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A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Volume 116 - Issue 10
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May 16, 2012
ʻAs if there was anyone more deservingʼ Professor Richard Follett is named teacher of the year
Monica Velasquez
mvelasquez.roundupnews@gmail.com
All eyes are focused on a tall man with a teal shirt and a welcoming smile. With only weeks left of school, all the chairs in Village 8409A are full. He stands before his students, reminding them of what will be necessary for their English final, and available for any question his students may have. Dr. Richard Follett has been chosen to be the 2012 Pierce College Emeriti Faculty Professor of the Year. He shares a lot of his life with his students. “I lay out my biases, the fact that I’m a Christian, an elder in my church, the fact that I’m gay [and] the fact that I was a drum major for the Michigan Marching Band,” Follett said. This style of teaching has made Follett a popular teacher on campus. “My composition courses usually fill up on the first day of registration, and my literature courses usually within the first few days, [which] demonstrates the students’ perception of the quality I’m offering,” Follett said. He is an openly gay professor. “I [come] out openly in class, which I do the first day,” Follett said. This is Follett’s fourth award over the 28 years that he has taught at Pierce. He received the Board of Trustees Pierce College Outstanding Faculty Award in 1988, The Gerald C. Hayward Excellence in Education Award for the 1997-1998 school year and was the first recipient of the
Associated Students Organization Outstanding Teacher Award in 2007. Follett has removed his name from nominations in the past, but this year things have changed. The guidelines for the professor of the year award indicate that, to qualify, a professor must be currently teaching. “I’m thinking of retirement in June 2013 or 2014,” Follett said. This would make him ineligible for the award in the future. Follett displays all of his awards in Ava Weintraub his office, but other #1 teacher: Pierce College 2011-2012 Professor of the Year Dr. Richard Follet. He has been teaching at Pierce since 1984 and has won this award things also make four times previously. Follet said. But admits that they have a very in that sense.” Follett reviled that he was gay. his office more He provides his students with his Even though Ross had Follett in “I was even more taken back different style of teaching. personable. “[Follett is] much more relaxed the pass, she still thinks about him home telephone number for their use Pictures of him singing and because there was no reaction,” while she sits on his bench in the S. seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 toward his sexuality,” Justice said. colorful rainbow signs are reminders Justice said. Follet continues to teach in a calm Mark Taper Foundation Life Science p.m. despite of his colleagues’ advice, Justice completed his doctorate at that he has a life outside of teaching. Follet said. Botanic Garden. He remembers the year when Indiana University of Pennsylvania, manner today. With all the commitments that The bench was dedicated to Follett His class is very honest and Shelley Gerstl, then Dean of according to Follett. Follett has, he still portrays a sense by his family. His dissertation is entitled: As nothing is off limits. Admissions and Records, put a limit “All I wanted for Christmas was a of calmness. Topics such as marijuana, a Gay Man,I: How One Literacy on waiting lists. “He is constantly a very steady Over 200 hopeful students, of Worker’s Coming Out Changed a patriotism, and partying until 2 a.m. bench,” Follett said. Mia Wood, an assistant professor person, and that makes for a very were all brought up during a recent which 147 were on the wait list, were Campus Community. of philosophy, shares the same office stable environment for students and It focuses on Pierce College, as lecture. looking to add a class that was meant colleagues,” Wood said. Kathleen Ross. a 53-year-old space with Follett. well as Follett, as pioneers when it for 35. Follett’s life has effected his style “We share a wall,” Wood said. business law major, took Follet’s One of his students, Dr. Clifton comes to sexuality. Wood, a self proclaimed “neat of teaching, and has inspired students “I think he’s a pioneer, and I doubt English 28, and remembers a few Justice, credits Follett as his mentor. freak,” describes Follett as tidy, and through out the years. Justice first met Follett in the Fall you will see the likes of him again,” specifics from the class. Wood congratulates Follett, but is “Students are not allowed to recognizes his commitment to his of 1999 while taking Follett’s English Justice said. not surprised by the award. As a professor at California State swear, they’re not allowed to be students. class. “As if there was anyone more “I have had a standard policy of After 20 years of being out of University Channel Island, Justice disruptive in the class,” she said. “I school, Justice was taken back when still keeps in contact with his mentor. wish more professors were like him, keeping all office hours religiously,” deserving,” Wood said.
President ponders possible plans for Pierce Michaia Hernandez
mhernandez.roundupnews@gmail.com
Kathleen Burke-Kelly didn’t have too much trouble paying for her education when she was attending Glendale Community College. “I don’t remember college being a huge expense,” she said. “The economy was still pretty good then. My parents paid zero dollars for my tuition.” Dr. Burke-Kelly, Pierce College’s current president, acknowledges that it isn’t the same situation anymore after state support for community colleges has declined, consecutive cuts to the higher education budget has become almost routine, and tuition fees have steadily increased. “You’re all clearly paying more than I was,” she said. “It’s as bad as I’ve ever seen. I didn’t think it would go this long.” After this semester ends, BurkeKelly would have served the Pierce campus for two years. As the leader of the Pierce campus, the pressure to deal with the immediate effects of the economic decline is significant. “[The administrators] have a tremendous amount of responsibility
Jose Romero
President: Pierce College president Kathleen Burke-Kelly sits in the Presidentʼs office on May 14. because we want to do what’s best for the students,” she said. “We want to give them all the choices at their disposal.” This is one of the strengths Burke-Kelly possesses as a leader,
Weekly Weather Wed. May 16
Courtesy of Sean Clemmons
according to Tom Rosdahl, Academic Senate president. “She has a very different leadership style from past presidents,” he said. “She’s willing to make decisions but would rather
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committees make recommendations to her.” However, college presidents in reality don’t have much control over the situation, according to BurkeKelly.
“We have very little power. We’re basically custodial in role, and we’re really moving forward recommendations as a college as a whole,” she said. “We keep an eye on the broader things. It’s really [the internal committees] that direct and advise decisions.” When Burke-Kelly was first appointed college president by the Los Angeles Community College District, she aimed to “bring more awards, degrees and certificates,” according to a Roundup article published May 2010. “The school has a strong history of dedication to student success and achievement,” she said. Because of detrimental effects of the state’s fiscal situation on community colleges, however, Burke-Kelly faced difficulty in meeting her goal. For instance, each semester brings fewer classes. “Statistically, the number [of degrees] is lower than that two years ago, but I really don’t have anything to compare it to,” she said. She admits that the dire situation hasn’t been easy for her. “We have to do [all of our planning] with less money,” she said. “It’s not easy. I very rarely get to say ‘yes’ to anything.”
-Inside-
Cheryl Smith, executive assistant to the office of the president, still feels that Burke-Kelly is doing her best with what she has. “She’s doing her best to keep all the departments in mind [when deciding how to spread district budget cuts]. It’s not an easy job,” Smith, who has been working with Burke-Kelly since she started at Pierce, said. One of Burke-Kelly’s main focuses during her term is preparing for the upcoming accreditation visit to the campus in 2013. The administration was able to create additional committees to assist with achieving standards for accreditation, according to Burke-Kelly. “This year is a planning year. Everything we’re working on is not done yet,” she said. “Next year is going to be our implementation year.” Still, the less-than-ideal situation surrounding community colleges doesn’t deter her from serving the campus. She currently has a threeyear contract with the district, but her term can be extended by the LACCD. “This is my career. I do believe I have something to offer in terms of leadership,” she said. “It would be nice to be here [when things get better]. It’d be nice to say ‘yes’ for a change.”
Did you know?
See page 3 for your spring There is a book drive until May 23 at the ASO office near the 2012 final’s schedule Great Hall.