Volume 137, Issue 8
News
BY
JENNIFER KREGEAR
Contributing Writers
The Office of Marketing and Public Information is preparing a year-long celebration beginning in August for City College’s 70th anniversary, featuring a series of alumni speakers, a festival of the arts and a trilogy of book publications focusing on the history of the college.
Although plans for the celebration are still being finalized, a series called “Conversations with People who Make a Difference in the World” is being planned to inform students about City College alumni and their successes. Already confirmed to speak in early January is Dr. W. Michael Blumenthal, a former CEO of several corporations and a White House executive during the Kennedy and Carter administrations.
Three commemorative books will highlight City College’s contributions in community education and the local arts. The book “History of City College from Dream to Reality” by Professor Austin White of the social sciences department, along with a commemorative edition publication by Chancellor Philip R. Day, Jr. will focus on the college’s history. A full-color foldout map and guide will also be available to inform students and the community about art located at City College.
“The goal of the City College 70th anniversary publications is to enlighten the community — internal and external — about the significant contributions which City College has made to the San Francisco Bay area since its founding in 1935,” said Martha Lucey, dean of marketing and public information.
Lucey and City College’s performing arts department are currently coordinating a performing arts festival scheduled for spring 2006.
The Examiner has also agreed to include an insert to be written, edited and formatted entirely by City College’s journalism department, dedicated to the celebration of the college’s anniversary.
BY
ELIZABETH PFEFFER
Staff Writer
RODGER OCON / GUARDSMAN |
City College allows students who fulfill certain criteria to sign up for classes early but the policy granting them this privilege has not been revisited in 11 years. Some students question whether the policy is fair.
Top registration priority goes to disabled students, followed by members of vocational education programs and sports teams. Registration dates for remaining students are given based on their GPAs and number of unit hours fulfilled.
The administration stands firm on their policy. The guidelines were created by a shared governance committee, headed by Social Sciences Chair Darlene Alioto, in March 1994 and have remained the same ever since.
“It would be almost impossible to ensure equity in terms of individuals who work [or] have child care,” Alioto said. “It is easy to determine who is on an intercollegiate team as well as who is in the EOPS or DSPS program.”
By law, some individuals in the Economic Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) are entitled to early registration.
Due to athletic practice schedules, City College has also chosen to grant intercollegiate athletes priority registration.
“Based on the time commitment that is required from collegiate athletes to represent their school, the least the school can do for them is allow them to register for classes that do not create conflicts with their athletic endeavors,” said Adam D’Acquisto, physical education instructor. “Trying to set a practice time while juggling 15 players’ class schedules would be a nightmare.”
There are some who feel this privilege should be extended to other students who participate in extra-curricular activities.
Mark Maggiolo, a junior kinesiology student, said that all clubs and organizations on campus, not just sports, have student members who represent the school and should be treated equally.
Alioto argues that the number of students who receive special registration is a small fraction of the general student body.
Opposition to early registration often stems from students with regular majors, who desperately need classes. They don’t necessarily have complaints about special majors being prioritized, according to Patricia Gant, associate registrar.
EOPS student Kin Chao, 23, said she rarely utilizes her early registration date. “Sometimes I tell my friends my date and they’re jealous because they have more credits than me, but I don’t usually sign up on that first day anyway,” she said.
“It isn’t that hard to get into classes,” Maggiolo said. “You can sometimes show up on the first day if you need to add … but I don’t think certain majors should get to sign up early.”
e-mail: epfeffer@theguardsman.com
GROUNDBREAKING FOR HEALTH CENTER NEARS
BY CHRIS ALBON
Contributing Writer
Groundbreaking for the new Student Health Center is anticipated to begin as early as June, after the Board of Trustees approved the contract at their monthly meeting on April 28.
“I am very delighted,” said Sunny Clark, clinic director and chair of the Department of Student Health. “We’re hoping to have a groundbreaking ceremony in mid-June.”
The Student Health Center was initially planned to be ready for occupancy in November but was delayed, which Project Manager Craig Peterson explained was due to the rising cost of construction and an inability to reach an agreement with the contractor over price, quality and time.
