ROUNDUP UP therounduponline.net
Woodland Hills, California
A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Volume 113 - Issue 3
October 6, 2010
Student Store losing revenue on books James Hermon/ Roundup Dustin Johnson/ Roundup
T
he Pierce College Academic Senate approved a task force at a recent meeting that will investigate possible solutions to increasing the revenue of textbooks sold on campus, as well as the revenue lost from the lack of book sales. While the Pierce College Student Store is not the only student service affected by budget cuts, it seems to be the most apparent. According to the a recent Pierce College Budget Commitee minutes, the statements from the book store’s 2009-2010 fiscal year show a loss of $25,039. In anticipation of a loss in the college general fund, Pierce also transferred an additional $253,000 from the Bookstore’s ending balance, creating a loss of $278,039. There has been a 40 percent increase in textbook prices over the last four years, according to Larry Kraus, associate vice president of Enterprise. Currently, the book store’s prices are approximately 10 percent higher than publishers’, and over 20 percent higher than prices that may be found online. Part of the high prices can be attributed to frequent releases of new editions, which leaves students no choice but to purchase a new copy of a textbook “When a student can’t afford a textbook, this really hurts their chance of success,” said Kraus. Many students have found that they can pay less for textbooks if they purchase them online. “I buy my books online because I can rent them; I don’t think I’ve ever bought all my books from the Bookstore since I’ve been a student at Pierce,” said Fenela Pahed, a psychology major. Renting books allows students to pay a fraction of the actual cost
of their books in exchange for the obligation of returning them at the end of the semester. Other students are also finding cheaper books at outside vendors. “I get the majority of my books from Woodland Textbooks because they are cheaper,” said Aurial Granger, an undecided major. However, not all students are purchasing their books online or off-campus. Some still prefer the convenience of buying textbooks on campus.
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When a student can’t afford a textbook, this really hurts their chance of success -Larry Kraus Associate Vice President of Enterprise --------------------Prince Young, a sociology major, still prefers to purchase his textbooks from the book store. “It’s very easy to buy them at the book store on campus,” said Young. “The only problem with buying from the book store is managing to come up with the money to purchase them. “I spent over $400 on textbooks this semester,” he added. The book store has also lost a great deal of its revenue due to the drastic number of class courses that have been cut, according to Bruce Rosky, associated vice president of administrative services. “The college now has fewer students and courses offered, which reflects the fewer books sold in the book store,” concluded Rosky.
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Transfer made easy New laws change CSU admission requirements
Madison Bell/ Roundup Kat Mabry/ Roundup Bryan Melara / Roundup Applause and cheers echoed through the Campus Center at Los Angeles Mission College as two suited personal security guards escorted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on stage to sign two historic bills Monday. In ceremonious fashion, approximately 350 audience members consisting of students, faculty, state legislators and supporters gathered to witness the signing of Senate Bill 1440 and Assembly Bill 2302. SB 1440, amended by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) guarantees students a sure transfer to any California State University after obtaining an associates degree from any California Community College. The two bills will save community college students, taxpayers and schools approximately $150 million by eliminating students completing unnecessary coursework before transferring. “I have a little bit of my own experience with community colleges,” said Schwarzenegger during the signing ceremony. “When I came to California I enrolled at Santa Monica Community College.” SB 1440 gives students a clear path to transferring by setting up direct guidelines for UD/ Roundup CSU’s to agree upon, according SIGNING: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs SB 1440 at Los Angeles Mission College Monday. to Schwarzenegger. “It’s not just an articulation agreement with one community college to another CSU,” said Jack Scott, degree that encompasses transfer reform,” said a bachelor’S degree even more possible by chancellor of California Community Colleges. McCaslin. “Should each college decide their enforcing a widespread transfer curriculum, “It means a system-wide transfer.” own degree, or should there be one statewide according to Charles B. Reed, chancellor of However, faculty members are skeptical on degree?” CSU. how legislation plans are getting all CCC’s to AB 2302, amended by Assemblymember “We have to make those four-year degrees agree upon one set standard. Paul Fong (D-Cupertino), follows legislation easier to obtain, and not by lowering the “They’re making this huge assumption that SB 1440. It sets the groundwork for CCCs standards, but by terminating the bureaucratic all CCCs will agree on what this degree will and CSUs to work together collaboratively roadblocks that are standing in our students’ look like,” said Elizabeth Atondo, articulation to influence the UC system to participate in way,” said Schwarzenegger at the signing officer. simplifying admission for transfer students. ceremony. For now CCCs are waiting on the statewide “This is about students,” said Scott. “This These bills will save students money by esacademic senate to guide them in implementa- is about making it easier and more efficient tablishing a specific amount of units that stution of the bill, according to Joy McCaslin, and not having roadblocks that stand in your dents will need to take in order to avoid taking vice president of Student Services. way when you have that desire to get that unnecessary courses, according to Reed. “Statewide, (between) 120 community bachelor’s degree.” colleges, one issue is that it calls for a new AA SB 1440 and AB 2302 make obtaining SEE NEW BILLS ON PAGE #3
Feb. 19, 2010 SB 1440 introduced
Aug. 25, 2010 SB 1440 passes Senate
Aug. 23, 2010 SB 1440 passes Assembly
Oct. 3, 2010 SB 1440 passed
Sept. 29, 2010 Governor approves SB 1440
AB 2302
UD / Roundup
OVERSTOCKED: Textbooks line the shelves of the Pierce College Student Store as students are finding cheaper alternatives to buying books on campus.
SB 1440
—BILL TIMELINES— Feb. 19, 2010 AB 2302 introduced
Aug. 26, 2010 AB 2302 passes Assembly
Aug. 25, 2010 AB 2302 passes Senate
Oct. 3, 2010 AB 2302 passed
Sept. 29, 2010 Governor approves AB 2302
Mystery fire in Village restroom stirs curiosity Sienna Jackson/ Roundup A large boom caused by a trashcan fire rocked the men’s bathroom of the Village 8200 building Friday, according to sheriffs and Los Angeles Fire Department officials. The fire occurred at roughly 12:25 p.m. while classes were in session, but no injuries have been reported. The fire alarm on the outer wall of Village 8300 began to sound moments later, causing many of the classes adjacent to the restroom to evacuate. “We didn’t see flames, the plastic bag inside the
trashcan was melted,” said Justin Ramos, a security officer who was called to the scene in response to the alarm. When officers arrived on the scene, water flooded from the bathroom’s automatic sprinkler system. Neither sheriffs nor LAFD officials know what caused the fire. However, it is alleged by officials that a lit cigarette is the most likely explanation. “We won’t ever know what was in there unless somebody comes forward,” said Mike Shultz, another sheriff security officer. Jennifer Penton, a full-time professor of cinema,
was in the middle of teaching when the alarm sounded, and her class evacuated from Village 8300. One of her students, Melissa Bruner, a child development major, smelled the burning plastic. “It was this really nasty smell, like rubber or gas,” said Bruner. A campus plumber shut off the sprinklers around 12:40 p.m., and the alarm stopped ringing 10 minutes later. Amber-Rose Kelly / Roundup
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FIRE: LAFD and sheriff security officers investigate a fire in a Village restroom on Friday.