Collegian HUNDREDS TURN OUT FOR LACC GALA
LACC WEATHER FORECAST WEDNESDAY
72/57
THURSDAY
74/58
FRIDAY
74/61
SATURDAY
74/62
SUNDAY
73/60
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 Volume 177 Number 2
NEWS BRIEFS ComPileD By yoseliN Flores
Los Angeles Press Club to Host Marijuana Debate L.A. Times culture and politics columnist Robin Abcarian questions both sides of the controversial Proposition 64 debate. Will marijuana be a cash crop for L.A. and increase revenue for our schools, or will passage of the measure lead to increased drug use and DUI’s? Be an informed voter. Join the discussion at the L.A. Press Club on Thursday, Oct. 13. Reception starts at 6:30 p.m. Debate starts at 7 p.m., at 4773 Hollywood Blvd., L.A., 90027. The event and parking are free to the public, but RSVP is a must. For more information, email info@lapressclub.org.
CSUN Representative to Visit Campus Students interested in transferring to California State University Northridge will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a CSUN representative. Appointments can be made at the Transfer Center, AD 109. For more information, call (323) 9534000, ext. 2215.
Free Flu Shots Offered to City Students The Health and Wellness Center is providing free flu shots. Vaccines are given on a first come, first served basis Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Students must show a current student ID and class schedule.
Fall Classic Hiring Spree Returns to LACC City College is hosting its fourth annual Fall Classic Hiring Spree. The event is open to all members of the community and will take place on Friday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those interested in attending are advised to dress professionally and bring copies of their resume.
SEE PAGE 10
Los Angeles
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
Disabled Students: Campus Unsafe for Blind and the Visually Impaired
Four Los Angeles City College students with disabilities filed lawsuits against the LACCD this year within a four-month period between February and May. Three of the students in the lawsuit identified as visually impaired. The suits are filed separately through the Barbosa Group and claim the district violated their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Other charges in the lawsuit accuse the district of violating the California Educational Code and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. By CliNToN CameroN
M
ost students at Los Angeles City College take their access to clearly marked emergency routes, campus maps, classroom and building locations, readable textbooks and classroom handouts for granted. But for many of the visually impaired, getting around campus presents a challenge, especially amid the new construction projects. Access to basic instructional materials, textbooks and information from classroom lectures has also become a challenge for students with disabilities according
PHOTO BY ANWAR TORRES/COLLEGIAN
to lawsuits filed by Wail Alhidir, Yokashammel Dunn, Roy Payan, and Portia Mason. Alhidir walks past the sculpture in LACC’s Quad on a Wednesday afternoon. In one hand he carries a white cane. His attorney Patri-
cia Barbosa hangs on to his other arm as they discuss how millions of dollars have been spent on campus construction. Still, the school lacks signage in some buildings to help visually impaired students identify class-
By maTThew oliver
All actively enrolled students at LACC are eligible for Wolfram Mathematica and Alpha Pro free of charge. The software allows students to upload data and images for analysis. Students can install Mathematica and Alpha Pro by visiting http:// www.lacitycollege.edu/resource/ downloads/mathematica.html.
At least two students were left screaming when a man exposed himself and ejaculated onto a table on the third floor in the Martin Luther King Library on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Police report the man was wearing a black shirt with a white logo and dark colored shoes. He is 5’ 7” and weighs about 170 pounds. He was unshaven at the time of the incident. “I heard a woman screaming
Clinic Helps with CSU Admission Process
INDEX Opinion & Editorial News Election 2016 Campus Life Photo Focus
2-3 4 5 6-7 10
Alhidir’s suit accuses the district of violating more than a half -dozen California codes and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. SEE DISABLED STUDENTS PAGE 4
Campus Police Search for Indecent Exposure Suspect
Free Wolfram Mathematica and Alpha Pro Available to LACC Students
Students applying to a Cal State University for fall 2017 admission may attend an application clinic for a page-by-page review of the online application. Students who would like to participate can begin the application at csumentor.edu prior to the session, and should also bring a printed copy of their unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. The application clinic begins on Friday, Oct. 14 from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., and Monday, Oct. 17 from 3-4 p.m. at the Library Room, 123A. Students should RSVP by contacting the Transfer Center AD 109, (323) 953-4000, ext. 2215.
rooms. Physical barriers such as sandbags block walking paths on campus making travel an extra challenge for the blind. “We’ve done everything we’re supposed to,” Barbosa said. “That’s why we’re suing.”