“The bids were high; the low bid was too high. We got approval from the Board but we couldn’t come to an agreement with the contractor,” Peterson said.
Sunny Clark said construction is going to take about 14 months to complete and it would be easier to move during the summer. “Timing is very critical. We don’t want to stop services for the 10,129 students we provide health care for.” She said a large part of the problem would involve moving their equipment. “Unless someone donates new equipment, we will have to
move all of our old ‘hand me down’ equipment over there,” Clark said.
The contract was passed with some concerns raised by Trustee Milton Marks III, who said he voted with great reluctance, after questioning why Hunt Construction of Scottsdale, Arizona was select-ed over local construction firm Cahill.
“We’ve been given no information on why the committee selected the contractor,” Marks said. “We’re basically being asked to move out of ignorance.”
e-mail: epfeffer@theguardsman.com
NEW RESTROOMS GO UNISEX: Policy to establish co-ed facilities in all buildings
BY ANGELA HART
Staff Writer
Plans to convert several restrooms into gender-neutral facilities are underway throughout City College campuses — an adaptation tailored for the school’s diverse population, particularly transgender students and faculty.
The proposed plan was implemented in order to provide privacy and safety to transgender students and faculty, as well as anyone who desires it. Usually these bathrooms are sex-segregated: one for women, one for men. The proposed plan would change single-stall men’s rooms in each building into unisex restrooms. One of the restrooms in the Student Union is currently a gender-neutral facility, but remains locked pending a work order submitted May 4 to unlock the facility door.
“I feel strongly that room should not be locked,” said Bob Davis, chair of the Transgender Working group, and co-advisor for the Queer Alliance group. “The whole purpose is this person doesn’t have to out themselves to ask for a key.”
“Every building will eventually have unisex bathrooms,” said Jim Blomquist, associate vice chancellor of facilities, planning and maintenance. “There will be unisex bathrooms put in three new buildings within the next three months.”
In the past, there have been documented assaults and complaints reported to the campus police department, the Office of Affirmative Action and San Francisco Human Rights Committee. For this reason, City College created the Transgender Working Group that originally proposed the plans for the unisex bathrooms.
“This is pure transphobia, the people who are raising these issues require privacy for their own physical and emotional safety,” Davis said. “These are not only for transgenders, this is being done to help anyone who wants privacy.”
The plan is in the beginning stages and has been accepted by Chancellor Day. Future plans for conversion of single-stall men’s bathrooms must be approved by the Board of Trustees and the Buildings Users Group. Davis and Vice Chancellor Don Griffin are holding meetings negotiating which restrooms will be converted on campus. The new Student Health Center and gymnasium are planned to have gender-neutral bathrooms.
“We never know how it will work until we try it out,” City College student Alina Filmus said.
“I wouldn’t be offended either way who chose which bathrooms,” said City College student David Wallace.
e-mail: ahart@theguardsman.com
STUDENTS PRESS FOR HEALTHIER SNACKS
BY SARAH GROSSMAN
Contributing Writer
BRANDIN LAKEE / GUARDSMAN |
The Associated Students presented a resolution to Canteen, City College’s vending machine distributor, requesting that a majority of snacks be low in sodium, high in nutrients and without hydrogenated and saturated fats.
The college asked Canteen to develop a plan of action, with healthy food choices as a condition of their contract for vending machines, including refrigerated machines. According to the resolution, if the negotiations prove unsuccessful there will be a petition to re-bid the contract on the grounds that student needs are not being met. The current contract would otherwise be up for re-bid in July 2007.
“Why doesn’t City College get healthy options, since they are available?” said Robin Roth, a health science teacher who strongly supports the cause. “The point is to have options; students need to have truly healthy foods.”
Stephen Herman, the chief administrative service officer, said the administration supports the initiative and explained the challenge is finding “that delicate balance between maintaining profitability while still providing healthy options. It needs to be a collective effort to educate students and raise the consciousness of healthy eating.”
Roth added that many students have said they would gladly pay more for better food.
