Experience 10-14-11

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Course repeats reduced 3 chances to pass begins this summer

By SAMUEL A. GONZALEZ Staff Writer

Club Day in the outdoor quad LMC’s student clubs will get together for Club Day on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come to the outdoor quad and check out LMC’s diverse student clubs to find one that’s right for you. Music, food and fun will be provided.

Beginning next summer, students at all California community colleges will have only three chances to pass non-repeatable credit courses. Students will be blocked from registering for a course that has been repeated three times, and they will have to file a petition if they want to take the course again. Currently, the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, governing community colleges, allows

students to repeat courses up to three times with a W and up to four times to fix a substandard grade. Because of reduced funding from the state, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors proposed reducing the number of times students can repeat courses so the state does not spend so much money on students repeating the same class. The Office of Administrative Law has approved the governing board’s proposed changes and LMC

is now getting ready to implement those changes for next summer. According to the new regulations, students with three W’s or three failing grades in a non-repeatable credit course will be blocked from registering in the same course for a fourth time. Courses dropped early without a W appearing on a transcript will not count against repeatability. Non-repeatable courses are generally courses that lead up to, or

“It will affect students next semester because we’re advising them of this in spring.” —Robin K. Armour

See PASS, page 6

Talk to a transfer representative Representatives from fouryear colleges and universities visit the LMC Transfer Center often throughout the semester. To make appointments, call 439-2181 ext. 3124. CSU East Bay n Oct. 20, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. by appointment and 12-1 p.m. drop in. San Francisco State n Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. by appointment. Sacramento State n Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. by appointment. UC Davis n Oct. 25, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. by appointment. UC Berkeley n Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. by appointment. Academy of Art University n Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info table near cafeteria. St. Mary’s College n Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Vote for your student leaders Student government elections open Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. and close on Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. Students can vote online at www.losmedanos. edu/lmcas. Student Life will have a computer set up for voting in the Student Life office. Students can also vote at the Student Life table on Club Day.

Choose your major yet? Are you undecided on your major or career path? Want to know what you can do with your major, how much money you can make, or if you will even find a job after you graduate? The Career Center’s Choosinga-Major Workshop will help answer these questions and more. This workshop takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 1-3 p.m. in the main campus library, second level, Room L-214. Space is limited so reserve your spot today.

Financial aid workshop Reserve your spot for a financial aid workshop at the Pittsburg campus library, 2nd level, Room L-213 on Thursday, Oct. 19. This workshop highlights all financial aid options available to students. Assistance will also be available for completing the FAFSA on the web. Be sure to bring your social security number, most recent Federal 1040 tax form and student PIN number. If you are not a U.S. Citizen, bring your alien registration number. For more information call Financial Aid at 439-2181, ext. 3139.

Photo by Lisa Cassidy

A small group of protesters solicit support in the form of car horns in front of the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Occupy Wall Street Protest spreads to San Francisco By MARK FRANCIS Staff Writer

The “Occupy Wall Street” movement, which began on Wall Street in New York City, has a smaller offshoot protest in San Francisco, with protesters, and homeless people, camping out in front of the Federal Reserve building. Occupy Wall Street is generally a protest of the current economic and political issues which are plaguing the country. Sup-

port for the protest has grown to include diverse groups of people from different backgrounds. On the night of Oct. 6, it was a quiet setting, with many protestors beginning to set up a campsite after a long day of protesting their issues. The night was very different from the daytime vibe one can get; it was subtler and welcoming for would-be occupiers.

Photo by Mark Martinez

See SF, page 6 The one percent activists chat with a curious pedestrian Tuesday.

AA transfer degree approved By BRANDON RIBERGAARD Staff Writer

A new Communications Studies AA transfer degree was approved by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office last month. This transfer Photo by Brandon Ribergaard degree is effective immediately. Los Medanos College has recently A new speech communications degree will help received approval by the state for three out students like debate team members Adriana new degrees in psychology, sociology Daigle, Ryan Blumenthol and Ashley Curry. and communications. The psychology and sociology transfer degrees studies at any California State University. The idea behind designing and passing these were approved earlier this year. “Because the Associate Degree for Transfer degrees is to help students make their education is a new state-wide program, we are currently more efficient and to graduate and transfer in a waiting for more information on how these new shorter amount of time. “The Senate Bill 1440 passed by Senator Alex programs will impact students,” said Estelle Davi, Padilla is designed to help streamline the transfer behavorial science instructor. This is the first degree for speech or com- process. Teachers feel like not enough students are transferring,” said Gil Rodriguez, Dean of munications studies here at LMC. “This is a particularly big achievement for the Liberal Arts and Sciences. The requirements for the new communicaspeech department because we did not have anything before. We are improving the college tions transfer degree are more specific than the in a very important way,” said Communications requirements for a standard AA degree, where students have to take classes that do not relate Instructor Kasey Gardner. Completing any one of these disciplines guar- to their major. antees students a transfer spot in communication See AA, page 6

College district revises free expression code By CALLIB CARVER Staff Writer

Earlier this semester, the Contra Costa Community College District revised the Student Services Procedure 3025, which is titled Freedom of Expression. SSP 3025 states what is allowed and not allowed in the way of freedom of expression, speech, and so on. “SSP 3025 was created in 2004 and needed an update,” said district public information officer Timothy Leong. “The revision was not made just by the district officials, it went through a normal revision process, which includes many channels. Having to be approved by students and staff, the district board, and so on.” After reviewing SSP 3025, the majority of the changes were changes in the wording and language of the free speech policy. For example, the free speech policy used to read ‘free speech areas,’ but now has been changed to ‘limited free speech areas.’ Leong described this change as a way to protect the district’s buildings and grounds from disturbances, while leaving certain areas open for the exercise of free speech. The district does not want demonstrators to bring out bullhorns or scream across the college campuses and offices, thus disturbing the work and learning environment. Essentially, that is what the Freedom of Expression SSP 3025 states in a more clear and precise manner. It also states what people can and cannot do, as well as how to obtain permission. “We want to make sure students can express themselves, but [we] must protect the operations of the district, and the education environment,” said Leong.


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