ROUND OUNDUP www.theroundupnews.com
Woodland Hills, California
A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Volume 117 - Issue 1
September 19, 2012
One copy free, each additional copy 50¢
Prop. 30 debate
heats up
kperez.roundupnews@gmail.com
Professors weigh in on pivotal legislation as 2012 election season begins nmcnamara.roundupnews@gmail.com
Budget cuts at Pierce College may be looming in upcoming years surrounding the governor’s tax initiative in the upcoming state ballot resulting in more class cuts and possibly accreditation issues according to Pierce professors. The governor’s tax initiative, Proposition 30, is a proposed tax plan that would implement a 0.25 percent sales tax as well as a 3 to 5 percent raise on income tax on individuals making over $250,000 a year and couples mak-
ing over $500,000 a year, Sociology professor Dr. James McKeever said. The money from these taxes would go towards K-12 education, the California State University system, the University of California system, the California Community College system, as well as funding to public safety, the police departments and fire departments. The Sociology professor expressed his support for the initiative citing that passing it would not hurt anyone. “These people won’t even notice the money is gone,” McKeever said. “As for the sales tax, you’d only get taxed, what, $2.50 on a $1000
purchase?” McKeever also said that low income families will not be negatively affected based on the fact they purchase low-priced goods. “It’s not that I’m not concerned about these people,” McKeever said. “It’s just that I’m more concerned about these people not having access to education.” But McKeever is much more worried about if the initiative does not pass, as is the Academic Senate president, professor Tom Rosdahl. “Without the passage of Prop[osition] 30, life would get real bad,” Rosdahl said. “It
would mean there’d be fewer classes than we have now.” Fewer classes than now when Pierce has reduced classes already by 20 percent, higher fee costs, and less money for equipment and supplies, the budgets for which are already “unbelievably low,” according to Rosdahl. Also, in the event the initiative does not pass, Pierce would have to dip into the district reserves to make sure the college meets the state mandated budget based on the number of students Pierce is educating, according to Rosdahl. [See Prop.30, page 3]
New senators to fill empty seats Associated Students Organization strives for fully functional senate
Kirsten Quinn
department chairs and tracking down professors for signatures has stalled the kquinn.roundupnews@gmail.com application process for some, according to Sparks. Without active members participating ASO is still accepting applications for in Pierce College’s student senate, the senate, and the deadline is tentatively set for organization found itself inoperable during beginning to mid October, Sparks said. its first weekly senate meeting Sept. 4, Paulina Antounian, 18, was in the process 2012 in Woodland Hills, Calif. of signing up for senate after the Sept. 4 The Associated Student Organization meeting adjourned. (ASO) and the student population averted a “I want to help the school out and make crisis within one week, recruiting six active it more involving for students,” Antounian senators by their Sept. 11 meeting. said. This semester, the ASO had not The media arts major decided to get received any applications for its senate involved with the senate to alleviate the by its first meeting, and without senators effects of budget cuts. the government cannot vote on issues or Senators need a 2.0 GPA and cannot be on allocate funds. academic probation to participate. “We don’t have a functioning Applications can be found online at government yet, but we need one,” said Brad www.pierceaso.webs.com. Saenz, ASO adviser at the Sept. 4 meeting. Sparks plans to recruit new senators “We need at least three applicants before during the ASO Welcome Day event Sept. 18 we can function as a student government.” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in The Great Hall. Without student participation, nothing Bridgete Smyth/ Roundup “I would like to have a big senate,” Sparks was getting done. REPRESENT: Shane Mooney (ASO President), Kanny Morgan (Treasurer) and Antoinette said. “I want to inspire people to be in ASO.” “Right now, our main thing we’re Mannie (Club Council President) work in the ASO office Thursday, August 30, 2012. Without senators, students at Pierce dealing with is getting a student have no representation, no vote on fund government, but that’s not going to be a to get it.” “I’ve never been in a position where we allocation, and no say in matters that affect all struggle for too much longer,” Kevin Sparks, As of Sept.11, the ASO had six active senators haven’t had a senate,” Sparks said. the ASO vice president, said. “We all want a and four pending applications, according to In order to represent a department, applying Pierce students. For more on the ASO, visit our website, senators must receive approval from their senate, so I think we are all willing to work hard Sparks.
Weekly Weather: Each week, meteorology student Kevin Gabriel will provide weather data direct from the Pierce College Weather Station.
Wed. Sept. 19
Fri. Sept. 21
Sun. Sept. 23
Tues. Sept. 25
98/67
102/66
91/60
79/58
Thu. Sept. 20
Sat. Sept. 22
Mon. Sept. 24
Wed. Sept. 26
100/65
103/64
86/58
74/57
Center aims to solve disparity on campus Kevin Perez
Photo Illustration: Jose Romero/Roundup
Nick McNamara
Equity plan on the way
Within the week, Pierce College will finish and ratify its equity plan for the next two years, which aims to diminish the gaps in performance among different groups of students. The equity plan looks at student success rates, transfer rates, completion of ESL and basic skills courses, course completion and retention, and degree and certificate completion. The data is then broken down to measure differences between gender, ethnicity, and disability, said Crystal Kiekel, the Center for Academic Success Director and chair of the committee that wrote the new plan. “What we do as an equity plan is plan to equalize those inequities,” she said. Some of the data gathered from the plan included gaps in success between men and women, with men underperforming. The new equity plan also made an effort to account for the differences among disabled students, rather than applying a single category. “A student who’s deaf is going to be very different from a student who is dyslexic,” Kiekel said. The equity plan goes beyond just collecting the numbers by following up on why the inequities are there and what solutions can fix them. To get that sort of information, the equity plan committee will often ask those questions in surveys or focus groups. The committee also talks to four year institutions and high schools to gather additional data. The new plan is the first to account for the difficult financial climate of the past few years. As a result, a common theme was how to build up support for struggling students in the face of budget cuts. “A lot of [the equity plan] was about our incoming students and the barriers that they face,” equity plan committee member Sunday Salter said. “Our outreach program is basically eliminated.” In the face of the harsh economy, more people are attending community colleges either to retool their careers or receive an affordable education. At the same time, fewer classes are being offered, fewer counselors are available, and tutoring services are beginning to go away. “It’s sort of a perfect storm,” said Keikel. In regards to tutoring, which the college has lost funding for, the equity plan will attempt to recruit faculty and students as volunteer tutors. The plan also seeks additional funding through private grants for tutoring and other services. Kiekel stresses that in the plan, students come first. “Our goal as an institution is not about budget. Our goal is to help students succeed,” she said. The equity plan will be discussed at the next Academic Senate meeting Sept. 24, where recommendations and changes will be added before ratifying it. For more on the Equity Plan, visit www.theroundupnews.com.
What’s inside:
Stargazing Encouraged- Features Gearing up for fall events- A/E Catching his dream- Sports