“I would like to see more choices,” City College student Mathew Wes said. “I’ve noticed that even what they call healthy choices are still not all that healthy — baked chips are still potato chips.”
BY NATHAN WEYLAND
Staff Writer
Summer is coming. You can feel it in the cool day breeze and the warmer-than-normal nights. While many of you may be tempted to enroll in summer classes in an effort to get ahead (or maybe catch up), I ask you to consider a few things before you add that class.
City College is offering even more summer classes this year, making summer school more attractive than ever. But you’ll be stuck dragging yourself every morning to that math class while your boyfriend/girlfriend/-brother/sister sleeps in or heads out of town.
One thing to keep in mind when asking yourself the age-old summer student question (vacation or class), is this: America’s most revered institutes of higher learning don’t hold a candle to the greatest teacher of all: The world. Why sit in a classroom and study the redwoods when they are in your backyard? Even if you can’t afford somewhere exotic, plenty of things exist right here to explore. Who makes the best saltwater taffy in Bodega Bay? How many kinds of deer roam the hills of Point Reyes National Seashore? Where is the best surf north of Santa Cruz?
Textbooks and classes will always be here — take a little time this summer to ask your own questions and find your own answers.
e-mail: nweyland@theguardsman.com
City College at Large
Call or e-mail Adam Brody with campus wide news at
(415) 239-3446 or associatenews@theguardsman.com
Mission Campus
The Mission campus is having an open house on Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., celebrating getting settled into its temporary site. The campus has established a new Financial Aid Office, which will serve as a pilot outreach program for non-credit students, said campus dean Carlotta Del Portillo. Credit students will still have full access to credit and the application process through the Ocean campus. The campus will also be offering a new Emergency Medical Technician program.
Downtown Campus
The Downtown campus recently elected Yani Bonilla as the new president of the AS Council. Remodeling of the library is expected to be complete by the end of this month, with the restaurant and café opening soon. The campus will be open during the summer and will continue to host the Southeast Asia Business and International Center featuring monthly speakers discussing doing business in Vietnam, and other events.
John Adams Campus
The John Adams campus library continues its exhibition “Out of Many … One,” a display of collaborative murals created by Project SHINE coaches at their end of semester reflec-tion and celebration with the Mural Exchange Project. The exhibition will run through Oct. 31, with a reception being held May 18, from 12-1 p.m. in Room 202, next to the library. 1860 Hayes Street.
Older Adults Department
The Mission campus’ Older Adults Department held a reception for their fourth Annual Crissy Field Center Art Exhibit on May 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Presidio in Building 603 at the corner of Mason and Halleck Streets. The exhibit runs through May 25 and features artwork in mediums including oil acrylic, watercolor pastels, colored pencils, charcoal and more.
Short Cuts
Influential Woman
The San Francisco Business Times named Natalie Berg, vice president of the Board of Trustees, as one of the “100 Most Influential Women.” The award is given to women who have shown leader-ship and have acted as role models to their peers. Berg received her award at the San Francisco Hilton on May 12.
Peanut Butter Diet
The Jumpstart Program is currently hiring for the upcoming school year. The program trains college students to teach young children the skills needed to succeed in school. “We are excited to move into our second year here at City College affecting more children and families across San Francisco,” said Noelani Mussman, Jumpstart site manager.
Losing a Lot
All administrators, classified supervisors and department chairs are now required to take a sexual harassment prevention, identification and correction training class before January 2006, according to a new law passed by the Governor in 2004. New supervisory employees must attend a two-hour training session within the first six months of their assignments. After 2006, these employees must attend a seminar every two years.
Homeward Bound
Parking lot B, located off of Ocean Ave., will be removed after the summer semester to make way for the new Health and Wellness Center that will be built on the site.
Project Manager Craig Peterson said there would be “a new access road to replace the entrance [to the campus] that is Parking Lot B.” He said this must take place before the parking lot can be taken out. He said, “It is not entirely clear right now” as to when the lot will be torn out but that September would be the earliest.
Marian Lam, assistant in the Office of Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management, said the reser-voir is a parking alternative for students. “We expanded the parking there by taking out the middle berm,” she said.