PHOTO BY EVE MORENO/COLLEGIAN
CONSTRUCTION IMPROVES COLLEGE APPEARANCE, REMAINS INCOMPLETE By william Torres Renovation and construction are still a big part of the City landscape. Holmes Hall will be completed by the end of October. Student Services is slated for November. Construction is pending Da Vinci Hall. Funding for the project was due to a Bond measure the city voted on 15 years ago. The new construction is anticipated to greatly improve the col-
lege campus. Barbara Vasquez, the chair of the library department has been working in the MLK Library for eight years. There has been construction happening near the library during that time. “As far as the construction, I’m obviously frustrated like everyone else,” Vasquez said. “We all thought it was going to be done years ago.” Once the Metro issues are resolved, work will resume. It could
take weeks however, if not months to start the construction. “From my understanding for the last two or three years, one of the biggest holdups is the Metro, meaning the subway, not the bus, brings up the problem,” Vasquez said. Diana Johnson, a project director with Build LACCD is fully aware of the delays happening with the Red Line Station. SEE CONSTRUCTION PAGE 4
hysterically, that’s when I went to check it out,” said Bilawal Singh Thakar, a library assistant who was working and rushed up the stairs. He says he caught a glimpse of a black man wearing a beanie with a white phone pressed against his face walking briskly toward the exit. “I saw him leaving and the two girls in the room pointed him out,” Thakar said. “I was scared. You don’t know what to expect, he SEE INDECENT EXPOSURE PAGE 4
Piano of Jamaitis Goes Silent, but Legacy Begins By lavielle hiBBerT Al Jamaitis was a man of many wonders who was a prominent jazz pianist for the Jazz Horizons, and toured most of his life across the globe. He will be best remembered as the pianist for the dance department for 35 years at Los Angeles City College. He died mid August at the age of 60. In the ‘70s, he moved to California to work at the studios, according to retired dance professor Maria Reisch. She told the Collegian he was called upon to just “fill in” at City for the piano player on leave. At that time, he was playing at a church near LAX. Reisch said it was O.C. Smith’s church, which was called City of Angels. “I did nothing but play really
strictly the most hardcore gospel you’d ever heard, they would always say, ‘Hey man, the token’s here!,’ It was a ball,” Reisch said of her late co-worker by telephone to the Collegian. SEE AL JAMAITIS PAGE 4
4
NEWS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, October 12, 2016
SELECT CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO OFFER B.A.’S IN 2017 By Naomi JohNsoN California students will now be able to earn a bachelor’s degree at a community college beginning in 2017. According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), Senate Bill Number 850 proposes a bachelor’s degree pilot program for California community college districts. This bill has been in effect since Jan. 21, 2015. Fifteen colleges out of the 34 that applied will be permitted to participate in the pilot program. The 15 schools selected by the Board of Governors to participate in this program will need approval on their programs by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The pilot program’s must be up and running no later than the 2017-2018 academic year. The programs legislation will end by the 2022-2023 academic year. The program may be renewed based upon a review by legislative analysts. Senate Bill Number 850 requires the selected schools to offer a unique degree that is not available at the University of California or California State University levels. According to the CCCCO, 2.1 million students attend the 112 colleges in the state each year. Among the colleges selected for the pilot program are Santa Monica College, which will offer a bachelor’s degree program in interaction design, and West Los Angeles College, which will offer a bachelor’s in dental hygiene. “With thousands of jobs going unfilled in the design field, SMC’s Interaction Design Bachelor’s degree is one that will prepare students locally to meet the demands of today’s technology industry and keep California at the forefront of innovation and design,” said Ross Pollack, executive vice president at Lionsgate. Santa Monica City College’s interaction design program will host an information session Oct. 27 for
COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO GRANT BACHELOR’S DEGREES • • • • • • • •
West Los Angeles College - Dental Hygiene Santa Ana College - Occupational Studies Antelope Valley College - Airframe Manufacturing Tech. San Diego Mesa College - Health Information Management Bakersfield College - Industrial Automation Modesto Junior College - Respiratory Care Skyline College - Respiratory Therapy Feather River College - Equine Industry
students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the field. The college received letters of support from their community expressing the importance of bringing bachelor’s degree credentials to local community colleges. West Los Angeles College (WLAC) will offer a workshop on Nov. 18 to students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. In a letter of support written by Rachel Richards, the 2016 class dental hygiene president, she expressed her excitement over the benefits she and her classmates would gain with the passing of Senate Bill 850. “This opportunity is very exciting for me and my classmates,” Richards said. “The possibility of achieving a bachelor degree for the four year program that we are currently achieving now Associate of Science degrees for, will be advantageous as a bachelor degree will provide us opportunities for greater advancements in our career endeavors.” Offering four-year degrees at two-year colleges will result in a major decrease in tuition costs to earn a bachelor’s degree. The CCCCO estimates lower division coursework will cost $46 per unit and upper division coursework will cost $84 per unit. The estimated total cost to earn
• • • • • • •
MiraCosta College - Biomanufacturing Rio Hondo College - Automotive Tech. Foothill College - Dental Hygiene Santa Monica College - Interaction Design Crafton Hills College - Emergency Services and Allied Health Systems Shasta College - Health Information Management Cypress College - Mortuary Science
a bachelor’s degree at California community colleges is $10,000. Since graduating this past June, Richards started working in Manhattan Beach and continues to pursue her bachelor’s in dental hygiene at WLAC. She says she plans to enroll in the bachelor’s degree completion program and join former classmates that have already graduated with an A.S. in dental hygiene and want to go back and get their bachelor’s degrees. “Being able to complete my bachelor’s at WLAC will impact the future of many, as well as myself because we will be able to still work while finishing our bachelors in dental hygiene,” Richards said. “Completing our bachelors will increase our opportunity for advancement in our careers. We will also have the opportunity to be involved with research, be an educator, and be a more knowledgeable clinician.” Aside from the educational implications of these changes, Richards acknowledges the historical significance of bachelor’s degrees being offered at the community college level. “I think this is historic for not only West Los Angeles College, but the State of California and Community Colleges as well,” Richards said. “We are in a historic time and I look forward to being a part of it.”
JAMAITIS FROM PAGE 1
FRIENDS REMEMBER LATE PIANIST Jamaitis was an extremely popular piano player. Reisch says he played at the Playboy Mansion and Club. He also played at extravagant parties for extremely wealthy, well-known individuals. He even gave lessons to Oprah Winfrey, and toured with the late Donna Summer. In spring of 1983, he began working at Los Angeles City College. He was playing for tap, modern jazz, ballet and choreography
dance classes. His knowledge of music was extensive according to Reisch. Jamaitis helped set up the web sites in the dance department and kept them accurate. He also helped with the sound set up for the new Kinesiology Building. He retired in June of 2015, but he continued to perform with the Jazz Horizons and to fly out to play at various engagements. The Jazz Horizons performance
was scheduled for Sept. 16, 2016 at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, but was canceled after the longtime piano player died. His last performance with the Jazz Horizons was cut short by his death. Jamaitis leaves no survivors. A memorial for Jamaitis is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2016 at 11 a.m. It will be at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center that is located on 750 West Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster, CA 93534.
