Volume 140, Issue #3
News
WEBSTARS GLITCHES LEAVE LONG LINES IN THEIR WAKE
BY
JON GUNTON
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY DAN ELDRIDGE / GUARDSMAN |
WebSTARS registration problems prompted City College to extend the enrollment period to Sept. 12 after students complained.
Instead of using WebSTARS, students were encouraged to make class changes in Smith Hall.
“I tried to add my classes online,” City College student Ben Turner said after waiting in a long line with other students hoping to add courses. “WebSTARS didn’t work, so I wasted a half hour to come here and do it.”
Excessive traffic at peak hours caused part of the problem, said Douglas Re, director of Information Technology Services. Software glitches also gave misleading error messages that read “WebSTARS registration not available.”
“I heard about the problems with Internet registration, so I didn’t even bother trying,” said student Robert Acbedo. “I just went ahead and did it in person.”
Students also reported problems when entering add codes into the system.
“We received so many complaints over the phone that add codes the professors had given them were not working,” said Jocelyn Manuel, a registration staff member. “We have had huge lines in the Registration Office for the last three weeks because of this.”
Don Griffin, vice chancellor of student development, estimated that one percent to two percent of City College students were affected.
“This is a significant problem for us,” Griffin said. “That percentage seems small, but when you factor in how many students there are at the college, that is a big number.”
The college removed the phone registration system STARS last year, causing an abundance of students to use the online system.
“We eliminated phone registration because it was costing us a good amount of money, and 95 percent of the students were using the Internet anyway,” Griffin said.
“This is uncharted territory for us,” Re said. “Everything is being done on the Internet now — not just class registration, but financial aid, payroll, old financial data and other things are all a part of this integrative system.”
Information Technology Services is currently working to exterminate the bugs.
“We’re in the process of fixing it now,” Re said. “We are proac-tively monitoring the system performance. We’ve changed the mis-leading messages to just tell the student to add the course in person.”
“This will be fixed for spring registration,” Griffin said. “It has to be.”
e-mail: jgunton@theguardsman.com
BY
ANGELA HART
Staff Writer
DUGO RIBEIRO / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN |
City College is a candidate for the permanent home of five murals by Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias. However, potential hurdles such as space and funds could lend a significant advantage to other institutions vying for the works of art.
Covarrubias’ murals, which are large maps depicting life around the Pacific Rim, are being shipped to Mexico next month for cleaning and restoration. They will return to San Francisco in December 2006, after the Mexican government displays them in
Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.
In order for the school to measure up against its main competitors, the Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Mexico City, and Treasure Island in San Francisco, Ocean campus needs a new building to house the giant frescoes.
“I would like to see a Mural Center at City College with the Diego Rivera mural, but its placement is a question of monies,” said Adriana Williams, a biographer of Covarrubias. “I think that’s the holdup.”
“It is highly unlikely City College will get the maps,” said Julia Bergman, department chair for the Works of Art Committee. Although she believes the murals would bring more cultural interest to the campus, Bergman said the time crunch is too much.
Because they were painted for the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island, Peter Summerville, historic and cultural resources coordinator for the Treasure Island Development Authority said the island is entitled to the maps. “We’ve done all the footwork to restore, transport and display the murals,” he said.
e-mail: ahart@theguardsman.com
SUNSHINE ORDINANCE PARTIALLY ADOPTED: Full compliance eclipsed by Chancellor's cost, privacy concerns
BY CHRIS ALBON
Staff Writer
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Chancellor Philip R. Day, Jr., the board of trustees and the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force have been working since 2001 to make the City College governing system more transparent and accessible.
But now that the negotiation process is over, not everyone is satisfied with the college’s compliance with the ordinance.
“We on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force are pleased that the City College board of trustees and the administration have adopted some sunshine provisions, but we also feel that they did not go far enough,” Richard Knee, task force member, said.
Unlike the city of San Francisco, City College is a state entity and is not required to follow the ordinance.
But while seeking the endorsement of the San Francisco Bay Guardian for a bond measure in 2001, the board of trustees and Chancellor Day agreed to take a “serious look” at the ordinance.
The board adopted 26 recommendations by the Task Force that would provide clarity and easier access to public records.
“We have obliged the Sunshine Ordinance by taking a look at every single aspect of that ordinance that we think we could do and we’ve done it, that’s it. It’s over,” Chancellor Day said.
One major point of contention that was rejected was a recommendation to record closed-door sessions of the board of trustees. “There needs to be some method of proving that nothing happened behind closed doors that should have taken place in a public session,” Knee said.
