hi koo

Friday Harbor trip

Lavender Farm while blighted
Purple flower pie

'Project Safe' presentation shown at ASI Senate

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Dec. 13.

The last Associated Students, Inc. Senate meeting of the semester on Wednesday was void of any public comments and senator nametags, but fully stocked with holiday sentiments and sugary treats.

Immediately after approving last week's minutes, choosing Sen. Jeff Yutrzenka as senator of the month for November and the realization by ASI Chairwoman and Vice President Lucy Montano that ASI President Mark Andrews was absent for the reading of his report, the director of the Women's Resource Center Marcela Chavez addressed the Senate in a time-certain presentation regarding "Project Safe."

The project is funded by a grant from the Department of Justice's office on Violence Against Women, and is a resource for understanding and preventing relationship violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus, according to Chavez.

"We are really bonded to educate our student body, from students all the way to the president, about personal responsibility and how we address the issue about rape by an acquaintance," Chavez said.

Chavez also presented a new, but unapproved, brochure specifically geared toward faculty and staff.

"We find that a lot of faculty do not know what their resources are on campus," Chavez said. "We're trying to get faculty to do more. The brochure will be dispersed once it is finalized."

The brochure also states that all Project Safe services are free and all direct services are confidential and culturally sensitive.

In other Senate news, ASI Executive Director Richard Haller read a report that included the rationale behind withholding information from the Daily Forty-Niner regarding the acquisition of correspondence on BlackBerries used by ASI officials.

Haller said legal counsel was sought before the decision was made to withhold information, and after legal consultation there were concerns that the release of certain information, like e-mails and phone numbers, violated privacy rights.

"Plus, I don't have access to all the information that was requested," said Haller, following the adjournment. "All we get is the billing statement from Verizon."

Walking around CSULB

I'll be leaving Cal State Long Beach soon. Come January, I'll be a student at Cal State Fullerton.

I took these pictures one day while strolling around campus. Most of them are from the Japanese Garden.

Senate examines disabled access initiatives

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Dec. 6.

An attempt to transform Cal State Long Beach into a fully compliant campus for disabled students is being made by the Accessible Technology Initiative Committee.

Vice President of Student Services Doug Robinson addressed the Associated Students, Inc. Senate Wednesday to offer an explanation and presentation of the initiative originally ordered by CSU Chancellor Charles Reed back in December of 2004.

"This is a system-wide initiative that our campus is heavily engaged in," Robinson said. "It provides disabled individuals with equal access to instructional materials. It also benefits those with different learning styles."

The initiative aims to eventually conform all aspects of university life to allow for equal learning opportunities for everyone. Everything from architectural barriers to the design of Web sites will be taken into consideration.

"Universal design is an overarching principle and it suggests that products and services must be usable by the greatest number of people - including individuals with disabilities," Robinson said. "We found that through the removal of architectural barriers, that when you make it better for disabled people, you make it better for everyone."

There's also a possibility for lawsuits against the university if the campus fails to address these issues, according to Robinson.

"There was a $2 million complaint made at Cal State Fullerton," Robinson said, "because the university didn't move in a timely manner to provide accessible instructional material."

Recently, Cal State San Bernardino lost an $11 million to $12 million lawsuit due to architectural barriers, according to Robinson.

"CSULB will provide support for building accessibility, establish accountability and documentation, and we will communicate how alternative forms of access will be provided," Robinson said. "[Our vision] is to create a culture of access for an inclusive learning and working environment for everyone."

In other Senate news, senior political science major and ASI Associate Justice Erin Adams addressed the Senate to announce that the CSULB undergraduate law journal is open for submissions from any major.

Upgrade

Goodbye.











Hello.

Horses Continued

I was probably 9-years old when my grandfather hoisted me up on to the back of his horse. We were in Oklahoma. This was the red Caballero skateboard with patchy grip tape days.

As soon as I situated myself, that fucking beast did what was natural and bolted toward his buddy.

The leather belly strap stabilizing the saddle to the mass of muscle and spine below my ass snapped - then gravity took over.

I hit the dirt floor with my head first and then my body followed. I remember tumbling for a second.

I was told later that one of the rear hoofs came inches from crushing my skull. I guess I almost died.

Anyways...Halloween horse masks from Japan are cool.

New feedback survey distributed to ASI Senate

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Nov. 29

Communication between Cal State Long Beach teachers and students is rated poor compared to other universities across the country, according to the National Survey of Student Engagement.

George Del Hierro, a CSULB Student Services employee, addressed the Associated Students, Inc. Senate Wednesday to hand out surveys, which will attempt to gather information regarding student experiences on campus and with teachers.

"Last year I got involved with the director of general education and her research on faculty and student communication," Del Hierro said. "We participated in the survey, along with hundreds of other institutions across the country, and we found at Cal State Long Beach [that] our biggest problem is faculty and student communication."

Within all the research and literature compiled so far for CSULB, students are found to be unconnected with the teachers, according to Del Hierro.

"If the students do feel connected, and find faculty or staff they can connect with, or relate to, then they are more likely to stay in school and graduate," Del Hierro said. "Hopefully with the work of this research and the partnership of the administration at Cal State Long Beach, we can work toward addressing this issue, and eventually improve our graduation and retention rates."

The senators were given packets of surveys to present and distribute to fellow students in class for the next two weeks. The survey will ask students to share information regarding the previous teacher they had.

"They shouldn't be answering the questions about the professor that's standing there in front of them," Del Hierro said. "The questions are personality questions, personality characteristics of the professor [and] of the class in general. Last year was a pilot study and this is the real thing now."

After the information is obtained on Dec. 14, the data will be crunched and analyzed, then a plan will be created to address the issue, according to Del Hierro.

ASI Chairwoman and Vice President Lucy Montano said, "The survey is kind of long, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy - and some students will try to get out of it."

Montano also said, "They shouldn't comment on their current professor because it might put the professors in an uncomfortable situation."

In other Senate news, the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Program coordinator Ralph Davis gave a brief overview to the Senate.

"The program is the result of a 2001 drinking death at Cal State Chico," Davis said.

The incident prompted the entire CSU system to create alcohol education programs.

"Here at Cal State Long Beach, we built a comprehensive global view program where we look at the issues of students and drinking from all different angles," Davis said.

Huell and I

A simple conversation with Huell Howser elicits fantasies of wind-whipping coastal strolls with camera crews in tow.

The moment he said, "Well hello there and what school do you go to?," I realized he's just as crazy and animated in real life.

I was tempted to complement him on his TV show.

I also wanted to confess to the substance abuse necessary to fully dig an episode.

But I restrained. He was just too damn happy and I was painfully sober.

Disabled Student Services rep. Addresses ASI Senate

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Nov. 15.

The director of Disabled Student Services David Sanfilippo addressed the Associated Students, Inc. Senate Wednesday to review the progression of services for disabled students since the 1970s.

Sanfilippo also discussed the upcoming decision the Senate will make regarding the bylaw amendment, which will possibly add more positions to the ASI president's cabinet.

"Students have a great amount of power to be a voice," Sanfilippo said. "We trust you'll do the right thing. This board has never failed my belief in that."

Following his speech, Sanfilippo said the Disabled Student Services will begin organizing awareness days. Part of the education will include putting ASI President Mark Andrews and senators in wheelchairs in order for them to experience what some students deal with every day.

"If they decide whether or not it will be a committee or commission, I trust there will always be a voice for our students," Sanfilippo said.

After his departure, the Senate passed a vote to send the bylaw amendment to the newly formed Committee on Bylaws, created by ASI Chairwoman and Vice President Lucy Montano.

Currently, the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, the Committee on Disabilities Affairs and the Committee on Women Affairs fall under the umbrella of Campus Diversity Relations.

"The secretary for Campus Diversity Relations is concentrating a lot on cultural diversity," Montano said after the meeting adjourned. "Having a disability doesn't make you part of a culture."

Montano said she is aiming to move the three committees out from under the umbrella in order to isolate them and allow them a stronger voice.

"I want them to be on their own, and maybe having a secretary position isn't the correct place to be at, but I don't want them to be under anything," Montano said. "That's why the [ASI] president and I don't agree, because he's OK with putting them under a big umbrella."