SCAN QR CODE TO VISIT OUR MULTIMEDIA WEBSITE AND SEE OUR COVERAGE OF THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND Or visit collegianwired.tumblr.com
INFO GRAPHIC BY CLAIRE BUSH/COLLEGIAN
PHOTO BY EVE MORENO/COLLEGIAN
CONSTRUCTION FROM PAGE 1
CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION WOES CONTINUE “Red Line construction is going on,” Johnson said. “It’s supposed to be completed by the end of October.” Katrina Lesada is a liberal arts major at LACC, and she is annoyed with all the construction happening on Vermont Avenue. “It’s a hassle to get through campus and through the Student Union with all these congested routes,” Katrina said. In the meantime, Barbara Vasquez is looking forward to the day when the construction around
the library is finally completed and a beautiful view can be seen from the second and third floors of the MLK Library. “I’m very much looking forward to it being open because I know it’s going to be so much more convenient for everyone coming in and out, another way to get to the Library because right now it’s a little difficult,” Vasquez said. According to Diana Johnson, construction adjacent to the Metro Red Line will be completed by the end
of this month. The paint in Holmes Hall is being retouched and it is in its final stages of completion. Da Vinci Hall will be the next building to undergo construction and won’t be finished for at least two years. “My mom and I visited the campus this past summer and I was not expecting a construction site,” said Jonathan H., a freshman majoring in art. “That was kind of surprising, but I’m glad it’s being done. LACC must have needed it.”
DISABLED STUDENTS FROM PAGE 1
DISABLED STUDENTS TAKE LEGAL ACTION Three of his peers join him in separate lawsuits accusing the district of not providing adequate materials and other accommodations to meet the needs of disabled students. Randy Anderson, dean of the Office of Special Services, several instructors, the Technology Department and the Martin Luther King Library are named as defendants in the lawsuit. “Right now, [with] all the construction and everything, there’s a lot of things that are in the way for blind students,” Barbosa said. “Wail actually ran into something that was protruding when he was walking because whether it was a construction sign or whether it was something else, he doesn’t know because he can’t see.” Portia Mason attends LACC with a goal of obtaining a certificate in drug and alcohol counseling and a bachelor’s degree in social work. She registered with the Office of Student Services (OSS) in the fall of 2015 to receive services for legally blind students. Her complaint filed on June 26 contains similar accusations to the suit filed by Alhidir. According to Mason’s complaint , she says she experiences longer walking times as the result of campus construction and claims Dean Anderson is unresponsive to her and other disabled students’ transportation needs. “Randy Anderson, the Dean of
Student Services, met disabled students and told them that the ADA did not ‘require’ Respondent to escort students in golf carts,” her lawsuit states. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) applies to colleges and universities that receive federal funding according to “Surviving an ADA Accessibility Audit: Best Practices for Policy Development and Compliance” by The National Association of College and Universitiy Attorneys. “These laws place educational institutions under a continuing obligation to improve campus accessibility and relocate programs, and this is independent of a request for accommodation,” the document says. “In addition, programs must be made accessible even if existing facilities cannot or need not be modified. For instance, where a classroom is not presently accessible, classes will generally need to be moved to an accessible location; students cannot be excluded from a program simply because the building at issue is inaccessible.” Dean Anderson agreed to meet with the Collegian, but could not talk about the specifics of any of the lawsuits as long as they are in litigation. Escort services continue as a courtesy of the sheriffs department according to Anderson. Cadets assigned to walk them
to their locations escort students who continue to use the services. Alhidir takes the lead in exhausting the complaints through the system at LACC. He claims to have gone from his department all the way to the vice-president before seeking the advice of a lawyer. Violating his civil rights by intimidation is one of the main complaints in his lawsuit. Dean Anderson explained the process of filing complaints. “If [students] have a complaint, it should go over to the center where they are out of,” Anderson said. “If it is specifically related to accommodations, that [complaint] comes to me.” Roy Payan filed his suit on May 25. His grievances extend beyond unobstructed access to campus walkways to unobstructed access to learning materials. According to his complaint, LACC staff failed to provide class materials and software for his math class. When he complained to Thelma Day, dean of the Mathematics Department, he says she told him she could not force a vendor to do anything concerning books. Payan says he has since felt retaliated against and intimidated after his complaint. “What [the district] is basically saying is ‘You don’t need a lawyer,’” Barbosa said. “‘Follow the internal complaint system of the school.’ Well, the internal complaint system of the school has no ending.”
