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ccclarion.com VOL LXXIV • Issue 3
Wednesday, October 28 , 2020
Nursing program resumes onsite BY LUCY ARGAEZ
NEWS EDITOR
LARGAEZ@CCCLARION.COM
The sounds of the alarm blaring at 5 a.m. as she gets out of bed and gets dressed. Chloe Haskin brushes her hair and pulls it into a bun. She makes her coffee and feeds her cats before taking the drive down Arrow Highway to Foothill Presbyterian Hospital. Waits until she sees her classmates arrive one by one and meets with her professor, until their N95 masks, face shields, and gloves are handed to them. Associate degree nursing student Haskin is one of the students who have returned to campus and is now starting training at a hospital. Haskin then puts on her royal blue scrubs, her white lab coat, her name tag and her stethoscope. After walking down to the basement of the hospital to have a pre-conference before going on the hospital floor. Haskin looks at her watch and sees it is 7 a.m. now, she meets with a nurse and receives her patient reports she then checks up on her patients every hour and does her paperwork. At 1 p.m., it’s time for Haskin to report to her professor and give her patient report and leave for the day. Martha Delgadillo, Noemi Barajas and Sonia Kibbe will be some of the instructors on campus and hospitals overseeing the student’s skills labs and training. Students will also have their temperature taken on arrival and fill out a questionnaire to ensure they have not contracted COVID-19. “I work better hands-on and with others than in virtual labs, I don’t know that I would do as well if labs weren’t in person,” first-year ADN student Tricia Kyle said. Although instructors have done
PHOTO COURTESY - SALIMA ALLAHBACHAYO, DEAN OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Nursing trainees practice patient care that they will provide in real clinics when they are registered. Photo taken Sept. 14.
their best to engage and teach remotely, they are glad to be back on campus and in hospitals. “I am very excited we were given the opportunity to go back into the skills labs so students could practice with their hands. It is just not the same online,” Delgadillo said. ADN students will alternate between the hospitals and campus every four weeks until the end of the semester. They will either be on campus or in hospitals every Monday and Tuesday. Director of health sciences Salima Allahbachayo will be managing the student’s training hours, ensuring students follow safety measures. “We want to make sure the program abides by the government guidelines, so we set up several safety protocols to make sure we met the requirements to go back on campus,” Allahbachayo said. ADN Students will attend one of the hospitals partnered with Citrus College, either Intercommunity Hospital, Foothill Presbyterian
PHOTO COURTESY - SALIMA ALLAHBACHAYO, DEAN OF HEALTH SCIENCES
A nursing student in the Skills Lab practices on a dummy in preparation for her future as a health-care provider. Photo taken on Sept. 14.
“I work better hands-on and with others than in virtual labs. I don’t know that I would do as well if labs weren’t in person.”
Tricia Kyle
First-year Associates Degree in Nursing student Hospital, Pomona Valley Hospital or Corona Regional Medical Center. The ADN students led by Barajas will go to Intercommunity Hospital in Covina and Delgadillo’s students will go to Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora. “This experience was a little shocking for some of our firstyear students since it was the first time some of them set foot in a hospital,” Barajas said. Barajas said the experience served “as a reality check” for some of her students and made them feel more at ease by pairing up inexperienced with experienced students to work as a unit. Third and fourth-year ADN students will attend Pomona Valley Hospital and the Corona
Regional Medical Center and taught by Kibbe. “My students are alternating between virtual clinical labs and seven to eight weeks at the hospitals,” Kibbe said. First-year students focus on primary patient care and headto-toe assessments, while senior students are responsible for medication, injections and IVs in addition to basic patient care. “We don’t get assigned COVID-19 patients, but we always run the risk of contracting it since we are at a hospital,” Delgadillo’s student Gloria Sayegh said. Delgadillo said that the training will prepare students for their profession because they will interact with infected patients in a real-life setting and run the risk of
becoming infected as nurses. “I have first-hand experience with having COVID and taking care of patients with COVID, I can get COVID again according to the research, but I am not afraid,” Delgadillo said. Nurses during the pandemic have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, but following the proper safety protocols will reduce that risk. “I feel like it’s here and we have to attend to it and that’s what nurses and healthcare workers are trained to do, so long as we practice proper hygiene and take this serious to its fullest extent, we reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19,” she said. While there are risks in returning to hospital training, many students like Haskin are excited to be around their peers and help people. “It’s really great being able to help the people who need it and being around like-minded people and even making friends,” Haskin said.
