San Bernardino Press MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015 - FEBRUARY 22, 2015
sanbernardinopress.com
Marchers Take on Forced Teen Prostitution By VICKIE Vértiz
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t is common knowledge that, in the evenings, Base Line Road in San Bernardino comes alive with women working in the sex industry. Some are there because they choose to, some are there because they are forced to by their circumstances, and some are forced against their will. Many cities, including San Bernardino, have tried to eliminate prostitution on their streets by jailing the women and sometimes their pimps or johns. What most cities have found is that those tactics do not work to solve the long-term issue. According to the San Bernardino Sun, what brought the problem to the surface last week was when Ray Culberson found out that a 13-year-old student was in his office and was being pulled out of school and into a life of prostitution. Culberson acted immediately and decided he needed to bring
raised in the extensive reports that assess areas of institutional mission and effectiveness, student learning programs and services, resources (including human resources, physical resources, technology and financial resources) and leadership and governance. The CommisPlease see page 2
Please see page 3
berson told the paper. He is the director of youth services for Please see page 4
Community College District Colleges Receive Warning Status San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) and Crafton Hills College (CHC) have both received the results of their multi-year Accreditation site visit and reporting cycle from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). Both schools have been placed on “warning” status and must submit
follow-up reports addressing the areas of concern by Mar. 15, 2016. Accrediting Team visits will follow the filing of the follow-up reports. There is no change in either institution’s accreditation standing as a result of the warning; the ACCJC provides the additional reporting time for the Colleges to address issues
Residents Urged to Give Input at Community Roadshows Residents who want a say in the future of San Bernardino are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming Community Roadshows, where they will have a chance to craft the City’s vision. Five Community Roadshows are being held at various schools this month to give residents an opportunity to voice concerns and take an active role in developing solutions that will create a stronger, vibrant San Bernardino. The San Bernardino City Unified School District is partnering with the City to host the roadshows because it has a vested interest in seeing San Bernardino thrive, said Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden. As San Bernardino retools and works to emerge from bankruptcy, it is important that our school district support our City’s efforts to make life better for all its residents, he said. “A safer, more prosperous city means greater opportunities for our students to succeed,” said Marsden, who lives in San Bernardino. “That’s why everyone who lives here needs to be a part of this. It’s time to come together for the sake of our children.” Every Community Roadshow will provide participants an opportunity to dialogue with others who care about turning San Bernardino around. The goal is to use that vital input to develop a strategic plan that will help San Bernardino
cap/ An arrest made in Operation Cross Country in San Bernardino on June 19, 2014. The task force focused on underage victims of prostitution and human trafficking - Photo by John Valenzuela/The Sun, courtesy Flickr
awareness to what the neighborhood takes for granted. “Everyone knows what happens on Base Line,” Cul-
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Colleges Receive Warning Status Continued from page 1
sion also found that all previous recommendations made to both Colleges had been resolved. The ACCJC letters received explain that “When warning is issued as a result of the institution’s comprehensive external review of educational quality and instructional effectiveness, reaffirmation is delayed, but the accredited status of the institution continues during the period of warning.” Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “While I am disappointed with these results, this is not an unusual recommendation. Additionally, progress has already been made in many of the areas noted since last year's visit. We must work together and continue to move our Colleges and our District forward for the benefit of our students. In addition both Colleges received accolades and praise for many
successful programs and services provided to students.” Concerns raised by the ACCJC and the visiting teams relate to each College and to the District office and services provided by the centralized District Office. Both letters and team reports are available on the respective College websites (ValleyCollege.edu and CraftonHills.edu) on their site accreditation pages. At Crafton Hills College, the issues involved issues related to the completion of student learning outcomes; an update to its Distance Education plan; that a policy be adopted to address when programs are eliminated or significantly changed so that students are not negatively impacted by such changes; that regularly scheduled performance evaluations across all employee groups be adhered to and that the College catalog
Change lives. Make wishes come true.
publication and mission statement processes be reviewed. The ACCJC recommendation for SBVC was that the College must assess all program student learning outcomes on a regular basis as part of a sustainable cycle of continuous quality improvement, and that the College should review specific portions of its catalog production. In addition, the ACCJC addressed issues raised by a third party complainant and responses from the College and the District as to the qualifications of SBVC President Gloria Fisher, finding that “the President does not have a degree from a College recognized by a U.S. accrediting agency as is required for institutional compliance with ACCJC Accrediting Standards”. SBVC President Fisher has agreed to pursue the required degree(s), per the ACCJC’s recommen-
dation. Recommendations from the ACCJC regarding the District Office and the Board of Trustees were on both letters from the ACCJC and relate to the development of policies in a participative process; that the Human Resources services be improved; and that the Resource Allocation Model be transparent and inclusive and supported by a comprehensive Enrollment Management Plan and a Human Resource/ Staffing Plan, integrated with other programs and plans and broadly communicated. Chancellor Baron said, “I am very optimistic that we can address these issues and prepare a successful report for the ACCJC by the March, 2016 deadline. I look forward to a positive resolution and reaffirmation of our accreditation for another six years.”
San Bernardino Library Presents “Voice of King” in Celebration of Black History Month
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he San Bernardino Public Library is presenting “The Voice of King” in recognition of Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Dennis Morgan Brown will re-enact the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., present the historical events of the time, and will be joined by a three piece band performing music of the era. Dr. Brown has presented this program all across the country and has spoken before the State Assembly, the Senate at the State Capitol, the Mayor’s mansion in Los Angeles, and at the Martin Luther King Center for Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia. This free program will
– Courtesy photo
be located in the Bing Wong Auditorium at the Feldheym Library at 555 West Sixth St., San Bernardino. Contact Linda Adams Yeh at (909) 381-8238 or visit www. sbpl.org for more information.