The new committee will debate and solve the issue, then bring its decision back to the Senate for additional discussion and a vote.

"Basically, instead of having 20 people argue, we're going to have six people argue," Montano said. "They get to decide how it will get fixed."

Happy birthday dear...what the fuck?

I spent my 31st birthday meeting people like Huell Howser and the guy who writes the "Ask a Mexican" column for the OC Weekly.

But when I ended my night at Jackie's Bar in downtown Long Beach, I realized nothing would ever be more exciting than a public display of primate ass furrow.

How's that for a picture El Jefé.

ASI Senate at odds over new amendment

Published on the CSULB Daily 49er's newspaper Web site Nov. 8.

The Associated Students, Inc. Senate was at odds Wednesday when the first reading of a bylaw amendment, which will increase secretary positions for some under-represented groups, passed.

The amendment attempts to add secretaries to the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, the Committee on Disabilities Affairs and the Committee on Women Affairs. The Committee on Women Affairs currently has a secretary, but has been in violation of the ASI bylaws for three years, according to ASI President Mark Andrews.

The amendment will attempt to add more positions to the ASI presidential cabinet, although Andrews wasn't fully involved in the making of the decision.

"The executive branch was wrongly kept out of the loop in regards to the development of this position," Andrews said. "I believe action should be taken, but the cabinet may not be the right place for it."

ASI Vice President and Chairwoman Lucy Montano co-sponsored the amendment, along with College of Health and Human Services Sen. Greg Lim, and was met with criticism and support from the Senate and the public gallery regarding her actions.

"I'm really disturbed that this issue is being brought up the way that it is," said James Davis, the ASI chief of staff. "The only thing I see here is the creation of positions for the heck of it."

Davis told the Senate that Montano walked in to the office and announced her plan to reconfigure the ASI president's cabinet without prior discussion.

"There was no time for dialogue," Davis said.

Apparently she asked for opinions, but later Andrews told the Senate that he thought she disregarded his suggestions.

"It's kind of a slap in the face," Andrews said. "It was all kind of sprung on me."

Montano later defended herself by informing the Senate and Andrews that she was under the impression she didn't need the ASI president's approval for such an issue.

"I was never told the president had to agree with every word," Montano said. "I understand that it's up to [the Senate]."

Technically there's nothing in the bylaws that states she is forced to report on what she's doing, according to Andrews.

"But we have executive meetings every Wednesday morning," Andrews said. "Why didn't she bring this up to me? I could provide some direction on this because I do kind of oversee the cabinet - that would make sense."

Representatives from each of the three groups addressed the Senate to show support for the amendment, but some disagreed whether or not it was necessary to separate the groups and vote on the amendments individually.

Sen. Megan Miller from the College of Health and Human Services stated she was against the separation due to the possibility of inequality among the groups.

Sen. Denise Wright from the College of Natural Science and Mathematics said, "Maybe they don't need to be treated equal. Maybe one group does deserve more recognition than the others. I honestly feel that not all of [the groups] needs to be on equal playing fields."

The second reading regarding the amendment will take place Nov. 14.

In other Senate news, the water conservation resolution passed the third reading with no opposition. Now the Senate will attempt to conform Cal State Long Beach's water usage to Long Beach city's regulations.

Also, student Vanessa Lopez was elected for the assistant secretary for systemwide affairs position and student Joan Mace was elected for the secretary for academic affairs. In addition, both were voted in as representatives for the Athletics Committee.

ASI President appeals to Senate to pay CSSA dues

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Nov. 1.

Associated Students, Inc. President Mark Andrews addressed the ASI Senate Wednesday to discuss the possibility of paying dues to the California State Student Association again, but that the resignation of its executive director must first become a reality.

Andrews said stability is non-existent within the CSSA and wouldn't consider paying dues again if its director, Susana Gonzalez, remains in office.

"I really believe that an executive director provides stability year in and year out," Andrews said. "There needs to be a change in that position."

The CSSA is a statewide organization that represents students of the California State University system, and for two years Cal State Long Beach has opted out of paying dues. It has instead decided to allocate that money to fund scholarships.

"It's a worthwhile organization that's broken right now," Andrews said. "I believe if we're going to ask for a drastic change to be made, mainly for the resignation of the executive director, we'll have to be willing to pitch in a little bit."

Andrews said he wanted the Senate to consider paying dues again. He also said he isn't the only one who desires a change in the position and that many other colleges want to see additional changes.

"Right now, the organization is in large financial trouble," Andrews said. "The recent audit that came out was not good."

Sen. Ruben Cordova from the College of Business Administration asked Andrews what the actions were that caused this issue, to which Andrews answered a disliking for Gonzalez's attitude and work ethic.

"I've noticed her not having a competency in her work," Andrews said. "Basic accounting errors have been made and there's a mismanagement of money. [Gonzalez] says [the CSSA] is in a financial crisis because campuses have pulled out of paying dues, but [the CSSA] was going down hill before we pulled out."

Gonzalez said she had no idea about the complaints.
"I'm really shocked that CSULB would accuse us of mismanaging money," Gonzalez said in a phone interview Wednesday after the Senate meeting, "even when the audit didn't have any findings."

Gonzalez is the second executive director in CSSA history and has been with the organization for five years. The first was in the 1980s, and she said there was a time they didn't have one.

"I'm really shocked and heartbroken," Gonzalez said. "I think there's a misunderstanding and I would have thought the ASI president would have called me to talk about these issues."

According to Gonzalez, the dues to be a CSSA member cost 60 cents per student.

The CSSA works with a $400,000 budget.

ASI Executive Director Richard Haller said the fees depend on the population of the campus and that CSULB decided to stop paying because there was not enough of a direct benefit to justify paying dues.

ASI faculty representative and journalism professor Chris Burnett said he thinks the CSSA serves a useful purpose.

"I feel as a faculty member the CSSA has potential to offer good experience for students who want to know what's going on in state government," Burnett said. "I'm hoping they can work out the funding and political situations."

In other Senate news, the second reading of the water conservation resolution, which will attempt to conform CSULB's water regulations to Long Beach city's standards, passed with no opposition. The third reading and the vote to pass the resolution will take place Nov. 7.

Sen. Marilei Denila was elected as the second student representative for the International Education Committee, and the confirmations of Vanessa Lopez for assistant secretary of systemwide affairs and Joan Mace for secretary of academic affairs were postponed until Nov. 7 because both were not in attendance Wednesday.

Campus security and water issues discussed at Senate

Published in CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Oct. 25.

A petition to increase the presence of campus security at night quickly morphed from a simple request to the Associated Students, Inc. Senate for support into a multi-layered resolution, heaving the Senate into confusion and disagreement Wednesday afternoon.

The resolution was eventually passed during the Senate meeting and the petition's author, communications major Caroline Chen, will now meet with CSULB President F. King Alexander and present her case with the backing of the Senate and over 2,000 student signatures.

"I wasn't prepared for the fight it turned out to be," Chen said. "But I'm glad to experience this."

The confusion that followed the petition dealt with possible inaccuracies written in the resolution sponsored by College of Liberal Arts Sen. Raul Preciado, College of Business Sen. Ruben Cordova and Sen. John Blowers. A disagreement with wording regarding sexual assaults on campus and the attempted expedition through the process - which requires three readings in multiple sessions, not three readings in one sitting - was the cause to the first postponement.

Wednesday's meeting almost saw another postponement because ASI Chairwoman and Vice President Lucy Montano didn't agree with doubling campus security.

"I understand this is urgent and we need to vote on it, but I don't think we need to double the amount of people working," Montano said. "I think we need to push for more carts.

"There's not enough carts to take people places, and I'm confused with what exactly they want to do."

During a break after the resolution passed Montano said, "I was confused. I thought that we were really trying to make an impact, but I realized we were just trying to support the petition."

Montano also said she was sad that some of the information in the petition is not exactly what they're trying to get at, like doubling security at night.

"But I'm happy it passed," Montano said. "At least the message will get across."