Trustee Milton Marks III agreed. “We don’t even have minutes of closed-session meetings. We have no record and I think that’s a mistake,” Marks said.
Chancellor Day disagreed. “There are some concerns that recording the closed door sessions would dilute the quality and honesty of the discussion,” he said.
Another recommendation not adopted would allow the public to comment 15 days prior to the finalization of labor contracts. With labor accounting for 92 percent of the district’s budget, Marks believes this is urgent.
“The Board should do as much as possible to make sure the public has access to information before decisions are made, so the public can make comment,” Marks said.
Chancellor Day sees full adoption as counterproductive. “We’re not the city. The city is a monolithic type of bureaucracy; we don’t want to go down in that direction. The minute we start doing all our business that way, we drive our cost up.”
e-mail: calbon@theguardsman.com
CUTTING CLASS WILL EDUCATE PALETTES
BY MILES HARWELL
Staff Writer
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Students of all nationalities gain proficiency in front and back-of-house restaurant positions through the Downtown campus’ culinary and service skills training program, enabling those learning English as a second language to prepare for careers in the restaurant business.
The ESL and Transitional Studies departments work closely with the program to help ensure success for non-native speakers.
“Students enter the program with a wide range of vocational, academic and language skills,” said instructor Chris Johnson. “Both ESL students and native speakers have to study hard to stay up on their course work, but I would say it is certainly harder for ESL students.”
“The class helps me practice my English and I learn how to communicate with other cultures,” said Julio Fuentes, a student from Mexico who has been living in San Francisco for six years. “We are in a free country now, and I hope to one day open my own restaurant, the American Dream.”
Classes are rigorous and meet for six hours every day, comprised of mostly lab work and hands-on training. It culminates with experience at the Educated Palette, a new restaurant being constructed at Downtown campus.
Students are required to demonstrate a satisfactory level of English before entering the program, but many still find themselves unable to meet a high enough standard of the language. According to Johnson, some reach a “proverbial glass ceiling” during the program.
“My major problem is with the words written in French and Italian,” Fuentes said. “I have a hard time writing and pronouncing them.”
In training, students are often paired up with one another for group work, case studies and role-playing.
“My teacher likes to put me with someone who doesn’t speak English as well,” student Tony Maldonado said. “When I’m partners with someone who doesn’t speak English I offer to do all the work, but everyone’s in there to learn … Chinese, Mexican, Mandarin, whatever.”
Fall classes focus on management and the business of owning a restaurant. Spring semester students receive instruction on running a high-volume restaurant kitchen.
Despite language and skill barriers, the program has been successful in preparing students for entry-level restaurant positions.
e-mail: mharwell@theguardsman.com
Marco Gutierrez contributed to this report.
32-YEAR WAIT ENDS WITH MISSION GROUNDBREAKING
BY ANGELA HART
Staff Writer
With shovels and hard hats, City College devotees broke ground on Sept. 6 for the construction of the new Mission campus as part of an ongoing 70th anniversary celebration.
“We have wanted this for 32 years and it is finally happening,” said Mission campus Dean Carlota del Portillo. “The opening is going to be a 24/7 party and everyone is invited.”
Chancellor Philip R. Day, Jr., del Portillo, members of the board of trustees and District 9 Supervisor Tom Ammiano commenced to celebrate the educational and community opportunities made possible by the new Mission campus.
“This new campus will enable teachers as well as the students to do a better job,” said Ed Murray, ESL instructor and teacher’s union president. “The students don’t deserve old, dusty, dirty buildings.”
The estimated $66 million project is scheduled for completion in fall 2007 and will consist of three buildings covering almost 200,000 square feet, including a secure courtyard.
“The new building provides a wonderful opportunity for our com-munity to expand educationally and culturally,” Myra Mendoza, education representative to Mayor Newsom, said. “This isn’t just another campus; it’s a step in enhancing our city’s education process.”
Elements of the new campus will include meeting facilities, a library, a career guidance center, a Latino parents center, a bookstore, a café and an art exhibit space.
e-mail: ahart@theguardsman.com
SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE DISPATCH
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Sept. 1, 9:09 a.m.
Ocean Campus
Officers arrived at the 200 bungalow series after receiving a call that a fight was in progress. They determined that a student was confronting someone suspected of stealing her property. The suspect was last seen going towards Judson Avenue.
Sept. 1 11:13 a.m.
Ocean Campus
An officer responded to Cloud Hall when a concerned City College employee said she was receiving threatening phone calls from a student.