FEBRUARY 16, 2015 - FEBRUARY 22, 2015 | 3
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Black powder ignites in the firing pan of a flintlock musket at a Napoleonic war reenactment in Romsey, Hampshire - Photo by Anguskirk, courtesy of Flickr
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) Advanced Hunter Education Program and the Apple Valley Gun Club will jointly offer a black powder (muzzleloader) hunting clinic on Saturday, Feb. 28. The clinic will be held at the Apple Valley Gun Club in Victorville. Designed for all skill levels, the clinic will include both lecture and live-fire exercises. The lecture portion will include a short history of black powder shooting, different styles of black powder rifles used today, how to safely load and shoot a black powder rifle, laws and regulations pertaining to black powder hunting and strategies for hunting with black powder firearms. The live-fire exercises will include target shooting with firearms. The clinic is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $45. Youths 16 years and younger are free, but must be accompanied by adult. Space is limited and participants must register in advance here. After registering, participants will receive an email with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring. CDFW's Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment. An additional $5 range fee must be paid to the Safety First Shooting Association on the day of the clinic. Victorville is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles in southwestern San Bernardino County.
Community Roadshows Continued from page 1
emerge from bankruptcy, said San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis. “We feel it’s important to engage the community in not only recognizing and setting priorities but also to follow through and make sure the plan is implemented,” said Mayor Davis. Residents of all ages will have an opportunity to get involved in developing a better San Bernardino. A student art contest is also being organized around the theme We Love Our City, We Love Our Schools. Spanish-language interpretation will be available. Free childcare will be provided
for children ages 3 to 12. Roadshows are being held at 6 p.m. as follows: February 18, Golden Valley Middle School, 3800 North Waterman Avenue; February 25, Indian Springs High School, 650 North Del Rosa Drive; and February 26, Arrowview Middle School, 2299 North G Street. Residents who are not able to participate by attending a roadshow can watch the event live on the Inland Empire Media Group website at www.iemediagroup.org. For more information about the Community Roadshows, please visit www.sbcusd.com/weloveourcity.
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Marchers Take on Forced Prostitution Continued from page 1
the San Bernardino City Unified School District. “So how come we let it happen?” He marched with 40 other people, including school employees, local residents, and city officials along Base Line to alert drivers and walkers about the big elephant in the room. The Sun said marchers carried signs that read: “Free the girls,” “Not for sale,” “Put the brakes on human trafficking.” They walked along the sidewalk from E Street to Waterman Avenue and back again, said the paper. While some drivers honked to show solidarity, others blame the police for the ongoing practice. Culberson said that while police have a role in eliminating prostitution, the people who need to care more are the public. “We need to all say we [are] not going to allow this,” he told the Sun. School board member Abigail Medina said the matter is urgent and requires compassion. “We need to stop judging them, and start trying to help them,” Medina told the paper. While it was not clear whether young people were
also at the march, other officials who marched included school board member Margaret Hill, City Clerk Gigi Hanna, and Councilwoman Virginia Marquez. However, youth services specialists were on hand at the march to answer concerns. Elena Alcevedo, one such specialist, works for the Youth Services Department which monitors and enforced school attendance. She said that their office deals with the problem fairly often in their students, an alarming issue on its own. Alcevedo added that her office will “provide information and resources to any parents worried their child might be in danger.” This issue seems like a great opportunity to work with young people of all genders, their parents, and the community to create a network of support that would prevent the circumstances from happening in the first place. Working with young people to create an advisory board to find out how and why teens are being pulled in to this work would shed light on prevention measures. Treating young people as think partners and not just clients would be a great step in the right direction.
Big Bear Snow Play Honors Those With a Badge Active Law Enforcement, Fire and Military with ID get Two-for-One Snow Play
Snow-tubing on Big Bear
Active law enforcement, fire and military personnel can enjoy two-for-one snow play lift tickets every Wednesday in February and March during Big Bear Snow Play’s Badge Days. Just show proper ID each Wednesday through Mar. 25 and get a free snow play allday pass with the purchase of a regular all-day pass. It’s a $30 value. Big Bear Snow Play, once a ski area known as Rebel Ridge, features the longest snow tubing in Southern California. The area’s powerful fan guns continue to make snow at every opportunity to ensure inner tubing excitement through Easter. Getting to the top of all the snow is easy thanks to Big Bear Snow Play’s Magic Carpet uphill lifts. It eliminates uphill climbs so parents and kids don’t tire out, and it allows them to save all their energy to enjoy as many downhill runs as they want. Snow gets groomed nightly at Big Bear Snow Play to ensure
– Courtesy photo
the best possible conditions for guests who enjoy evenly-spread corduroy for fast-paced downhill adventures. When it’s time for a winter warm-up, head inside the heated base lodge for family-priced snack bar and video games. Big Bear Snow Play is open daily for inner tubing from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. All-day passes include tube rental and Magic Carpet lift for $30. Every Wednesday in February and March law enforcement, fire and military personnel with identification receive a free allday pass with the purchase of a regular all-day pass. Guests are free to come and go as they want or bring their own lunch and there’s plenty of paved parking. Big Bear Snow Play is on Big Bear Blvd. next to Motel 6. Call (909) 585-0075 or visit www.bigbearsnowplay.com. For all there is to see and do in beautiful Big Bear Lake, make lodging reservations or request a free Visitors Guide, log on to www.bigbear.com or call (800) 424-4232. #LiveItUpBigBear.