News Dec. 7, 2009 by Michelle Wiebach

el Don SANTA ANA COLLEGE

OPINION: Twilight sucks in big

bucks at the box office, but not everyone agrees that the series is beneficial to young readers. 12 STYLE: With performances ranging from spicy flamenco to urban hiphop, Dancewatch turns out to be a crowd pleaser. 8

SPORTS: The Dons continue their undefeated season as they dominate Fresno City College to win the State Duals Championship. 16

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009 • VOLUME 87, ISSUE 5

Trustees OK lowest bid for search DISTRICT: Board taps Community College Search Services to find candidates to succeed chancellor By Michelle Wiebach el Don News Editor

Curious students approach a table set up in the middle of campus offering incentive prizes for participation.

Vote recruiter ignores rules

Witnesses say man registered students under wrong political party by offering free sunglasses on campus request my registration receipt from him,” Richard Santana, a SAC student, said. Coombes skipped over box No. 9 on the registration form, which instructs the person registering to indicate the political party for which they are registering. Anyone who registers must be given a receipt of their registration, another policy Coombes apparently failed to follow. In a videotape obtained by el Don, Coombes is seen packing up his sunglasses while yelling expletives at a SAC student, who was warning students to be cautious of Coombes’ incentive prizes and his lack of providing registration receipts. When confronted by students

Please see CAMPUS, Page 3

“I can tell you from my experience that trying to do two jobs at once usually means that both jobs suffer.” John Didion Executive Vice Chancellor

Please see BID, Page 4

About 50 styles of glasses were available.

Story By Kathie Espinoza • Photos Courtesy of Ana Fruitis A solicitor for the Republican Party was pressured into leaving campus by student protesters after they began to yell warnings at students, saying that he was illegally registering them to vote. Tom Coombes, an independent contractor with Arno Political Consultants, a firm used by the Republican Party of Orange County, asked students who said they were U.S. citizens over age 18 to “help out with an initiative” that he said he was trying to get onto the ballot. Coombes would then hand students a voter registration form. Students received their sunglasses upon completing the form. “It was just ‘sign here’, ‘initial there’. He didn’t ask me to fill out box No. 9 and I had to specifically

In a controversial move, district trustees voted 4-3 Nov. 16 to hire an executive search firm to target candidates for replacement of retiring Chancellor Eddie Hernandez. Despite protests from employees and student groups, the board appropriated $28,000 to retain Community College Search Services to conduct a nationwide search for Rancho Santiago Community College District’s new chief executive. “I’m disappointed with the decision,” Student Trustee Gloria Holguin said. “I know we will need a chancellor, but right now it is not the right time.” The same firm was

Protestors hold rally against tuition hike STATE: Budget woes lead to rise in fees, furloughs and fewer classes By Felipa Penaloza el Don Staff Writer

Tom Coombes allegedly misled students into registering by handing out sunglasses.

For the first time since its inception, the Board of Regents voted last month to raise tuition another 32 percent, placing the original 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education in jeopardy. The plan, designed 50 years ago, promised an affordable higher education for all California students, but the current fee increase will raise yearly tuition to over $10,300 for the average undergraduate. Hundreds rallied at the University of California, Los Angeles campus, urging the Board of Regents to reject the increase and emphasize the importance of education. The protest led to the arrests of 14 people, and has since spurred sit-ins at University

Please see FEES, Page 5

NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

COMMUNITY PROFILE

ART SALE DRAWS CROWDS, CASH

Proceeds benefit student art awards, shows By Dawn McDougall el Don Staff Writer

DAWN MCDOUGALL el Don

Shoppers browse through displays of decorative and fine art.

Current students, alumni and faculty showcased their projects at the Annual Holiday Art Sale, earning money but also raising funds for the spring Student Art Show Awards. Artists displayed ceramic jars, glass bowls, jewelry and other pieces, squeezing them into every nook and cranny of the SAC Main Gallery in the hopes of selling their work and gaining exposure. Space in the sale was on a first-comefirst-served basis, and students were eager to have a spot. “It’s a good experience. You see what sells and what doesn’t, and the price matters,” Shelly Couvillion, graphic design major, said. Couvillion’s Christmas cards, priced at a dollar, almost sold out the first day. Completing work on time and staying motivated are other benefits of participation along with the exposure. “You’re not just letting your stuff sit at home and accumulate, you’re getting it

out there,” Couvillion said. Other art majors working the event agreed that more important than profit was the chance to show their work to a new audience. “So often with art and paintings, people come up and just look and then walk away. And that’s it,” said art department co-chair Sharon Brown. “It lets students know there is a value to their work.” The artists receive 75 percent while 25 percent of the sale goes to the gallery program, the only supplement to the program other than donations. This commission allows the art department to put on the Student Art Show Awards in spring. The award show keeps art majors motivated despite cuts to programs like glass blowing. Luis Madrid, graphic design major, said the award show is motivating for the artists and makes students want to come back next year. Students submit their work and the art department votes to decide the winner for each category.

