orazi Managing Editor PCC has officially dismissed a student’s allegations of racial dis¬ crimination against his world his¬ tory instructor after a 90-day investigation into his complaints. The resolution, handed down in mid-July, stated that “no discrimi¬ nation nor harassment based on race” had ever taken place against John Patton by his teacher, Eloy Zarate. Patton, who said he is dissatis¬ fied with the college’s investiga¬ tion is considering taking legal action against the school, not on grounds of discrimination, but of slander. The investigation was conduct¬ ed after Patton filed a written com¬ plaint about Zarate, which alleged that the instructor had expressed “an aggressive attitude in his teachings, and discriminates against certain groups of people.” The initial complaint also stated that Zarate “continuously sepa¬ rates the Caucasian class from all other ethnic and racial classes and then verbally discriminates against them.” Patton was outraged after Zarate approached him about the complaint, since he believed that school officials had assured him that he would remain anonymous throughout the proceedings. Patton also claimed that Zarate inflicted psychological harm on him, after the instructor privately compared him to a former student who had plotted a massacre at DeAnza College. In a written summary of the probe, Sandra Lindoerfer, dean of human resources, thanked all those who participated in the investiga¬ tion for their “cooperation and pro¬ fessionalism.” The investigation was divided into three categories, all of which resulted in “no dis¬ crimination.” The first allegation was that “Zarate had created a hostile envi¬ ronment based on race in the class¬ room.” The second: that “the District retaliated against Patton by disclosing that he had filed a complaint against Zarate.” And the final charge was that the instructor had permitted student Mary Fitzgibbons to make a presentation to his class opposing the complaint filed by Patton. The investigation, conducted by area investigator Norman Traub, included inter¬ views with 13 witnesses, including Patton, Zarate, Dr. Michael Finkenbinder, former interim dean of the social sciences divi¬ sion, vice president of instruction Dr. Jacqueline Jacobs, and nine other students. Patton, however, felt that the investigation wasn’t fair to begin with, considering Traub was being paid by the school, and therefore wouldn’t want to find against them. Patton also felt that only inter¬ viewing nine students, and not including key witness Mary Please see PATTON, page 4 Erika Sanquist / Courier PCC’s new vice president of administrative services, Peter J. Hardash, is enjoying his new job keeping the campus in order and handling college finances. Hardash, who replaces Dr. Rodney Fleeman, was offered a one year contract after a unani¬ mous board of trustees vote on . June 6. He left behind his position as vice president of business serv¬ ices at Cerritos College. Hardash considers himself a problem solver. He doesn’t like to think of problems as problems, but just as issues that need to be resolved as soon as possible, so that students and staff will have a good learning and teaching envi¬ ronment. “1 like to get things accomplished,” he said. Hardash, who has 19 years of experience in public education, spent many of his earlier years in the Beverly Hills, Downey and Glendale Unified School districts. He said that K-12 and community colleges have similar administra¬ tive posijions, but the job is done differently because the students are different. Hardash prefers working with older students. “I like the interac¬ tion with the students,” he said. With younger students it’s difficult to interact with them in a construc¬ tive way. “It’s important that I talk to stu¬ dents and that I get to know some students so that I can serve them and their needs,” he added. The administrative services division of PCC, for which Hardash is responsible, oversees the business and financial activi¬ ties of the college. These duties; include preparing the annual operating budget and overseeing the upkeep of grounds, buildings and classrooms. It also involves accounting, data process¬ ing, computing services, security, purchasing, transportation, mail services, graphic reproduction, risk/contract and employee health benefit management and oversee¬ ing the operations of the Bookstore Please see NEW VP, page 4 By Bethany Johnson Contributing Editor The new officers of the local chapter of the California Teacher’s Association (СТА) attempted to recruit members in the quad Thursday amid contro¬ versy that the meeting was illegal. The СТА board members lured faculty to the “kick-off member-^ ship drive picnic” with free pizza and iced tea. “This is a chance for old and potential members to get informa¬ tion that has never been given to them,” said СТА Secretary Suzanne Anderson of the social sciences division. “We want to get people revved up and organ¬ ized.” The controversy involves accu¬ sations by outgoing СТА President Gary Woods that the new members violated the constitution and start¬ ed holding meetings before their terms began. The new board disagreed with Woods’ assessment and held the meeting despite his charges. The officers hoped the meeting would encourage recruitment of new members. Teachers who attended milled around the mirror pools, talking and enjoying their lunch. “I’m a new member, new on staff. I want to support my fellow faculty and get involved,” said Mary Huffman, a health sciences instructor. Raymond Puchot, a communi¬ cations instructor, attended the pic¬ nic to show his support for the union. “I’m big in faculty govern¬ ment,” he said. “I was very sup¬ portive of the old board, but I’m sure John [Jacobs] will do other things. I support whoever will do the best for the students.” Matt Robinson / Courier John Jacobs (right) tries to interest faculty in СТА membership The new СТА president, John Jacobs, an assistant professor of art, addressed the faculty. He said his goal is for membership to reach 500 by December. “We have to work hard,” Jacobs said. “There has been light membership in the past, and it has been reflected in the union’s accomplishments.” Woods insists that the old board has always promoted membership. “PCC/CTA has received two awards in the past few years from CCA/CTA for the most new mem¬ bers recruited out of any chapter in the entire state,” he said. “We always encourage members who wish to do so... to recruit new members.” The СТА holds a membership drive at the beginning of every school year, according to Woods. He said the СТА sends out an Advocate to inform members about the benefits of joining the Please see СТА, page 3 Free Funds Await Eligible Students By Marcela Toledo-Villegas Staff Writer If you’re not a Big Lotto winner or you just feel that you are not lucky getting money, why not apply for a piece of the $13 million that the PCC financial aid depart¬ ment has available in scholarships and grants this year? The money is waiting for you and is “available for those that apply,” said Dr. Kim Miles, assis¬ tant dean of the scholarships and financial aid. If you are a citizen or an eligible non-citizen and are at least a half¬ time student taking classes leading to a degree or professional certifi¬ cate, you can get funds that come in the form of grants, loans, work, scholarships or gifts. About 40 percent of students at PCC receive some type of finan¬ cial aid, including fee waivers, said Miles. Miles explained the different programs available to students. Grants are funds that do not have to be paid back. In some cases, it is an entitlement where the family or student has demonstrated a finan¬ cial need in order to qualify for that assistance. Loans have to be repaid, while grants and scholarships do not. There are instances where you need more help to pay for your education. With work-study, you work your way through college but the school is providing the funds to allow you to do so. Most scholarships are merit based, taking into consideration the students’ grade point average. Also, students have to compete by writing essays and getting letters of recommendation. The federal Pell grant program is the largest, and is based on financial need. Students can use the money however they want. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) supplements those expenses that cannot be covered by Pell. Federal Work Study offers more help for students, and is campus- based money. The campus receives an allocation of funds to distribute to eligible students. Students can work up to 20 hours per week at a starting rate of $6.75 per hour at different jobs on and off campus. The other is the Perkins Loan. It Please see AID, page 3 Controversial СТА Membership Drive Held on Campus On Campus Trust No One