INDECENT EXPOSURE FROM PAGE 1
FLASHER SPOTTED IN MLK LIBRARY could have pulled out a knife.” This isn’t the first time the library has seen the likes of the suspect; he exposed himself last June. The suspect was reported to be rummaging through the book stacks and acting erratically, then emerged from the book aisles and exposed himself once more. “We just don’t have that big of a staff on the weekends,” said Library Chair Barbara Vasquez. “I will say that this library has had less ‘incidents’ than the last library. The other one was like a cave; ev-
eryone had their own little spots. Now our library is more open and it has gone down a lot. It’s just we’re in a major city and you never know what’s going to happen.” Vasquez says the library was actually designed to host an extra patrol car in front, but does not currently have one posted due to the construction on northeast side campus. This poses a new problem for when the construction concludes; library officials are expecting higher foot traffic which calls for
more security. “I highly recommend that students put the number for the Sheriffs’ Department [323-6625276] in their phone,” said Deputy James McKain. “Possibly even starting with A so it’s at the top of the contact list. I urge students that if something doesn’t look right or feel right, don’t hesitate to give us a call. If you see something, say something.” Police say the suspect is still at large. Vasquez says he seems to favor the understaffed weekends.
Collegian CUB CLUB FESTIVITIES
LACC WEATHER FORECAST WEDNESDAY
75/60
THURSDAY
79/61
FRIDAY
73/60
SATURDAY
74/60
SUNDAY
71/55
Wednesday, October 26, 2016 Volume 177 Number 3
NEWS BRIEFS comPiled By yoselin FloRes
SEE PAGE 5
Los Angeles
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
Photo Focus: Washington, D.C.
Theater Academy Presents ‘Top Girls’ LACC Theater Academy presents “Top Girls,” a play written by Caryl Churchill and directed by Louie Piday. The show opens on Friday, Oct. 28 in the Caminito Theater with the first show at 8 p.m. Additional showtimes are: Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 5 with shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, seniors and veterans. General admission is $14. Tickets may be purchased online at theatreacademy.lacitycollege.edu.
There have been reports of drug paraphernalia discovered in the stairwell of the Sci-Tech Building at L.A. City College.
Explore Koreatown Through Words, Pictures
At least two faculty members reported seeing a small sheet of aluminum foil that can be used to smoke heroin.
Guest speakers Katherine Youngmee Kim and Ralph Ahn have been invited to City College to speak on the history of historic Koreatown. LACC’s book program will host the event that takes place on Oct. 26 at 12:30 p.m. The event is free and all are welcome.
By ReBecca KlinesmiTh
Transfer Opportunity, UC Berkeley Representative Visits Campus University of California Berkeley representatives will be in the Transfer Center located in the Admissions Building Room 109 on Monday, Oct. 31, from 9 to 11 a.m. Come meet one-on-one with representatives regarding academic majors and transfer opportunities. Walk-ins welcome. No appointment needed.
PHOTO BY SHANNON GODLY/COLLEGIAN
Students huddled in a cramped room at the Hyatt Sheraton hotel on a rainy afternoon where they viewed photos they shot for the Washington, D.C. Shoot Out. The theme of the contest was Washington D.C. and its people. Students were given two days to fulfill the assignment.
Los Angeles City College student Shannon Godly beat out a team of national competitors and was selected class favorite. In addition to the group contest, professional and Pulitzer prize-winning photographers will judge the photos. Winners of that selection will be determined in two weeks.
Learn Healthy Cooking Monthly cooking classes are now available to LACC staff and students. The classes will teach participants how to prepare healthy and delicious home-cooked meals while encouraging growth within the campus community. The premiere class on Thursday, Oct. 27 features baked goods pumpkin recipes. The class is from noon to 1:15 p.m. A $10 admission fee is required. To register, call (323) 9534000 ext. 2651.