CAMPUS, LOCAL & STATE

News You Can Use CHECK IT

GIVE BACK Help local families in need this holiday season. Come to any Anaheim Ducks game in December with a new, unwrapped toy, book or game and receive a voucher good for an upcoming Ducks home game. Donations can also be dropped off at any of The Rinks’ locations in Anaheim, Corona, Huntington Beach or Westminster. Toys will benefit the 15th Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive co-sponsored by the Anaheim Fire Department and the ABC 7 network. -Allison Lujan

CELEBRATE

HELPING HANDS

For the last 10 years, New Year’s Eve celebrathe Coordinated tions are not only for adults anymore. This year, Agencies Resources for Education has held an get the kids involved by annual faculty toy drive. visiting the Discovery Every Christmas Science Center to ring in season the faculty the New Year. donates presents to the A balloon drop will be held at noon and at 2 p.m. children of full-time students on welfare. complete with a count“It’s a good idea. CARE down, a ginger ale toast, provides help to take music and a program of stress off single moms,” educational activities for said Maribel Michaca, a the whole family. parent who currently The event runs from 10 receives help from the a.m. to 3 p.m., and with regular admission there is program. The presents will be delivered to the no extra charge. This way, you can ring in children on campus Dec. 2010 three times this year. 18 by Santa himself. -Joseph Elizalde -Hugo Pacheco

The end of the semester is just around the corner with the official last day Dec. 20. Spring 2010 semester begins Feb. 8, but before registering you may want to check your account balance. Because fall tuition rose from $20 to $26 per unit, some students will see a charge for the difference, which could cause problems when signing up for spring classes. -Felipa Penaloza

TOYS FOR TOTS From now until Dec. 20, help put a smile on a child’s face for the holiday season. As a gift to yourself, get free admission to Knott’s Berry Farm when you bring an unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more. Proof of purchase is required. -Lourdes Serrano

Left: Denise Phillips assists at the toy drive.

RED LIGHTS The city of Santa Ana has temporarily suspended the use of its red light cameras at intersections until Dec. 28. Suspension comes as result of multiple legal issues stemming from the 30-day warning required when cameras are first installed. Many drivers have contested their traffic tickets and won due to the city’s failure to warn drivers of the monitoring system. A listing of the city’s 20 red light cameras, along with a warning, was recently published in the Orange County Register. -Kathie Espinoza

A PIRATE’S LIFE FOR ME

GLASS BLOWING ART

Finally, Pirate is a language on Facebook. Friends are mateys and words are overflowing with R’s. Simply log in and change your language to English (Pirate) to get savvy. -Dawn McDougall

A blown glass show highlighting the works of internationally recognized artists will come to SAC Arts gallery at the Santora Building from Dec. 10, to Jan. 3, 2010. -Lourdes Serrano

NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

Campus: even cookies not allowed as payment ting their future as a citizen in jeopardy. “Offering anything of value isn’t good. Things like that often result in fraudulent information. about his failure to follow federal regulations, Coombes denied the accusations and began to get The motivation to vote shouldn’t be a pair of sunglasses, it should be the fact that you are making verbally aggressive. a difference. You vote to empower the community, Individuals are required to obtain clearance not for a gift,” Senator Lou Correa, D-Calif., said. from the campus facilities coordinator in order Arno Political Consultants has been accused of to solicit in the quad. Security officers are not registering voters fraudulently in the past by other responsible for enforcing electoral law, said Lt. organizations. In 2007 Thomas F. Steyer, the James Wooley of the district safety and chairman of the steering committee for the group security department. Californians for Fair Elections Reform, accused Coombes was only allowed a three-day window ACP of using underhanded tactics by offering in November to solicit on campus. He will not be homeless people on Los Angeles’ Skid Row food welcomed back on campus, officials said. in exchange for filling out voter registration cards “From what I saw of him being rude and yelling and petition signatures. at students, it’s not safe for him to be here. We Most recently ACP is accused of listing false don’t want anyone on campus violating electoral addresses for petition signatures in Ohio. law and he will not be allowed back on campus,” Paul Babbington, an official with the Republican Wooley said. Party of Orange County, has acknowledged that Coombes was allegedly registering students they do pay recruiters. as Republicans, which violates a federal law that “We provide stipends per registration card, but makes it unlawful in an election in which a federwe prefer people recruiting to be Republican al candidate is on the ballot for anyone to knowbecause they believe in the message. Even if a ingly and willfully pay, offer to pay, or accept person wanted to register with us as Democrat we payments for registering to vote or voting. Even would sign them up, but the ultimate goal is to incentives as innocent as cookies are defined as sign up Republicans,” Babbington said. payment. Violations are punishable by imprisonHenry Van der Meier, political director for the ment of up to five years. Orange County Democratic Party, explained that In addition, some students may have submitted their registration process is different. fraudulent information or lied about their resi“We don’t pay or hire anyone. All of our regisdent status in order to get a free pair of sunglasses. Submitting fraudulent information on a voter reg- tration booths are run by volunteers such as the Young Democrats of Orange County,” Van der istration form is a felony, and non-citizens who Meier said. register before gaining legal status here are put-