All sports postponed Measure Y benefits campus until spring 2021 BY DAISY MARTINEZ
STAFF REPORTER
DMARTINEZ@CCCLARION.COM
BY JUSTIN GEORGE
STAFF REPORTER
JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM
The California Community College Athletic Association’s Board of Directors has unanimously decided to postpone all Fall athletics to Spring of 2021. The decision was made to protect the health of student-athletes and coaches. A Contingency Plan released by the CCCAA had initially allowed non-contact athletics such as cross country and golf to begin in the Fall, but the plan has since been revised so that all athletics would return in the Spring. Some athletics may start as early as January if state and local health ordinances rule it safe to do so. The diversion from the normal athletics schedule has affected approximately 24,000 studentathletes across CCCAA’s 110 member colleges. Head football coach Ron
Ponciano explains the challenges this decision has created for the Citrus College Owls. “I think it would benefit the student-athletes just getting them back on campus” said Ponciano, “It is the starting point of them getting their daily routine done.” Ponciano adds that with some states already practicing, there is a possibility of a training gap when the team is finally allowed to compete. He said hypothetically that “a football game with one team that’s been practicing for several months” and a “team that’s been brought together four weeks ago” would be highly unfair. Despite the doubts and challenges, Ponciano remains hopeful. “I choose to stay optimistic, and I choose to believe that my guys aren’t giving up on their future.” Head cross country coach Alan Waddington believes that there
Read Sports, Page 4
& JUSTIN GEORGE STAFF REPORTER
JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM
Major improvements could be coming to the Citrus College campus if voters approve Measure Y in the Nov. 3 general election. Measure Y— the Citrus College Career Education, Repair, Affordable Higher Education Measure— is a $298 million bond measure proposed by the Citrus College Board of Trustees to the County of Los Angeles. The measure’s vote is only applicable in the Citrus College District. The measure would fund facility improvements such as meeting earthquake and fire safety standards, removing lead paint and replacing outdated utilities. It would also fund upgrades to classrooms and laboratories used for career education programs. “It will give more opportunity
SARAH ADAMS - PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT
An aerial view of the Citrus College campus in May 2018.
for students to give them realworld experience,” Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Claudette Dain said. Some of the more substantial improvements consist of new facilities altogether. Some buildings they plan to change include the Veterans Success Center, Learning Resource Center and Library which would be demolished and replaced with
modern facilities. The Education and Facilities Master Plan describes the improvements the new measure would tackle. Citrus Superintendent/ President Geraldine Perri described the EFMP process as having begun in fall 2018 with a “thorough environmental scan and an examination of enrollment
Read Perks, Page 4
2 Wednesday, October 28, 2020
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New faculty zoom into class MARTHA DELGADILLO - PHOTO COURTESY MARTHA DELGADILLO
LISA KOLBER - PHOTO COURTESY LISA KOLBER
MATTHEW PARSONS - PHOTO COURTESY MATTHEW PARSONS
BY ALEX MCCARSON
STAFF REPORTER
AMCCARSON@CCCLARION.COM
This online semester at Citrus has come with many twists and turns for the whole community. A big part is faculty and making sure the campus has the right people who strive for student success both inside the classroom and on a Zoom call. Here are three new Citrus College full-time faculty the campus has added this year and what they can bring to further campus growth.
Matthew Parsons Info Tech and Info Systems Where are you from? “I come from a military family and have grown up all over—from Germany and the Netherlands to Georgia and Texas. I’ve called many places home. I’ve spent most of my childhood in Texas and most of my adult life in Southern California.” What brought you to Citrus? “I love to teach and I actually got my college start at a community college in Texas. So I have a great appreciation for everything Citrus and its expanding STEM program has to offer students.” What are some things you feel like you can bring to the campus and your students? “I believe I have a unique perspective that I can bring to my students. I’ve been in the healthcare and IT industry for the last 20 years and can impart that real-world working experience to my students.” What has been the hardest thing about teaching with our new online learning? What has been the best thing? “I love getting to know my students, and that is always harder to do in a virtual environment. The
best thing is being able to think outside the box to deliver engaging and innovative labs and lessons with my students.” Favorite quarantine activity? “Hanging out with my family, cooking with my wife and watching movies.” Fun facts about you? “I’m former Air Force and internationally certified windsurfer.”