The Life Skills Center assists students with the knowledge needed for a successful career, fulfilling relationship and a happier life through their Emotional Intelligence workshop. The workshop introduces students to interpersonal skills that will help them function and respond appropriately to socially stressful situations. The workshop will take place in the Student Union at the Cub Meeting Room on Oct. 27 from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Skills Center Teaches Winning Formula Students looking to improve their study skills can attend study habit workshops hosted by the Life Skills Center. The workshop teaches students how to improve their study habits and manage their time. The workshops take place in the Student Union Cub meeting room on Oct. 26 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
INDEX Opinion & Editorial Campus Life Election 2016 News Sports
DISABLED STUDENTS’ CONCERNS ABOUT ADA VIOLATIONS VARY Between February and May of this year, four Los Angeles City College students with disabilities filed lawsuits in California’s Superior Court against the Los Angeles City College District (LACCD). They accused the district of dozens of violations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Other students with disabilities have complaints about lack of accessibility but not all of them are suing the district. Sometimes their complaints have not exactly aligned with those who are suing, so they opt not to participate.
Sharpen Your Emotional Intelligence
2-3 4-5 6 7 8
Evidence of Drug Use on Campus May Be Isolated
By clinTon cameRon
P
ortia Mason’s lawsuit filed on June 16, mentions “LACC staff responsible for LACC website and library material” in her complaint. Mason claims that she and other visually impaired students have limited access to the computer software Job Access with Speech Program (JAWS.) The program has been essential for converting text into a readable format for the visually impaired and blind. “[The Martin Luther King Jr. Library] installed a test version of screen reader program (JAWS) on one of the computers that does not install the entire program or function with the library research program,” Mason’s lawsuit states. Child development major Marcellina Estrada has not joined the lawsuit. For her, access to textbooks and classroom materials has not been a problem. Materials remain readily available in the library and the Office of Special Services (OSS). “Actually for me, [Martin Luther King Jr. Library is] actually pretty good when I use it,” Estrada said. “The lady at the front desk helped me to find what I needed and they have computers that have JAWS on it for us ... So, that’s not a problem for me.”
Officers in the Sheriff ’s department responded to a phone call that came in at 1:18 p.m. on Sept. 26 about foil in a stairwell in the Sci Tech Building. According to the campus police wire someone went to investigate and found no evidence of a crime. Sheriff ’s called campus facilities to come clean it up, but sources say the aluminum foil was still there several hours later. Learning Skills Chair, Maryanne Desvignes says the sidewalk near City College is littered with syringes and human feces. The learning skills department is located on the north end of campus near the intersections of Heliotrope and Willowbrook. “They invited these Sheriffs to our last department chair meeting and the Sheriff explained to us that there are only three of them to cover this whole campus, and that’s what is creating the problem,” Desvignes said. “We don’t have sufficient staffing to monitor this kind of stuff because not only did we find needles and paraphernalia…. I was literally stepping on needles.” SEE DRUG USE PAGE 7
Mailing It In: CITIZENS HAVE OPTION TO VOTE BY MAIL By RichaRd Tzul
PHOTO BY JOSHUA JAMES/COLLEGIAN
Doors are clearly marked with symbols and words on the campus at California State University Fullerton. Top 50 Disabled Friendly Schools Estrada is satisfied with the technology available. She praised the OSS for their help converting her math book to Microsoft Word. “They changed the symbols because JAWS doesn’t read the sym-
bols,” Estrada said. “So, instead of having a times sign, they actually wrote out the word ‘time.’” A visit to the Martin Luther King Library by the Collegian found five
computers on the second floor with the full version of the program JAWS installed. SEE LAWSUIT PAGE 7
Americans will have a chance to make their voices heard by going to the polls on Nov. 8, 2016. Some voters say there are obstacles to voting at a polling location. There is a solution: voting by mail. Many vote by mail for convenience, but others do it out of necessity. Maria Gonzales is a first year psychology major. Her aunt will be voting by mail since she broke her ankle just a few days ago. “She wants to rest at home and can’t move around too much or too quickly,” Gonzales said. “Despite her condition she still wants her voice to be heard.” Some say they are skeptical about the efficacy of voting by mail. The Los Feliz Post Office is one location that will be circulating mail-in ballots. An employee there paused from his work to speak with the Collegian. He did not give his name. “In my time here, we haven’t had any issues with voters’ mail SEE VOTING PAGE 7