In other news, a water conservation resolution sponsored by College of Health and Human Services Sen. Megan Miller and Sen. Jeff Yutrzenka passed the first reading with all the Senate in agreement.

"We're facing a water crises throughout Southern California," Yutrzenka said. "I think we should pass this. It's important. It's vital."

The need to support the water conservation plan is critical under the premise that the three Northern California reservoirs - which supply half of Long Beach's water - have been recorded at their lowest levels in 15 years, according to the resolution.

Executive Director of ASI Richard Haller said, "The university land is considered state property and not obligated to follow Long Beach city's regulations. Everyone in Long Beach is following the water conservation regulations but the university."

This resolution will attempt to force the college to conform to Long Beach's regulations.

Pres. talks as NBC news cameras roll

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper on Oct. 18.

Student loan debt in America is a growing concern, especially in the Northeast, but according to CSULB President F. King Alexander, the issue is spreading to the West like some sort of disease.

With an NBC news crew from New York present, Alexander addressed the Associated Students, Inc. Senate Wednesday to inform the students that a fight is being held in Washington to lift the current $23,000 student loan cap to allow for a $7,000 increase.

"Right now there's a bunch of higher education organizations and other agencies wanting to lift the cap," Alexander said. "What that means is the institutions that can raise tuition fees readily may rapidly escalate those costs, and will at a pace we don't even think of in the state of California."

Alexander also said NBC is gathering information for a story regarding this issue.

"They're here to talk about and get the nation to face the reality that student loan debt is an important crisis in American higher education," Alexander said. "And it matters where you grew up."

With an average debt of $6,200, 30 percent of graduates are leaving CSULB in debt, according to Alexander. The national average is higher, with 62 percent of students leaving college carrying an average debt amount of $21,000.

"If these loan caps go up, students go into greater debt," Alexander said. "Also, we don't want our peers raising their fees or tuition, because then they put us at a significant disadvantage in the higher education market place."

Alexander called on the Senate to help fight this issue in the future and told the students that it's "an important economic impact on your lives, on what you're hoping to achieve, and maybe even on the career you're pursuing."

The president said he was pleased to have NBC present and bringing attention to the story. He also said that he hoped some of the senator's faces were shown on national TV.

"We want our campus highlighted, we want this fight highlighted, we want these issues addressed at the federal level and we want to make sure these caps are kept on these loans so that these institutions and others won't shove a greater number of students into debt," Alexander said. "Quality doesn't equal the cost of attendance in the United States."

Alexander continued by mentioning that the more people who understand this, the more parents and students will realize that they don't have to spend $30,000 to $50,000 a year on higher education.

"Too many parents and too many students are misled into believing that," Alexander said.

The Senate didn't ask any questions at the end of Alexander's speech.

In other news, Sen. of the College of Liberal Arts Raul Preciado attempted to pass a resolution for a petition concerning campus safety, which will extend the hours of campus escorts and heighten security.

"This is an important resolution," Preciado said. "We have students that have taken action to make sure everyone is safer on campus, and I think the Senate should support them."

Preciado and Sen. of the College of Business Ruben Cordova attempted to have the resolution voted on and passed in one sitting when, according to ASI Executive Director Richard Haller, normal procedure calls for new resolutions to be read three times, then voted on.

The resolution proposed by Preciado and Cordova contained information that some senators disagreed with. The main focus of discussion fell on whether or not the resolution should read that there have been at least four sexual assaults and an attempted kidnapping.

According to Associate Vice President for Student Services Mike Hostetler, there were only three sexual assaults and one attempted kidnapping. Although there were four reported, one was found to be a false claim.

Due to possible inaccuracies, the resolution will be voted on in the next ASI Senate meeting on Oct. 24.

ASI Senate addresses lighting fund withdrawal, campus retention rates

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Oct. 4.

The Long Beach City Council voted against the plan to add additional lighting along the outskirts of Cal State Long Beach, according to President Mark Andrews of the Associated Students, Inc. Instead, the money was allocated toward after-school programs, a snow day and Halloween parties.

"Councilman Patrick O'Donnell made a motion to re-allocate the lighting money toward other programs," said Andrews while addressing the ASI Senate Wednesday. "There was an 8-1 vote, with Councilman Gary DeLong being the person that voted for us."

The Senate was also addressed by Catherine Pittet, the ASI public defender, who reminded the group about "Light Up Our Nights," which is a rally on campus today from noon to 2 p.m.

"The rally is in response to recent attacks on campus," Pittet said. "I hope it makes a big difference, because students are fed up."

The rally will include speakers such as City Councilman Gary DeLong, CSULB President F. King Alexander and Jack Pearson, the chief of police.

"We're putting together a town hall event for students, by students," Pittet said. "Hopefully this will have more of an impact, because students feel a connection with other students."

Students Caroline Chen, Kelly Janke and Sonia Esquibel also addressed the Senate regarding a safety petition in which they said they hope will extend the hours of the security escort patrols around campus.

"This petition is for campus safety," Chen said. "We want to increase the number of security officers during the hours of 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m."

Chen said they also want security guards patrolling each parking lot.

"My friends have told me about experiences they had when they called the campus escort service," Chen said. "They say they wait for 20 minutes, alone in the dark, while they wait for someone to arrive. It's ridiculous - anything can happen in that amount of time and I don't know why nothing has been done about it."

Janke said, "Daylight savings is going to be ending soon, so it will be getting darker earlier, and that means more opportunities. Plus, it's not just the women on campus who are scared. I've heard men are, too."

In other news, Andrews informed the Senate that CSULB is below the national average in graduation rates.

"This is something that affects the university's reputation," Andrews said. "Fortunately, the college has been working on this."

Andrews said the college's retention rate has climbed two percent this year, which will bring graduation rates up, but CSULB is still below the average.

"I don't want to be behind Cal State Fullerton," Andrews said. "Everyone who knows me knows I hate Fullerton. I'm not content with being the national average - I want to be above."

Andrews announced his creation of a new executive committee on student success. There will be at least two student senators on the board.

"We need to make this one of our biggest pushes this year," Andrews said. "Everyone should be working on it together."

President comments on newspaper, lighting

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Sept. 27.

Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander announced to the Associated Students, Inc. Senate Wednesday that the print version of the Daily Forty-Niner would not be terminated and restricted to an online audience and version only.

This came after Bradley Zint, Daily Forty-Niner editor-in-chief, addressed the Senate to update and inform the group on the current situation at the newspaper.

"The Daily Forty-Niner is in trouble," Zint said. "I wouldn't be speaking to you all in a tie for just any old reason."

Zint reiterated the current issues, which have been making headlines nationwide, like the proposition of a feasibility study to see if the Daily Forty-Niner would be suitable as an online-only publication and the recent dismissal of journalism department chairman William Babcock.

"The chairman, who publicly disagreed with the College of Liberal Arts and Dean Gerry Riposa on the idea of having an online-only Daily Forty-Niner, was just fired as department chairman Friday afternoon," Zint said. "An interesting sequence of events, to say the least."

Zint explained the reason why there is talk about eliminating the print version, saying budget issues and a lack of income are to blame.

"[The newspaper] has overspent despite not having the ability to pay two-thirds of its 20-some person editing staff or all of its team of writers, many of whom work full-time for the paper, nearly 40 hours, five days a week, for free," Zint said. "It has overspent despite being thrifty to nearly every degree possible...we sometimes steal pens and most of our equipment is either donated or hand-me-downs."

Zint ended his speech by urging the senators to talk to their constituents about the situation, and to attend the planned campus wide town hall-style meetings regarding the future of the Daily Forty-Niner.

Alexander said he has made it clear to the editors that the print version will not be eliminated.

"I like a paper. I carry it around with me and I read it when I can," Alexander said. "What we're going to do is make the paper functional in paper form. That's my commitment to you."

Alexander also said, "One thing I won't do, however, and I've been asked to since April of last year on numerous occasions, to unilaterally impose a $4 fee on students. I am not going to impose a fee on the students after they overwhelmingly voted not to provide the fee for the funding of the newspaper."

Alexander said, however, he is willing to work with the newspaper and others to stress the value and importance of a daily printed publication.