Continued from page 1

N A T I o N A l

Photos Courtesy of ANA FRUITIS

Van Der Meier and Babbington both said the actions of Santana and other protestors were justified in yelling a warning about Coombes to students. “If he’s breaking the law, it needs to stop. It’s incorrect and it’s not how we operate,” Babbington said. If students were registered improperly, the situation will be remedied by cross-checking status. “If the person registering did not sign up as Republican, they will know. We’ll call them, send them a mailer, and we’ll go door to door to make sure they know what they’re doing. We’re taking three steps to make sure they’re not bamboozled into registering as a Republican,” Babbington said.

Coombes left campus willingly after being heckled by students.

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NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

Bid: interim chancellor would mean drawbacks

Continued from page 1

used to find Hernandez, as well as the current presidents at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. Those who opposed the agreement, including Holguin and Associated Student Government President Alex Flores, suggested hiring an interim chancellor from within the district. They argued that an interim chancellor would not strain district funds and that those monies could be used for other purposes. In the past year, the district has cut course offerings, athletics programs and student services. An interim chancellor, Flores contended, would be more fiscally responsible at a time when California’s budget shortfall has eaten away at its once-distinguished educational institutions. However, employing an interim chancellor would only cut costs for a year, which is the maximum amount of time an interim can serve. His or her salary would still need to be paid, Academic Senate President John Zarske said. Another reason an interim would not benefit the district is that he or she would have to perform two jobs,

join us!

Executive Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Educational Services John Didion said. Didion has served as an interim chancellor and college president on three separate occasions. “I can tell you from my experience that trying to do two jobs at once usually means that both jobs suffer,” Didion said. In addition to the hiring of a search firm, RSCCD will incur a number of other expenses during the hiring process. Chancellor candidates will be provided with round-trip airfare, hotel stays and other recruiting materials that are required to get a top-notch executive. The district can spend up to about $40,000 in funds it received from the State Chancellor’s Office to use during the search and hiring process. While district funds are not being used, the monies nonetheless come from the state’s taxpayers. When the search process begins this month the district will survey campus leaders and community voters on what they would like in a chancellor. After the results have been analyzed, a screening committee with equal representation of voters from both colleges will convene.

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Chancellor Eddie Hernandez, who retires in June, recalls his years at RSCCD. Beginning in January, the chancellor position will be advertised nationally and the notice will continue for five months and nominations will be requested from community college leaders. The screening committee will review applicants. By March or April the committee will select a small number of finalists for intensive interviews. By mid-April to mid-May, RSCCD trustees will conduct final interviews and

select a new chancellor. When a new chancellor is hired, district human resources will provide additional funds for relocation if the new chancellor is chosen from out of state. “These are tough times,” Hernandez said. “We need someone who is able to understand the fiscal part of things, who has a background in seeking funding and who’s stable and will be around for a while.”

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NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

Fees: lack of funds triggers more cuts, furloughs Continued from page 1 of California, Berkeley and write-ins at University of California, Irvine and other universities. This is not the first round of protests among UC students this year. In September, students and faculty participated in a statewide walkout showing objection to furlough days, layoffs, and higher tuition. The California State University system is also feeling the pain of the budget cuts. The tuition for the average CSU student has increased to $4,800 a year. Hope is diminishing for Santa Ana College students who wish to transfer into the CSU or UC systems because of sharp fee increases as well as limits on enrollment of new students. “I’m going to have to stay at SAC for a third year,” said student Melanie Tran. “No one is really accepting applications and I don’t have enough money to go to a university.” Students continue to strug-

gle, and according to the CSU Board of Trustees, 40,000 prospective applicants will be denied enrollment because there is not enough money in the budget. Due to the financial crisis, 47,000 UC and CSU employees are facing 11 to 24 days a year without pay, meaning fewer days of education are being offered to students. The 32 percent increase means that the cost for public education in California has nearly tripled from tuition of just under $4,000 a decade ago. “I’m on my own,” said Gaby Arita, a senior at UCLA working two jobs to pay for school. “I can’t ask my family. In this economy, no one is stable.” UC officials have said this is a necessary action in order to fill a $1.2 billion gap in the state’s education budget. “This is a tax necessary because our political leaders have failed to adequately fund public higher education,” said UC President Mark Yudof. “We do not have the money to run the University of California.”