NEWS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, October 26, 2016 DISABLED STUDENTS FROM PAGE 1
7
DRUGS FROM PAGE 1
DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ON CAMPUS CAUSES CONCERN
PHOTO BY CLAUDIO POMMIER/COLLEGIAN
LAWSUIT AGAINST LACCD PUSHES FORWARD Library staff informed the Collegian that four more computers were available to visually impaired and blind students taking classes in room 123 on the first floor. An additional three computers with full versions of the program were available on the second floor. Other programs available for the visually impaired and blind were available on the computers. They included Zoomtext for low vision students and Kurzweil that works with a scanner to reproduce text. Angel Macias, an instructional assistant for the library helps students using the computers on the second floor. “OSS students have priority,”
Macias said. “And everyone complies with that.” Library Chairperson Barbara Vasquez was unaware of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library’s name being mentioned in a lawsuit. According to Vasquez, there should be no test versions of any of the programs installed on the library computers. “I was not aware that we ever did anything in the test mode,” Vasquez said. “I will verify with my computer techs and our IT department and if it turns out to be true, I will make sure that it gets changed.” The limited ability to navigate around campus during construction is a consistent complaint among
those who are suing and those who are not. With construction projects running beyond deadline, the issue has become exasperated. “It’s not OK around there at all,” Marcellina said. “All that construction that’s going on, it’s too hard for visually impaired students.” According to the Department of Justice, an additional complaint process can be brought to the attention of the department as well as the Department of Education under title II of the ADA. This can occur even if a lawsuit is pending or in litigation. “The department considers every complaint filed in determining whether and where to open an
investigation,” said Department of Justice Deputy Press Secretary David Jacobs. “Where and the extent to which ADA issues raised in a complaint are already being litigated in a private lawsuit may inform that determination.” There are no recent records of City College students filing a complaint with the Department of Justice and the Department of Education concerning ADA violations. No set date has been determined for any of the lawsuits brought forward by the Barbosa Group. Whether students file lawsuits or not, construction continues to provide roadblocks for students with disabilities.
Los Angeles City College is an open campus which makes it easy for homeless people to walk about. The college has had several incidents involving transients harassing faculty and students including a man earlier this month who exposed himself in the MLK Library. Assistant Professor of Biology Sean Phommasaysy saw the paraphernalia on Sept. 26 when he arrived on campus one morning. “I came into work, saw that and I took a step back. I thought ‘ wow, no one noticed that? ” Phommasaysy said. Phommasaysy says the issue is with the local transients and not with students. “I’m saddened by it. Am I surprised? Yes and no, but the school is surrounded by neighborhoods that are not the best, “ he said. “However, it’s still something you don’t expect to see at school. What I’m hoping is that there’s more security, maybe building a fence to keep non-students out, because I really don’t think this is a student issue.” The Sheriff’s department located on campus currently has one deputy and two to three “security officers” on any given shift. According to one source located at the office, it’s a budget issue, and it’s up to the school administration to request more money for more security. By contrast, the Los Angeles Valley College website, their sheriff’s office on campus is composed of two deputies, 13 security officers, and nine cadets that are staffed seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Geology Department Chair Michael Farrell says security is good on campus, and says the paraphernalia found last month was an isolated incident in his building. “I understand with the literally thousands of people on campus everyday there’s gonna be some people that are doing awful things,” Farrell said. “And what I don’t want are the students who are here, who are figuring out if this is the campus for them to think that this characterizes the campus.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANONYMOUS SOURCE
Crime statistics from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Community College Bureau for the area around L.A. City College from 20112013 shows there were 10 drug-related arrests on campus and zero off campus for that period. There is no reporting on the site after 2013. Lavielle Hibbert contributed to this story.