"We're looking at lots of different options on how we can generate more revenue for the newspaper, and that's what we hope to do," Alexander said.

ASI faculty representative Chris Burnett, who is also a journalism professor, said, "As a faculty member, I think it's important for both students and faculty to know more about the issues. I think students are confused. We need more information."

Burnett also said it was good to hear the president back the newspaper.

Along with issues surrounding the print version, Burnett also addressed the journalism department accreditation situation.

"I strongly favor working to get [the journalism department's] accreditation back and keeping that a priority in our department," Burnett said. "I think it's something that will help us draw the best students."

Richard Haller, executive director of ASI, said after the meeting, "As a former student and as a long-term employee of the campus, I can't imagine there not being a daily newspaper in the stands. It's just unfathomable to me."

Haller also said he doesn't read things online even if he sees something interesting.

"I have to print it out," Haller said. "The lack of advertising revenue that you would generate by going online is going to make the situation even worse. It doesn't seem very well thought out; there's got to be other options to this then going strictly online."

In other Senate news, Alexander announced that the lack of sufficient lighting on the edges of campus is still in the works.

"We're not giving up on this. In fact, we're going back to the city council," Alexander said. "We have a number of wonderful supporters there on lighting Bellflower, Palo Verde and around our campus."

Alexander also announced that President George W. Bush might sign an important provision in the next couple of weeks that will give everyone going into teacher education in high demand fields a grant called Teach Grant.

"It's a $4,000 a year grant that will go directly to those students as long as they are pursuing teacher education," Alexander said. "All they have to commit to is teaching four years in high-demand areas. It's pretty broad what they defined as being high-demand fields."

Senate hears updates on campus projects

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Sept. 20

After the clamor of a standing ovation subsided, a former Associated Students, Inc. Senate adviser grasped the lectern and spoke in the chamber dedicated to his 30 years of service to CSULB students.
Dean of Students Emeritus Stuart Farber attended Wednesday's ASI meeting with camera operators in tow. He will be inducted, along with three others, into Long Beach City College's Hall of Fame during a Nov. 2 luncheon.
Farber served as director of Student Life & Development, assistant dean of students and assistant vice president for Student Affairs, according to Richard Haller, executive director of ASI.
"I worked with Dr. Farber as a student leader in the '80s," Haller said. "He had a significant impact on the development of my leadership ability as a student and was one of the people who encouraged my choosing the student services profession as a career."
Haller also said Farber is the largest single donor to the ASI, with contributions exceeding $65,000.
Farber greeted the Senate and briefly reminisced about the '60s and the building of the University Student Union.
Farber said, "It was just a vision back in the '60s, but the street running through the middle of the campus was demolished and the Union was built."
Farber's main message to the Senate was vision and how to go about accomplishing goals. "I wait to see what your legacy will be," Farber said.
In other news, former Associated Business Students Organizations Council President Juan Carlos Mariano addressed the Senate to express, on behalf of ABSOC, opposition regarding the tanning salon.
"We're strongly opposed to such a measure," Mariano said. "We're preparing letters in the hopes to change minds."
Mariano said the salon doesn't cater to everyone and that resources could be better allocated.
"My presence here today is to inform you guys regarding this issue on behalf of ABSOC," Mariano said. The Senate refused to comment on the issue.
In a special order of business, Thomas Kenna, the senior director of Parking and Transportation Services, updated the Senate on parking issues. Kenna said his overall goal is to make parking a simple process because students have more important things to do.
"I'm the new parking director, not the enemy," Kenna said.
"We have about 300 more cars this year than last year," Kenna said. "It's been an interesting few weeks." Kenna announced the extended service of the off-campus shuttle, which travels to the Marina parking lot. The new hours are Mon. - Thurs. from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
"The hours are subject to change since parking seems to taper off the longer we get into a semester," Kenna said. "So far we haven't really seen riders past 7 p.m. - 7:15 p.m."
Kenna formerly held the same position at USC and regarding safety on campus, he pleaded with students to use good judgement.
He also addressed breaking ground for parking structure three, a $27 million endeavor, in December or January.
Don Penrod, the general manager and CEO of the 49er Shops, Inc., updated the Senate on current construction operations and future planning.
"Our mission is to enhance and support the education process at CSULB," Penrod said. "We have a $2 million payroll and hire 500-600 students a year."
Penrod said construction on the Chart Room was a "project gone bad" and by Oct. 1 the contractors should be out, turning over the space to the school. He said new bathrooms will then be constructed.
Penrod also mentioned plans to build another Starbucks, which will be located in the dining plaza and the possibility of a Second Street retail shop providing the community access to apparel and other university specific merchandise.
"It's way out there, but I think it's coming," Penrod said. "We're working with real estate owners and trying to come to an agreement. It may happen in six months, a year or two years, it depends on finding a landlord."

ASI Senate stalled on parking plague

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er Thursday, Sept. 13.

The woes of campus parking plague those brave enough to attempt it, but the Associated Students, Inc. Senate was made more aware that the challenge continues into the night and is, according to some students who spoke up at Wednesday's meeting, a safety issue.
At the beginning of Wednesday's Senate meeting, political science and economics double-major Christopher Chavez gave a passionate speech urging the Senate to create some resolution within the near future that could aid students by extending the hours of the campus shuttle services.
"We're all aware of the situation with parking, and due to my classes starting rather late, I have to park in the Marina parking lot," Chavez said. "That's acceptable. However, there's a slight problem with the fact that everyday I usually get out of school at 9:15 p.m. - four hours after the shuttle drop-offs are done."
The 20-year-old said he's forced to take a bus, bum a ride from a friend or walk to his car, which is located at Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway, because the shuttle's last drop-off is at 5 p.m.
"Not only is that an inconvenience, but it's also a safety concern," Chavez said. "I don't really think the shuttle should run late for me. But for other students, maybe the shuttle could extend its hours to at least 7:30 p.m."
No immediate comments were made from any of the senators in response to Chavez's concerns.
Mike Hostetler, associate vice president for Student Services, said, "I personally wouldn't want to walk all that way."
Hostetler also said the campus, although waiting for a final number, has overshot its goal by possibly reaching a population of 37,000 students this semester.
"If the walkways seem more crowded and there are less seats in your classroom, you're right," Hostetler said. "When this happens at a university, I think we need to hear stories like [Chavez's] and respond. I admire what [Chavez] said."
Senior English education major Marisol Diaz said safety should be a priority on campus and students shouldn't have to pay for it.
"I always take classes at night and I believe safety is an issue," Diaz said. "I think it would be great if the shuttle operated later."
After the meeting, in response to the student pleas, ASI Senate Chairwoman Lucy Montano said, "My next step with this issue would be to contact the director of Parking and Transportation to receive an update and see what's going on and find out why parking is so hectic."
Along with the parking issue, Hostetler also announced he is searching for help in understanding the student representatives' view regarding academic technology on campus. He said that the university has not "ridden the wave of technology," but is trying to catch up.
"The university will work hard this year on developing a strategic plan concerning technology," Hostetler said. "A very small group has been selected to start meeting and talking about the plan."
The meeting also dealt with appointing Sen. Ruben Cordova to the chair senate audit committee and Shanna Tyson as academic senator, although she was not in attendance Wednesday.
Montano said she thinks the students who want to be involved with ASI are serious, but sometimes they have restricted time schedules.
"Maybe we don't enforce showing up at the meetings enough, but they usually have good reasons," Montano said. "Sometimes I worry though."

Student senate rings in new school year

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er September 6, 2007.