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Students protest against tuition increases and furlough days at UC Berkeley and other campuses.

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NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

While waiting for a heart and lung transplant,a 12-year-old with pulmonary hypertension spends her days helping others at the Tustin Family Youth Center

LORALEE Story and Photo By Hugo Pacheco

A line forms in the hallway of the Tustin Family Youth Center on a sunny Tuesday morning. Mothers pushing strollers stop by on their way home from walking their kids to school and patiently await the daily delivery of goods. Today’s will be from Vons, which donates bread, pastries, eggs, several dairy products and toiletries every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Monday and Friday delivery is made by Costco. Loralee Mendoza stands at the door of the staff room. Her hair, down to her waist, covers half of her tiny frame. Cheerfully she asks a mother what kind of bread she would like; sandwich bread it is. At 12 years old, Loralee is not a staff member at the facility nor an official volunteer. She simply spends her days at the center before leaving to get home-schooled. She’s been a TFYC regular for about five years and is considered a member of the family. Mendoza is like any pre-teen, cute and funny, except her name is on a waiting list for a heart and lung transplant — a list she’s been on for four years. She suffers from pulmonary hypertension, which causes abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, forcing the right side of the heart to work harder than normal. A pink backpack directly connects her to a tank of oxygen, which she hauls around on a small dolly. It’s taken for granted by those who know her, but to others it is a rare sight that draws curious eyes. “She’s a very loving child and doesn’t allow her disability to stop her from anything. She’s involved in every activity here,” said TFYC Community Service Coordinator Barbara Guerrero. “We enjoy taking care of her.” After the morning rush, Loralee assists with Kids Corner, the free preschool program at the center. She transforms into a teacher, patiently aiding the children with crafts and later serving a snack. “She pretty much works here — it’s crazy,” the center’s Program Assistant

Aaron Garcia said. Meanwhile, ESL/Citizenship classes are taking place on the other side of the center, one of the many free family and youth-oriented social, educational and recreational programs TFYC offers to the residents of Tustin. The Center also serves as a resource center for families in need, youth-at-risk and for those seeking self-improvement and vocational opportunities. Later in the day, Loralee sits down for lunch before preparing to head home. “Want some?” she asks the staff with a big smile, a smile almost hidden by tubes heading from the backpack into her nose. The flow of after-school kids begins pouring in just as she says her goodbyes. “See you tomorrow,” she says, heading off to live what to her is a normal life. Garcia now prepares the game room while fellow staffers ready for the snack program preceding the free after-school program and homework club. “A lot of these kids depend on us,” Garcia said. “It feels good, dude. The kids are happy so I’m happy.” When the fall holiday season arrives, TFYC takes on one of its most important roles. Recently, more than 500 Halloween costumes were handed out to children who otherwise wouldn’t have had a costume. By now, preparation for this year’s Holiday Basket Program is underway, a program in which groups, companies and organizations adopt families and give them a holiday basket which contains non-perishable food and Christmas presents. Last year, over 185 TFYC families received a basket. “It’s the only gifts these kids get,” Garcia said. Outside the center, kids begin heading home for the evening as program director Guerrero sits in her office with visible satisfaction at the end of another successful day. “We’re here to serve the families. We enjoy seeing that we can help someone,” Guerrero said. “We are the youth center that helps the needy. They know they can come here because if we don’t have it, we’ll look for it.”

PHOTO ESSAY

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

This dalmatian mix stands on its hind legs for a treat.

A contestant dressed in a police aid costume at the show.

Clad in doggy lederhosen, this Scotty eagerly awaits visitors.

DOGS OF

OLD TOWNE A benefit for animal adoption brings out owners, their pets and breeds ranging from schnauzers to shi-tzus. Story By Meg Faulkner Photos By David Dayfallah

The dogs took center stage at the Home for the Holidays Boutique and Adoption Event, held in Old Towne Orange . Hosted by The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens, the event raised funds to benefit local homeless pets. Over 25 vendors participated, selling everything from gourmet dog biscuits to doggy tutus. Pets paraded in a costume contest and vied for squeaky toys in smallest dog, biggest dog and best dog trick competitions. Other dogs were available for adoption through Barks of Love, a local rescue and advocacy group. For the humans in attendance, there were raffles, a silent auction and a table for cookie-decorating.

This loving face is waiting for someone to grab a leash and take him home.