Sept. 6 9:50 p.m.
John Adams Campus
An officer responded to the auditorium after reports of indecent exposure. After coaxing a naked man out from under some chairs, the officer discovered methamphetamine and a pipe in the suspect’s pants. The suspect had a $35,000 outstanding warrant and was booked at County Jail 9 on several charges.
BY CHRIS ALBON
Staff Writer
• The board will appoint seven new members to fill vacant positions on the Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Created in 2001 by Chancellor Philip R. Day, Jr., the committee oversees the implementation of bond monies and is made up of members of the community and one City College student.
• Robert Gabriner, dean of Research and Planning, presented the 2006 Accreditation Self Study Full Draft, which examines and critiques the college’s accreditation standards. The report includes input from over 120 City College faculty, staff administrators and students. The final draft is due for board approval on October 22.
Choice Words:
“This self study is truly a work product of hundreds of people. We’ve brought faculty, students and staff together to work on this. It covers not only the history of the college but all of its educational functions and services.”
-Robert Gabriner, dean of Research and Planning
DOUBLE VISION: A City College Column
BY DAN VEREL
Editor
If you don’t have a car, then you probably rely on either BART or Muni to get to and from City College.
Lately, I’ve adopted a strong dislike for my daily commute, particularly Muni. This public service claims to serve its community but fails to do this adequately.
A Muni report in 2004 found that only 72.8 percent of buses were on time regularly. This falls well short of the expected 85 percent standard established by the Municipal Transportation Authority in 1999’s Proposition E.
Muni has repeatedly failed to reach this goal in the ensuing years since then, rendering its service paltry. It also continues to cut back on routes while having the audacity to make us impoverished students pay for it with increased fares.
Several times I have found myself waiting to get home. While waiting for the 43-Masonic bus one night, I stood for an hour before finally being met by an abrupt and ornery bus driver.
He was not happy to see me.
It’s one thing to have sporadic bus service at 2 a.m., but it’s completely another to not have consistent service at peak hours. When it’s 8 a.m. and you have been waiting 45 minutes for your bus to get to work or to school, something is seriously the matter.
While some people may think being late three times out of 10 is acceptable, I do not.
A functioning public transportation system is vital to any major city. Muni needs to make a concerted effort to live up to their slogan by either being on time or serving up 24-ounce tall cans of beer to its patrons.
The latter is obviously a joke, but some sort of consolation for being late is in order.
e-mail: sports@theguardsman.com
City College at Large
Call or e-mail Elizabeth Pfeffer with campus-wide news at: (415) 239-3446 or metronews@theguardsman.com
Fort Mason Campus
The Fort Mason campus’ Coffee Gallery is currently featuring a 3-D exhibition, which includes pieces by City College ceramics students. The gallery, located in Landmark Building B at Fort Mason, is free to the public and open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until midnight on weekends.
John Adams Campus
The Orfalea Family Center provides childcare for toddlers of students who are studying at City College. Parents may place their name on a waiting list by calling (415) 561-1895, and then enrollment will be determined on a low-income priority basis. Childcare for older children is available at seven other City College child development centers.
Chinatown Campus
In commemoration of City College’s 70th anniversary, the Chinatown / North Beach campus is holding a Community Day Sept. 27, featuring ESL and citizenship preparation courses. The open house is located at 940 Filbert St. and will be an all-day event.
LGBT Center
This semester the LGBT center is offering four free non-credit classes in areas of Internet Studies, Graphics for Business and American Sign Language. Normally non-credit course enrollment is based on attendance at the first class, but special arrangements can be made with professors to join late.
Short Cuts
Benefits of Community College
A recently published study found that community college students make more money annually than high school graduates. Even in the absence of a degree, men who attend community colleges earn at least 6 percent more annually for each year of full-time coursework they complete. With an associate’s degree, that number rises to 14.7 percent. Women fare even better, with earnings of 11.1 percent without a degree and 47.6 percent with one.
Highest Paid Break Ever
The Cheesecake Factory recently settled a lawsuit with their California employees, paying out $4.5 million for denying breaks for workers between 2001 and 2003. Over 200 San Francisco employees will receive $1 million of the settlement money.
High Stress, Healthy Breasts
A study of almost 7,000 women living in Copenhagen, Denmark, said that women who reported having high levels of daily stress were 40 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than women reporting low levels of stress. Tension, anxiety, impatience and sleeplessness were all factors that the research team looked at. The findings contradict past studies that claim that stress doubles the risk of breast cancer. Researchers were quick to point out that more data is still needed.