The Associated Students, Inc. Senate kicked off the school year with an address from Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander and several new appointments at its first meeting Wednesday.
After Alexander delivered the invocation, he said, "It's wonderful to see you and feel the energy of the campus - it comes to life over night. There's something about the fall on a college campus, especially our campus. It rejuvenates everybody - our faculty, our staff, the alumni and the new people coming to our campus. Good luck this year and I look forward to working with all of you."
For new Senate Chairwoman Lucy Montano, the experience was nerve-wracking.
"I'm just glad everyone showed up," the liberal studies major said. "All of my senators support me and realize this is my first time."
The meeting focused on confirming new positions including the secretary for campus diversity relations in which Stephen Abanise took control.
"I was born in Ife, Nigeria, and I came to the States when I was six years old and two years after my parents arrived," Abanise said. "I want to promote diversity and create dialogue between students."
Abanise, a communications major, first attended Cal State Fullerton, but later decided to transfer to CSULB.
The Senate appointed Jeffrey Tuck as the government recruitment and training officer.
"I've held this position before and I know there's a lot of room for improvement," Tuck said. "It seems like people are excited at the beginning of the meetings and then they lose interest."
Tuck also said meetings should get to the point and stay short enough to keep people interested.
"Beach team members need to get involved more," he said.
Two representatives for the Board of Control were also appointed. Sen. John Alfonso and Sen. John Blowers received the position, with Alfonso receiving the most votes and earning him the chairman pro-tempore position.
Confirmed by the Senate for the chief of staff position, James Davis will lead the ASI president's cabinet.
"I've been an active student since 2001," Davis said. "This is a great opportunity. This position is new to me, but I can see myself filling this position."
First on Davis' agenda is a revitalization of the president's cabinet.
"I also want to get involved in city affairs and academic affairs and technology," Davis said.
Some senators said they were upset that he left his previous position as senator for the College of Engineering to try something else, but Davis seemed fully supported.
Senator from the College of Engineering Alexandra Cortez said, "I feel that my college will be underrepresented now that (Davis) resigned from his position."
College of Liberal Arts Sen. Raul Preciado said, "I didn't really like how he moved from senator to this new position, but if anyone can do it (Davis) is the person."
Senator-at-Large Erin Swetland said, "This position requires a lot of time and although I'm disappointed in another vacant seat, I know (Davis) is qualified and I know he'll do a good job."
Alissa Menhadji was appointed secretary of city affairs. Avis Atkins is the new student orientation commissioner and Jasmine Winfield was appointed for the sports and spirits commissioner.
University representative Jeane Caveness announced a change in Regulation 9, Section C regarding non-commercial solicitation.
"Although people are allowed to come on campus to express their views, the change involves the area in which they do it," Caveness said.
"The people may not stand within 50 feet of any university building where instruction or other activities are present."

Journalists Visit LBCC

Published in the beachcomber newspaper Aug. 3, 2007.

Russian journalists visited the Liberal Arts Campus of Long Beach City College Friday, July 27 to learn more about American journalism in a college setting and to share their experiences with a developing free press and the traces of oppression lingering back home.
Translator Olga Powell, facilitator Maria Shtilmark and co-chair of Long Beach-Sochi Sister City Association Richard Madeira accompanied the four female journalists Elena Dorofeeva, Natalia Kostitsina, Natalia Sevets-Ermolina and Valeria Stepanova into the Viking newsroom for a tour and discussion.
"We have come to see how things are done here and to learn more about democracy," Shtilmark said in a greeting with LBCC president Eloy Oakley.
The journalists are part of the Open World program, officially established by Congress in October 2001, and are here, according to www.openworld.gov, to see first hand American democracy and civil society.
Madeira said, "This delegation is called 'Women in Leadership' with an emphasis in journalism. We're trying to bring women together in international business."
Madeira also said Open World has 60-100 delegations a year.
The ten day visit was filled with activity, including a stop at the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Cerritos library, KPFK radio station in Los Angeles, the port of Long Beach, Global Green U.S.A. (the U.S. branch of Mikhail Gorbachev's Green Cross Organization), and a visit with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez's senior aid Patrick Rodriguez who just returned from Iraq as a soldier.
Madeira said, "The discussion about Iraq was very insightful for the women; he was sincere and honest."
Congressional money, through Open World, paid the expenses for the trip and the women were picked at the American Council in Moscow.
According to Madeira, Open World reached out to the Long Beach-Sochi Sister City Association because it had already established a relationship with Russia and wanted help in finding delegates to participate in the program.
On July 4, Sochi won the bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics beating out seven other cities.
Oakley said, "This is a great program, especially in these days when the countries seem to be drifting farther apart."
Oakley asked the journalists before he departed the meeting, "Since the program is about learning democracy, do you feel Russia is leaning more to democracy and what can we do to help?"
Through the interpreter Kostitsina replied, "A lot of people believe we have an idea of American democracy and that is how America treats Iraq. People say we don't need American type of democracy, we need our own type of democracy."

Evergreen memories

RAGING WATERS: Snoqualmie River in Washington State hurls water down the rocky 270-foot cliff known as Snoqualmie Falls. The water fall is 100 feet higher than Niagra Falls and is a spectacular site for the 1.5 million visitors a year.
John Synco/Viking

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in Aug. 2007.

SEATTLE -- Someone once told me the state of Washington was God's country and I never truly understood his sentiment until I had my chance to visit in June and witness the poetic truth threaded within the state's atmosphere.
The descent into Sea-Tac airport proved extraordinary. It was 6:45 p.m. on June 10 and I was happy to be alive, but the first glimpse of Washington seemed to play tricks on my naked eyes.
The view was polarized. The colors in a dim sky fought through the haze and produced vibrant scenery.
Finally, the sweeping right turn over downtown Seattle left me wide-eyed and inspired. I immediately recognized the Space Needle and turned to point it out, but my girlfriend Tricia had already spotted it.
Sea-Tac airport mirrors LAX and everyone around us seemed panicked and frenzied, but we calmly made our way out to the curb and were picked up by Tricia's aunt Julie.
We stopped at her house in Renton, near the Southern tip of Lake Washington, packed up some camping gear and immediately made our way to Lake Kachess, roughly 45 minutes away. Julie's boyfriend Clark was at the helm.
On the outskirts of Lake Kachess, free camping is available. Anyone can find an open area with a fire pit encompassed by large rocks and set up a camp.
We pulled along the side of a dirt road and found an inlet with a fire already ablaze. Tricia's cousins, Billy and Kari, were waiting for us along with some of their close friends.
We spent two nights eating and drinking in a light sprinkle and towered by huge pines. One night I found myself slowly strolling down a dirt road around 4 a.m. warming my insides with whiskey. I was surrounded by the silhouettes of brush and trees, and off in the distance I could see the dim artificial light spitting from Tricia's flashlight as she discussed life and family with her aunt, both drunk enough to fall, but pro enough not to. Trillions of stars littered the black sky and at that moment "God's country" rang in my ears.
The next leg of our trip brought us east to Ellensburg where we visited the co-owner of the Red Horse Drive-in restaurant. Laurie Crosset treated us to an all-American lunch. I recommend the 1937 Henway for those people who love hamburgers layered with fried eggs.
The Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle is a must-see. Although crowds hoard space, plenty of sites are worth the squeeze.
The air-born salmon at the fish markets, the dreadlocked doughnut-hole salesmen, the street musicians and even fellow tourists are all complimentary attractions.
We also found ourselves indulging in everything chowder, salmon chowder, lobster chowder and of course clam chowder. Duke's restaurant on Alki Beach in West Seattle was my favorite. Along with Blue Moon beer garnished with a healthy slice from an orange, the lobster chowder treated my palate to a savory existence. Duke's multi-sea critter potpie was also emblematic of chewing pure happiness.
With so many sites to see, one week only got us so far. Other highlights included the rage of Snoqualmie Falls, the trout fishing on Sammamish city's Pine Lake, Bill Speidel's Underground Tour and the beautiful ferry ride through the San Juan Islands with Friday Harbor being an unforgettable stop.
I'm eager to return because I must admit, Washington, that's God's country.

HPV vaccine helps youth

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in Aug. 2007.

Bill proposed to issue Gardasil to 7th grade females.