Martha Delgadillo Nursing Where are you from? “I am a SoCal girl. I was born in East Los Angeles and lived in Los Angeles, including Hollywood, until the age of 7. I was very much a “city child” during this time. I recall being bussed early in the morning from Hollywood to Westchester for Elementary School because our local schools were overcrowded. This was one of the best experiences I had as a child. I moved to the city of Orange at age 7, and soon learned about the suburbs.” What brought you to Citrus? “The nursing department needed a full-time instructor, and I was ready to apply and give it my all at the interviews. I am a graduate from Mt. San Antonio College, their RN program. I believe in always giving back to those who have given. Mt. SAC did not have an open teaching position, Citrus did, and I took advantage of the opportunity to apply. The fact that the program has both an LVN and RN program was appealing, considering I have taught both groups in other schools.” What are some things you feel like you can bring to the campus and your students? “I am an experienced nurse and
have worked in various settings in healthcare. I have a master’s degree in Nursing Education. I believe I will bring authentic lessons driven by clinical experience and advanced education. During my last year in graduate school at Cal State Dominguez Hills, I specifically chose to train and teach in a community college, it was always my goal to teach in an Associates RN program. I decided to explore various fields in nursing over the course of 12 years to adapt and enrich my experience to develop versatility and teach anything that “came my way.” What has been the hardest thing about teaching with our new online learning? What has been the best thing? “Best Experience – The faculty. I believe the dean, director and faculty have delivered a smooth transition process and I am very much appreciative of their efforts. Difficult Experience – Not too difficult, but perhaps acclimating to the online platforms. However, after watching training videos, modules and connecting with faculty, the transition has been helpful.” Favorite quarantine activity? “Being home and seeing my family more often, this was always challenging for me as I have traditionally held two jobs: working in a hospital and teaching part-time. I have quit my job as an emergency nurse, to focus on Citrus College and spend additional time with my family.” Fun facts about you? “I have two boys and have been with my husband for close to 20 years now. I am surrounded by them and I love it. I am very silly at home; I love having fun with my family. My nursing specialty is emergency care, I am a certified
emergency nurse. I had the pleasure of working with close friends during this pandemic crisis. We saved lives together. Even though I no longer practice in the emergency department, my heart will always be in emergency care.”
Lisa Kolber Nursing Where are you from? “Born in Georgia, raised in Texas but transplanted to California when I was 16 years old.” What brought you to Citrus? “Two primary reasons I am so lucky to be at Citrus. 1.) I met the nursing staff when they brought students to the hospital facility where I was working. I was deeply impressed with the staff and how they were very kind with students but also had very high standards. This interaction and resulting respect was what first got me interested in Citrus. 2.) I knew I really wanted to work for a Junior college. When I was younger I could never have pursued my goals to become a nurse without a junior college. It is important to me that I “give back” and encourage and inspire individuals who also may have life challenges but who still desire to improve their life position and help others in the process.” What are some things you feel like you can bring to the campus and your students? “To the students I can share my clinical experience and my passion for the nursing profession. I truly enjoy point-of-care nursing and I feel honored to guide students through their educational journey in providing safe, evidence-base, effective, meaningful patient care. What I hope to bring to the campus is another professional,
enthusiastic, proactive voice who enjoys making a positive impact in the campus community. I am open to learning from more experienced academia peers, and I also support and encourage integrating newer, effective methods of pedagogy.” What has been the hardest thing about teaching with our new online learning? What has been the best thing? “The hardest thing about teaching online/zoom has been keeping students engaged and excited secondary to the home environment is much more distracting and demanding. Little children do not understand, ‘Mommy or Daddy is in class.’ Plus there are many other distractions in the home environment. Most students did not choose to be online so the transition has been quite challenging for them. We all know the best thing is staying in pajama pants till noon– HaHa! Not really. I like to dress up so I stay in the proper mindset. Best thing is probably saving gas and putting less pollution out in the world.” Favorite quarantine activity? “Creating PowerPoints specific to course content.” Fun facts about you? “I lived in Germany for 3 years when I was younger.” “I have gone parasailing 3 times, been in a Hot Air Balloon and have flown in a helicopter multiple times. I chased down Melissa Joan Hart at Disneyland when my daughter was 5 years and got a pic with my daughter and Melissa Joan Hart. She was Sabrina the Teenage Witch at the time. I love to crumble potato chips into my spaghetti. Yum, yum!”