DRUG ABUSE WORLDWIDE
substance abuse disorders related to prescrip-
heroin SOURCE: DRUGABUSE.ORG
LOCAL COLLEGES RATED TOP DISABLED-FRIENDLY SCHOOLS By Joshua James and VicToRia PeRez CSU Fullerton and the University of Southern California are on a top-50 list of colleges and universities in the United States that offer the best environments for students with disabilities. CollegeChoice.net created a ranking of campuses that exceed the minimum requirements for students with learning or physical disabilities. Many college campuses evaluate their facilities, programs and curriculum to comply with the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Indicators of accommodations include wheel chair ramps and elevators in all multi-floor buildings. Eighty-six percent of universities enroll and educate students with disabilities according to CollegeChoice.net, but less than a quarter of those polled say they offer those students assistance “to a major extent.” College campuses that made the top-50 list have made greater access for the disabled a priority. The physical, social, and academic needs of students with dis-
U.S. Colleges with Best Environments for Disabled Students COLLEGE
SCORE
RANK
University of Michigan
100
1
USC
97.5
2
Northeastern University
94.09
3
Xavier University
93.68
4
University of Texas
93.44
5
College of Charleston
92.30
6
University of Connecticut
92.16
7
Cal. State University - Fullerton
88/60
12
abilities are a priority at the successful programs. The majority of the campuses that made the list offer special needs focused centers with professional staff that are open every weekday, like the Disability Support Services Office at Cal State Fullerton (CSUF). Thirty-eight thousand students attend CSUF, which is number 12 on the top 50 list. “One reason our school made the list is due to every building having wheel accessible doors,” said Darlene Serrano, an administrative assistant in the Disability Support Services Office at Cal
State Fullerton. Some colleges learned the hard way. In 2007, a group called Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America sued the University of Michigan for failing to provide disabled access to a football stadium. Years later, the University of Michigan is number one for providing the best accommodations for students with disabilities. A small group of students say they are fed up with conditions and lack of access at L.A. City College. Four students have filed a lawsuit against the L.A. Community College District and LACC for
failure to comply with the American with Disabilities Act. A new student who enrolled at LACC this semester says there are obstacles on campus and he needs assistance. “I was walking in the middle of the Quad and ran into glass and hurt my knee,” said a visually impaired student who identified himself as Albert. “There need to be more faculty, help and more support because there are a lot of us.” Ida Bengstberg, Ashia Hobbs, Angel Johnson, Michelle Khaiphanhliem and Diana Martinez contributed to this story.
MAILING IT IN FROM PAGE 1
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS MAY VOTE BY MAIL being delayed or lost,” he said. “At least none that I’m aware of.” According to him the November elections don’t actually have much of an impact on the Post Office. He said there was no special department that handles voters’ mail. “It might get a little busier, but it’s nothing significant,” the employee said. “It comes in and out with everything else, we treat it like regular mail.”
City student Raymond Vinluan has not decided on a major, but did make a decision about how to vote. He chose the vote by mail option for the primaries and plans on using it again for the general election in November. “I’m so busy with work and school,” Vinluan said. “It’s convenient for me to mail it in, as opposed to waking up early and driving to my polling place.”
Amy Alvarado is a nursing major in her third year at LACC. She plans on voting but certainly not by mail. “I feel like there’s a risk of it getting lost,” she said. “It would be better to turn in my ballot in person.” Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan was not available to comment on voting by mail for the general election. The Last day to apply for a vote-
by-mail ballot by mail is November 1, 2016. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the county elections office no later than three days after Election Day. If you are unsure whether the vote-by-mail ballot will arrive in time if mailed, bring it to any polling place in the county between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
CONSIGNMENT | BUY | SELL | TRADE 4605 SANTA MONICA BLVD. L.A. CA 90027 FOLLOW: @CLASSICERA_LA #CELA