Human Papillomavirus is running rampant throughout the U.S. and according to the California Department of Health Services, currently 20 million men and women are infected and over half of the sexually active population will develop genital infections in their life time.
Assembly Bill 16, authored by Ed Hernandez, D, of West Covina, requires all females in California to be vaccinated for the infections before moving on to 7th grade. According to www.legalinfo.ca.gov, the bill was amended June 5.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site states the vaccine Gardasil, a product patented by Merck & Co., Inc. is designed to protect sexually inactive females, ages 9 to 26, from four types of Human Papillomavirus.
The four types make up 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts, according to the disease control Web site.
LBCC student who didn't want to be named said, "I think the Gardasil vaccination should be mandatory because it protects women or girls, I've had two of the three shots now and the worst part is the wait for the injection. I don't do well with needles. But it isn't painful or anything."
LBCC life science teacher Jennifer Musick said, "The Gardasil vaccine is a wonderful medical advancement and I think it should be mandatory."
Musick also said the controversy surrounding the vaccine is about young girls or women and an injection that rids the body of a sexually transmitted disease.
"We already give the Hepatitis B vaccine and that deals with a sexually transmitted disease. There was no change in sexual behavior because of it," Musick said.
"The idea girls are going to think sex is suddenly OK is faulty logic. Just because we have a mandatory seat belt law doesn't mean people are going to drive crazy."
The California health services Web site also reveals the virus consists of more than 100 strains of diseases.
Thirty strains are believed to be sexually transmitted and are divided into low-risk and high-risk types. Low-risk types cause warts and high-risk types cause cancer.

Business major Kristen Anna said, "I'd leave the vaccination decision up to the parents. They should research it really well and talk it over with family members."

According to Merck & Co Inc., the vaccination should be injected three times, either in the upper arm or upper thigh, over a six-month period.
The administration of the vaccine will cost about $360, not including doctor's fees, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Traditional Values Coalition Executive Director Andrea Lafferty wrote on the coalition Web site, www.traditionalvalues.org, that her group is calling upon the Department of Justice to investigate the behind-the-scenes scheming Merck has done to influence the votes of state legislators to push mandates of the drug on young girls and women.
The coalition Web site also states that Ben Lopez, a Traditional Values Coalition California lobbyist, testified against Assembly Bill 16 on March 13 and declared the postponement a victory for parents and young girls.

Driver looks back on tipsy-turvy low point

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

Alone, dazed, drunk, the neighbors cautiously creeping closer, the mess, the crash, Long Beach Police, fire truck, tow truck, ambulance, grocery store, the blood spilling out of his mouth and there, in the clamored parking lot, stood LBCC drafting student Kelly Armstrong, taking it all in and realizing his ignorant mistake.
"I was trashed and shouldn't have been driving," Armstrong said about his DUI arrest in 2000. "I received two charges that night, one for driving drunk and one for driving drunk while only 16 years old."
Now 22, Armstrong said the Summer before senior year was one big party and one party in particular led him down this path.
"There was a keg and I drove my friend to this party in my recently acquired 1977 Chevy Camero," Armstrong said. "To this date it was probably the craziest party I've been to. The beer was flowing, I remember falling into a pool and when the keg ran out, we decided to leave."
About 12:30 a.m., Armstrong and his friend ditched the party and decided to grab some food.
"I remember thinking I was fine to drive, but I also didn't want to be that guy who said he couldn't drive because he was drunk," Armstrong said. "I was trying to impress my friends, I was trying to be cool."
After successfully performing a 180-degree burnout, exiting a Wendy's drive-through and nearly missing parked cars, Armstrong began experimenting with skids and peel-outs in water patches throughout a shopping center parking lot.
"We were having fun, talking, eating French fries and I started to go faster," Armstrong said. "It was like I couldn't take my foot off the gas and then I lost control of a skid and crashed into a pillar of a Bristol Farms grocery store. We hit hard and I smashed my face against the steering wheel. I remember my friend freaking out, then running away. I couldn't move the car and I couldn't get the keys out."
Armstrong failed the sobriety tests and was taken to the hospital.
"At the hospital, the cops handcuffed me to the bed while a doctor checked the cut in my mouth. Afterward, at the police station, they took a mug shot and finger-printed me, then they threw me in a drunk-tank until my mom picked me up three hours later. She was furious and whacked me in the head."
Armstrong said he was forced to pay roughly $1,000 and complete 40 hours of community service. Also, his license was suspended for a year and 2 points marked his driving record.
According to Long Beach Police statistics, DUI arrests slowly climbed from 684 arrests in 2004 to 863 arrests in 2006. Also in 2006, 319 pedestrians were hit by drunk drivers, 233 injury hit-and-runs occurred and 193 bicycles were struck.
Lt. Julie Prior of LBCC Police said, "The district has not had any issues with drunk driving in the campus community."
Armstrong is soberly driving his rebuilt Camero again and said he's learned from his mistakes.
"I had to fix the car," Armstrong said. "I felt like I had to redeem myself."

Gun Class reinstated for Spring semester

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

After a six-year absence and a cancellation threat on the first day, the firearms class, Adjus62AB, is underway and allowing students the chance to properly take hold of a gun and fire.
"I don't think anybody should be allowed to take a class on shooting guns unless there is a background check first," psychology major Ralena Bass said Monday, Jan. 22. "Or the classes should only allow students who are wanting to be police officers or detectives."
The cancellation confusion occurred Thursday Jan. 18 at the beginning of class and students were being turned away as they showed up. Soon after, a sergeant from the Long Beach Police Academy cleared up the dilemma by informing Public Services department head Grant Boyer that the class will continue as scheduled.
"Their remodeling one of the finest shooting ranges in California, but the class will work out," Boyer said. "I just want everyone to have a positive experience."
The Edward "Pops" Davenport combat range and firearms training facility at the Long Beach Police Academy is 3-6 weeks behind schedule. Boyer said the range is named after the late Davenport, former range master and a member of the special weapons team.
In the meantime, students armed with .38 caliber Smith and Wesson guns will have target practice on a shorter firing range near the classroom side of the academy.
"This class is designed to teach the basic fundamentals of shooting," Boyer said. "That includes grip, stance, breathing, trigger control and sight alignment."
Administration of justice major Brandon Zell said, "I'm taking this class to get a better understanding of gun safety."
Boyer said the course has been on hold for six years due to budget constraints and an absence of authorization from the school to employ two professors.
"Two professors costs the school more money," Boyer said. "I had to limit the course to 28 students because of a state mandate that only allows seven students for each instructor."
Boyer said, "Students learn just as much by observing and not just by shooting.
"In order to have 28 students, we must have 14 students shoot, while 14 observe," Boyer said.
Administration of justice major Fernando Chavez said, "I'm taking this class to help get into the Long Beach Police Academy and I don't want shooting to be a problem when I could be spending time studying something else."
The one-unit class is being taught by Officers Marc Cobb and Sean O' Rourke on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. and is located at the Long Beach Police Academy behind the Long Beach Town Center on Carson Street near the 605 freeway.
In related developments, the defensive tactics course, Adus61AD, taught by Officer Omar Martinez, has begun its second semester back after an absence of a few semesters, Boyer said.
"I was looking for a certified instructor to teach the course," Boyer said.
According to the syllabus, the course is designed for students to develop basic self-defense skills through the practice of various defensive tactic techniques.
"The class techniques are based on the Koga system, which all of Long Beach Police Department is trained with," Martinez said. "Robert Koga developed the system by combining his Aikido skills with other disciplines and now travels and teaches other law enforcement agencies."
The defensive tactics course meets at the Police Academy on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. For more information on Administration of Justice courses, students may call 938-4399.

Six extra bucks to spend

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007. Editorial shared with Jeremiah Rivera.

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome regarding college education may not be the intensity of a class or instruction, but just being able to financially support your desire for higher education.
Recently passed legislation has lightened the load on students all across Community Colleges in California. Tuition fees have dropped from last semester's $26 per unit to $20 per unit.
For people fresh out of high school and not familiar with Community College expenses, the changes may go unacknowledged; however to students returning, the decrease arrives as a financial break.
Although a $6 decrease per unit may seem somewhat futile to some, to others it comes as a sign of progress and state acknowledgment of tuition increases.
The advantages of a Community College education go beyond what some four-year universities have to offer. For example, some of our teachers also occupy positions at state universities and offer us the same curriculum as they would offer university students.
Since we have access to some of the four-year teachers, we receive some university education for a cheaper price.
Also, Community College classes tend to be smaller, allowing for more one-on-one instruction for students who seek it.
Although 56 percent of LBCC's 26,399 students qualified for the Board of Governors fee waiver last semester and were not personally affected by the cost of tuition, the tuition is a fixed fee and someone paid it: that someone being tax payers.
So this semester's $6 decrease is not only helping students paying for their own education, but also helping the tax-paying people of California.
Some may say that a lower tuition causes crowded campuses, but more importantly, a lower tuition allows for more opportunity and paves way for future success. According to the American Association of Community Colleges Web site, Community Colleges are an American invention, beginning with six Illinois students at Joliet Junior College in 1901, and are centers of educational opportunity.
LBCC, founded in 1927, offers 100 associate degrees, 89 career certificates and 92 certificates of completion. The college also allows students to pick from 1,052 courses and 2,734 class sections.
The tuition may have fluctuated over the years, but the quality and abundance of a Community College education has remained constant for more than a century and we want to thank all the teachers for their hard work.