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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 3
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GRAPHIC BY LUCY ARGAEZ
Student aid program extended The TRiO program, which assists disadvantaged and disabled students, looks for eligible participants BY RYAN URIBE
STAFF REPORTER
RURIBE@CCCLARION.COM
A state-funded program made to assist disadvantaged and disabled students is on the hunt for 50 new recipients who meet its requirements. This is due to the exodus of successful transfers from the program at Citrus College to four-year universities. The STEM TRiO program is funded through Student Support Services and was initiated in 2015. It has recently been approved for five more years. The TRIO program provides opportunities for academic development, assisting students to navigate college requirements and success towards completion in their postsecondary education. Federal requirements depend on the size and yearly income of the family. Current year low-income levels can be found on https:// w w w 2 . e d . g ov / a b o u t / o f f i c e s / list/ope/trio/incomelevels.html. Eligible participants must also be in STEM, nursing or health science courses to be considered while applying. In 2019, 45 students (38%) that participated in the program
transferred to a four-year university. In 2020, 49 students (41%) completed their programs of study at Citrus College and transferred to a university. The STEM TRIO program serves 120 students annually. Once students become a part of the TRIO program, they remain until they complete their studies at the college. According to the Citrus home page at https://www.citruscollege. edu/stemtrio/Pages/default.aspx The program is designed to help better secure good and improved academic results for minority, lessprivileged and disabled students whose parents may not have gone to college and who are majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and allied health fields (nursing, EMT, etc.). Eligibility requirements can be found on the link provided. “What we found is that students who are in TRIO, who are eligible and participate in TRIO, do better,” Smith said. Course success rates in fall retention with the 2018 cohort group shows the course success rate for STEM majors that were TRIO eligible was 60% and if they were not
eligible, their success rate was 75%. “Now looking at the same cohort, if they participated in the TRIO program their success rate was 83%, which meant that they were doing better than the students who aren’t eligible and better than eligible students overall,” Smith said. Last year, Smith and her staff took two different groups of TRIO participants to leadership conferences so that they could gain other leadership qualities and skills and networking opportunities outside of Citrus. “I like to focus on anything that might be enriching to the students of the program,” Smith said. They also took them to see “Phantom of the Opera’’ at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. They were able to not only witness the cultural backgrounds but also the engineering of the set coupled with the bond of working formally with the students. “When I joined the program I instantly felt well connected with staff/faculty and other students,” TRIO program participant Rebecca Gio said in an email. “Everyone on the staff goes above and beyond the call of duty.”
PAGE program lives on BY RYAN URIBE
STAFF REPORTER
RURIBE@CCCLARION.COM
In March, the Citrus College pre-algebra, algebra and geometry enrichment program faced cancellation due to the lockdown. Marianne Smith, director of the program, decided to keep it going and transition to remote learning.
“Despite concerns about remote learning, we saw the same kinds of gains that we always see,” Smith said. “We were really pleased and had terrific attendance. Students made friends in the program and overall it was a highly successful summer.” The PAGE program began in 2011 offering fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders the opportunity
to enrich and grow confident in mathematics. Program attendance ranges from 100-120 students. The PAGE program served students from 13 districts this year, as well as students from some local private and charter schools. Though the program serves these institutions, it is not a program that is required but promoted. It is up to the parents to fill out the
GRAPHIC BY LUCY ARGAEZ
Gio successfully transferred from the TRIO program at Citrus College to Cal Poly Pomona as a computer science student. The program was proposed after fall 2010 data showed a significant gap in good academic standing, success rates and GPAs for noneligible TRiO students compared to TRiO eligible students. “What we know is that
students who are economically disadvantaged and who are first generation have more difficulty in college, and not because they are not smart but because navigating college is hard,” Smith said. Applications for TRIO can be found on the STEM TRIO page on the Citrus College website and submitted to monicahernandez@ citruscollge.edu.
The pre-algebra, algebra and geometry enrichment program transitions online application for the student. “Math major students at Citrus that are considering teaching are put in place as tutors in these classrooms in order to help them clarify if helping young people learn is something they really have a passion for,” Smith said. “These students get to be in the classroom, support the teacher, (learn) how to keep control of a class and what
kind of pedagogy one might use.” Training for parents and teachers with the new online platform was provided. Pre- and post-assessments were run on students to record their progress. There are no grades and no credit for this program. “It’s just about relaxing and learning math,” Smith said.
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PHOTO COURTESY UNSPLASH
Sports from Page 1
have been some positive effects of this situation. “It really forced me to focus on the individual more,” Waddington said. He uses Strava to track the progress of runners and holds weekly Zoom meetings. “We’ve really individualized the workouts which has been cool, and then some of the guys have been really taking off,” Waddington said. Coaches Ponciano and Waddington remain hopeful that sports will be allowed to return in the Spring.
“I think it would benefit the studentathletes just getting them back on campus.”
Ron Ponciano
Head football coach
Perks from Page 1 trends and student outcomes.” Citrus College needs a 55% vote to proceed with the Measure Y bond, which would affect homeowning taxpayers in the district. “Think of the homeowners— those who live in the Citrus Community College school district— based on the average median cost of the value of those homes,” Dain said. “Measure Y, on an annual basis, will cost the average homeowner $90 a year. That’s less than a quarter a day.” Julian “Trip” Horton, the PE athletics facilities supervisor, said the kinesiology and competitive athletics programs could benefit from larger meeting spaces for athletics and modern, multi-use facilities. These would be moved into a new kinesiology building built adjacent to the existing gym facility and athletic facilities, replacing the AP, AQ and PE buildings.
“I would like to see the PE building updated as it is now one of the oldest buildings on campus,” said Horton in an email interview. “Sometimes the ‘awe’ factor of meeting the coach for the first time on campus and seeing the facilities will make the athlete want to come to Citrus College.”
“It will give more opportunity for students to give them real-world experience.”
Claudette Dain
Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITRUS COLLEGE
Commencement ceremony moved online BY ALEX MCCARSON
STAFF REPORTER
AMCCARSON@CCCLARION.COM
Citrus College Spring 2020 graduate Mikayla Arena became ecstatic in late May to celebrate all of her accomplishments with her family whether it be online or offline. The only thing she received when she walked down to the mailbox was a flimsy piece of paper. Arena, 20, said she felt like she deserved more from her school other than a simple diploma when her and other spring graduates are left hanging with no current plan for an online celebration when many colleges in California were able to host something online in June “Citrus said they were going to be holding a graduation in early December but they haven’t followed up with anything,” Arena said. This leads many student
graduates to feel that Citrus might have just forgotten them all together when they have depended on this school for a bright future, not just a diploma. The Spring and Fall class of 2020 will now be celebrated on an online webpage rather than a virtual commencement ceremony. “The celebration in December will be virtual due to the current Los Angeles regulations including a special graduation webpage for all those who graduated in the spring semester who still want to participate as well as the new fall graduates of the current fall semester,” Student Life Supervisor Rosario Garcia said. Garcia said that spring graduates should be on top of their Citrus College emails in the coming days because the administration will send out more information on registration to be added to this celebratory web page. “The page will most likely include
a pre-recorded commencement speaker but all students who are able to RSVP to the webpage with a graduation picture and their home address will receive a grad cap, student program and an official Citrus College commemorative pin in the mail,” Garcia said. Maryann Tolano-Leveque, dean of students at Citrus, said the school was hoping to be able to hold an in-person commencement this year, which is why they wanted to wait to celebrate with the spring class of 2020. “Students are the heart of the college and the reason we do what we do, so we all wanted to be with the graduates on their special day,” Tolano-Leveque said. “I can’t even tell you how sad we are because commencement is such a beautiful tradition so it has been very difficult for us to shift and have to make different plans.”
Campus closure continues BY ETHAN LANDA
EDITOR- IN - CHIEF
Take a look inside the closed Citrus College Campus
ELANDA@CCCLARION.COM
CITRUS COLLEGE
CLARION Ethan Landa editor-in-chief Alana Daly O’Brien managing editor Lucy Argaez news editor Staff Reporters: Alex McCarson, Andrew Perez, Daisy Martinez, Diocelyn Carlon Gabriel Raphael, Justin George, Ryan Uribe Patrick Schmiedt Clarion adviser Stacy K. Long Clarion adviser The Clarion is produced by journalism students and is distributed every other Wednesday during the semester. Ads are not endorsed by the Clarion. Editorials are the opinion of at least 75 percent of the Editorial Board. All other opinion is that of the writer. Views expressed do not represent those of the adviser, faculty, administration, Associated Students of Citrus College and/or CCCBOT.
ETHAN LANDA - STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A Campus Safety vehicle sits on campus amid the closure of campus. Photo taken Oct. 25.
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ETHAN LANDA - STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Chains and barriers stretch across the southwest entrance to CItrus College off of Citrus Ave. Photo taken Oct. 25