President plans for structure

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007. Byline shared with Dana Salg.

Parking lot J at the LAC may receive a face-lift with the possibility of a parking structure in the next 3-5 years, LBCC President Eloy Oakley said during a press conference Thursday, March 1.
One of the biggest problems the college is facing is how the project will be funded. A measure, which voters approved in 2002, funds the current construction south of Carson Street and other projects.
"We may send a vote to the people for another bond measure to obtain the funds," Oakley said.
Oakley said the college's board knew a parking structure needed to be built at some point in time to accommodate LBCC's large number of students.
"We want it to happen," Oakley said. "But with each stall costing about $16,000, it's just a matter of getting the funds together."
Computer science major Jonathan Cortez said, "I was talking to my friend about how a parking structure should be built. I'm late to half of my classes because of the parking situation. It would help in those first days of a semester too."
Oakley said the structure would include 500 additional parking spaces and the cost for the project ranges from $8 million-$10 million.
"We are still in the very early stages of planning this project," Oakley said.
LBCC has lost 30 percent spending power for the current South Quad Complex and other projects. "Two years ago, a square foot cost $200 and now the price has risen to $450-$500," Oakley said. "That's about $40 million more than originally planned and that's the biggest challenge we are dealing with concerning construction."
Oakley said the South Quad Complex is slated to finish in Spring 2008.

Picketing disrupts Mas Iron

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

Union construction workers building LBCC's South Quad Complex walked off the job Thursday Jan. 25, when a short ironworker's union picket line developed in the morning on Lew Davis Street.
An ironworker representative, who didn't want to be named, said it's an un-said rule for union companies to walk off the job when they see a picket.
The picket at the LAC is to protest Mas Iron Co. hiring non-union employees. Mas Iron Co. is a subcontractor hired by the general contractor Taisei.
"Mas Iron is known for hiring non-union employees, paying a lower wage and letting employees work in un-safe conditions," the ironworker said. "We're here to make sure the non-union employees are working in fair conditions."
The ironworker said, "If a job goes on in Long Beach, local people should get the job and they should be union employees."
LBCC Interim Vice President of Administrative Services Gene Farrell said, "They're picketing because union workers are not being used, but union wages are being paid and there's no requirement to hire union employees."
The business agent for the local 433 Ironworkers, Piedmont Brown, said, "Basically, Mas Iron Co. is unfair to ironworkers. this job includes public money, it's a bond issue and Mas Iron Co. usually stays away from these types of jobs. An investigation needs to take place to find out how they got the low bid."
Brown also said 90 percent of employees working on the South Quad Complex are union and two different entrances now will be used for employees to enter the site. One entrance, along Lew Davis Street, will be for Taisei and other company employees, while the other entrance, in parking lot J near Taisei trailers, will be for Mas Iron Co. employees.
We'll be picketing only at the Mas iron Co. entrance," Brown said. "But if we find out that Mas Iron employees are entering through the other entrance, we'll start picketing all entrances. I'm not sure how long we'll be out there, but we're not going away until an agreement is met."
According to the Web site www.ironworkers.org, most union employed workers earn 34 percent more than no-union workers and unions gain health benefits, retirement plans, short-term disability benefits and vacation plans. Non-union workers are at the employer's discretion and usually not offered benefits. The Web site also explains that union workers are generally trained better and experience a lower turnover rate.
LBCC nursing major Tricia Vaught said, "It's confusing, if 90 percent of employees are union, then why aren't the other 10 percent? I feel like they're trying to pull something by hiring non-union, like trying to save a buck, but I don't quite understand all of it. There seems to be a lot of politics involved."
The 110,000-square-foot complex is expected to cost $36.6 million and is 10 percent finished, according to the LBCC Web site. The new building will house classrooms for the creative arts and applied sciences, history, political science, public service departments and the president's and administrative offices.

Accident delays students

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

Two cars collided at the intersection of Clark Avenue and Carson Street near the LAC about 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 12.
A Long Beach Police traffic unit arrived and handled the situation while campus police assisted. Police diverted traffic traveling south on Clark to east on Carson for a short period of time until the debris was cleaned up and the two cars, a white four-door Ford Focus and a gray Ford Escort, were rigged to a tow truck and carted off.
"It was just a traffic accident with minor injuries," Officer David Fritz said. "There were no students involved."
The Focus sustained front-end damage while the Escort was damaged on the rear, passenger side and front end.
"Campus police will usually handle traffic accidents occurring around campus or on campus," Lt. Julie Prior said. "In major intersections, usually motor units or beat units will handle them."

Smoking restrictions still a burning issue

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

State Sen. Jenny Oropeza D-Carson, introduced two bills on Dec. 4, which, if passed, will restrict people from smoking in a vehicle containing children younger than 18 and establish a $250 fine for smoking at a state beach or within a state park.
According to Oropeza's Senate bill regarding the smoking of cigarettes at a state beach or park, the bill would establish a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
LBCC liberal arts major Lilia Ramos said, "I'm not really against smoking, but I hate how they dispose of them on the ground, especially at the beach when I roll on to one, or when my dog picks one up."
LBCC board policy 7002, adopted in 1983 and revised in 2001, states that smoking is prohibited inside all buildings, enclosed facilities and all outdoor instructional and sports areas. The policy also states that smoking is prohibited within 50 feet of any access doorway.
Mechanical engineer major Candace Carlson said, "I think smoking restrictions are ridiculous. I've been told to step 50 feet away from a building before, but that's stupid because people can still smell it. It's just another reason for people to complain about something."
Assembly Bill 846 states that people smoking around a main exit, entrance or operable window must remain 20 feet away, but AB 846 does not eliminate the authority of California Community College campuses to enforce additional rules regarding smoking and tobacco control.
"It is the vice president of Administrative Services who is responsible for administering this board policy," Executive Director of Public Affairs and Marketing Chi-Chung Keung said. "The Board of Trustees has taken a more aggressive stance on smoking on campus and the government code and AB 846 allow for this action."
Photography major Ramae Edwartz said, "I've had people tell me that it's bad for me, but I don't care what other people think. Smoking shouldn't be banned everywhere."

Prescription abuse on the rise by teens

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

Marijuana and cocaine use is declining among teens, but prescription drug abuse is on the rise.
In a report by U.S. drug czar and Policy Director John P. Walters, prescription drugs are the second most commonly used drugs among teens.
The report, titled Teens and Prescription drugs: An Analysis of Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat, also reveals that drugs such as OxyCotin and Vicodin are the most commonly abused drugs and one-third of all new abusers in 2005 were ages 12-17.
The report states that girls are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than boys. Adolescents, more than young adults, are more likely to become dependent. Also, the majority of teens using the products are getting them easily and for free.
Teens using prescription drugs to get high can suffer from addiction, strokes, seizures, comas and death, the report explained.
LBCC psychology major Jack Bazz said, "It's a pattern of most fads. If kids are abusing prescription drugs, then it's the parents fault."
LBCC Police Lt. Julie Prior said, "We are not aware of nor have there been any reports to us regarding prescription drug abuse in the campus community."
For more information, students may go to www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov and the full report released by Walters may be found at www.mediacampaign.org/teens.

Journalists can keep a secret

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

Jailed reporter finds out federal law fails to protect him.

I don't have to tell anyone anything, but I'll ask a lot of questions, I'll dig, I'll research and I'll hope for a truthful answer by the end.
I realize a non-journalist may perceive the action as selfish or uncooperative in certain situations, maybe even disruptive in a court of law, but a journalist has a job to obtain facts and attempt to print real truth, not tattletale.
I may see or hear things other don't. I may gain the confidence of an individual, which in turn, may lead me down a path of valuable and to some, unobtainable, information. The information may then allow me to inform the public regarding important issues.
Journalists have many jobs, faces and personalities, but journalism is not a branch of law enforcement, a fat arm swinging from a fatter body.
Journalists shouldn't be prosecuted for keeping sources secret.
Journalist Josh Wolf, 24, is sitting in a cell for committing journalism. Wolf holds the U.S. record for the longest amount of time a journalist has spent in jail.
Going on 8 months, Wolf is being held in "coercive custody" at the Federal Detention Facility in Dublin, Calif. A San Francisco protest against the G8 Summit in 2005 changed his life.
While shooting footage for his Web site, an officer was struck in the head and injured somewhere in the chaos, but Wolf said the action is absent from his tape. Wolf said he was filming an officer choking a protester when the officer in question was struck.
Wolf refused to comply with a subpoena ordering him to release the tape and testify. Wolf says all the newsworthy content was posted online the evening of the incident, but the government wants the entire tape and for him to identify individuals marching with masks.
More information may be found at www.joshwolf.net.
A shield law protects journalists from being forced to reveal sources and although California enforces a shield law for journalists, the federal government fails to recognize one and Wolf's case was deemed federal.
I believe the federal government needs to completely uphold the First Amendment and offer journalists protection to perform an accurate job.
The government needs to realize and accept the idea journalists are watchdogs and vital to a free nation.
If the public knew journalists were forced to give up any and all information to the police, nobody would talk to us, investigative journalism would wither and all news media would be completely unreliable. The nation's citizens would be forced to believe our country rules the world and all evangelicals are sane. No other side would be reported.
Opponents criticize journalists who harbor information for potential criminals, but journalists must have the option to offer confidentiality, otherwise a story may never be told and I believe in enlightenment before justice.
The federal government, with all the technology available, shouldn't have to rely on a reporter's notebook to apprehend thugs.

'Tomb of Jesus' debated

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

Jesus had sex.
According to the new documentary produced by James Cameron the idea may not be so far-fetched.
"The Lost Tomb of Jesus" aired Sunday, March 4 on the Discovery channel and discussed the possibility that the family tomb of Jesus was found in Talpiot, Jerusalem. In the beginning credits of the documentary, viewers were asked to judge the evidence for themselves and were informed nothing has really been agreed on.
The documentary opened with an opinionated explanation of the aftermath of Jesus' death. It reported that the dead body of Jesus was wrapped in a shroud and laid to rest inside a tomb. The tomb was sealed and Jesus' body was left to decompose. Later, disciples returned to place the bones in a limestone ossuary and then placed the ossuary into a niche. Finally, the tomb was sealed again.
In 1980, construction blasts revealed a tomb and construction halted until archaeologists came in and cleared the tomb of all historical artifacts. Ten ossuaries were found and carted off to the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum to be catalogued and the bones were prepared for reburial. Then they were placed in the Israel Antiquities Authority warehouse.
LBCC department head of Anthropology, Adrian Novotny said, "It's not a verification of Christianity. It's a 2000 year-old quest focused on discrediting Christianity."
According to writer and director Simcha Jacobovici, the 10 ossuaries were inspected and found to be about 2000 years old. Six ossuaries had inscriptions revealing the names of the owners. One ossuary was noticed in 1980 saying Yeshua bar Yosef, an Aramaic translation of Jesus son of Joseph. All the names found related to the gospels and although most of the names were common during that period, Jacobovici suggests all the names found in one tomb are strong evidence the tomb belongs to Jesus' family.
Jacobovici and his team found one Hebrew inscription reading Maria and suggested it belonged to Mary, Jesus' mother. A Greek inscription revealed the name Mariamene e Mara and this could be Mary Magdalene, Jesus' wife, according to a mitochondrial DNA test conducted at the Paleo-DNA lab at Lake Head University in Ontario Canada.
They also discovered a Hebrew inscription reading Matia, or Matthew; guessed to be related to the Virgin Mary. Another Hebrew inscription, Yose, was discovered and suggested to be one of four brothers of Jesus.
Finally, the sixth inscription in Aramaic read Yehuda bar Yeshua, or in English, Judah son of Jesus. The ossuary was small enough to house the bones of a child and is speculated to be the son of Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
According to the Web site www.jesusfamilytomb.com, the world's leading scholars in the field have authenticated every inscription and the inscriptions appear in L.Y. Rahmani's "A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collection of the State of Israel" published by the Israel Antiquities Authority.
On June 25, 2005 the tomb was rediscovered under an oddly placed slab of concrete on the grounds of an apartment building. After a brief investigation into the tomb by Jacobovici, the Antiquities Authority ordered it to be re-sealed.
A Republican from Florida and host of "Scarborough Country," Joe Scarborough said on "Real Time with Bill Maher," "Right now there is a lot of money in ticking off Christians. People are trying to ruin 2000 years of Christian doctrine."
Bar-Ilan University professor Amos Kloner told the Jerusalem Post on Feb. 25 he originally supervised the work in 1980 and published his findings. Kloner said the story is great for television, but it's impossible and it's nonsense. Kloner also explained the names were common and the fact they were found together has no significance. Also, Kloner said there is no likelihood Jesus and his relatives owned a family tomb.
They were a Galilee family with no ties in Jerusalem.

AIDS prevention education to hit the Himalayas

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2007.

Cody Campbell, 24, is double-majoring in philosophy and literature, but an intense nine-month break beginning in November is approaching, which will put academics on hold and thrust him into an uncertain situation educating kids about AIDS in a small rural village in Nepal.
After three intense interviews, Campbell was chosen to represent Students Partnership Worldwide, a non-profit organization based in Great Britain.
"I'll try to build programs for children and try to incorporate some basic government health features with small rural villages lacking in services and education," Campbell said in a recent interview at the LAC. "I want to create self-sustaining programs, programs that will stay when I leave."
An interest in philosophy, literature, travel and human aid took hold of his life and adhered.
"I wanted to volunteer and travel so I researched non-profit organizations," Campbell said. "I checked out the Peace Corps, but I wanted something more hands-on."
Campbell chose the partnerships group because it deals with AIDS and allows a solitary experience educating the young in other countries.
"I'll be by myself, so it will have a personal impact," Campbell said. "Someone from Nepal will be there helping me understand the language and culture, but I'll be the only Westerner."
Although uncertain of his final destination, Campbell said he would, aside from focusing on AIDS education, address environmental and agricultural issues.
"I don't know the village yet, but I'll be in Kathmandu for one month," Campbell said. "I'll receive extensive training along with language classes. I've started practicing already."
Campbell said he might end up in the eastern part of Nepal, close to India, in a village lacking electricity and running water.
"People are dying from diarrhea because of bad drinking water," Campbell said. "I'll also talk about sexism and hopefully empower the women. They're confined in Nepal."
Campbell was accepted to the organization after a background check was initiated, letters of recommendation were received and paper-work was signed stating he would abstain from sex, drugs and alcohol.
"I have to raise $6,400," Campbell said. "The partnership program helps with ideas or contacts, but I'm supposed to raise the money."
So far, Campbell has conducted one fundraiser at B.J.'s on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore in Long Beach on March 27.
"It was a really good turn out," Campbell said. "I raised $200."
B.J.'s manager Sheldon White said, "I've known Cody for awhile and B.J.'s does a lot of fundraisers for various organizations, so I asked my general manager if we could help out."
B.J. server Joey Rota said, "Cody is the perfect guy to go. I've known him two years and he has the perfect attitude and gets along with everyone he meets."
Campbell said, "My friends think I'm a hippy. I don't drive and I ride my skateboard. Some friends are excited, but others are making fun of me, in a good way. They all support me."
More information on the program may be found at www.spw.org. Campbell may be reached at codycampbell_lb@hotmail.com