el Don SANTA ANA COLLEGE
ViEWS: College protests have
sparked more than controversy across the state, and some say students are expressing themselves in poor taste. 9 STYlE: Avid readers
can now access a world of virtual books in an instant. Read up on the pros and cons of three current models. 6
SPORTS: Pitcher Katlyn Harp and the Dons’ defense lead softball to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Orange Coast College Pirates. 10
MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010 • VOLUME 87, ISSUE 8
living in a virtual reality in dEPTH PaRT 2: For some, cyberspace is a hideout from real-world problems By Kathie Espinoza el Don Editor in Chief
MOnica ORTiZ el Don
Tina Lam, SCC ASG president led the way with signs and red fist in air for education, protesting the $14 tuition increase.
‘Where’s the FUNDING?’
Please see INTERNET, Page 5
Initiative promotes graduation
By Michelle Wiebach el Don News Editor
STaTE: As budget cuts crumble, higher education students unite in a statewide rally
In a show of solidarity, students from Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon colleges joined protestors statewide Monday decrying California Legislatures’ slashing of higher education budgets and skyrocketing tuition costs. About 80 students marched side by side from district headquarters on Broadway to SAC to voice disapproval to board members and district officials at a scheduled meeting. The rally was one in a string of protests
during March where students and educators spoke out against mounting costs and a host of cuts impacting colleges. Last year the legislature cut higher education by 20 percent, forcing California’s universities and community colleges to cut thousands of courses, raise fees, dump student programs and furlough employees. Community colleges now charge $26 per unit. Protestors held up signs opposing a proposed increase to $40 per unit.
Please see PROTEST, Page 4
It’s been two weeks since Casey’s Internet went down. He checks his e-mail from his BlackBerry and just downloaded an application so he can talk to his friends via instant messenger. Before his computer crashed, Casey spent nights making friends on message boards like 4chan.org, a popular website that hosts multiple forums with topics ranging from literature to porn. Everything he needs is a click away. “I’m awkward. It’s easier to be myself when the person I’m trying to impress is on the other side of the country,” Casey said. At 24 years old, Casey has more friends online than he does in real life. He surfs the web until four or five in the morning. He’s never met any
Universities shrink time spent attaining four-year degree By Felipa Penaloza el Don Staff Writer
MOnica ORTiZ el Don
Student Nate Selvidge wonders where the funding has gone for RSCCD college campuses before the meeting.
A new initiative is expected to increase graduation rates at the California State University system within the next six years. The initiative announced by the Board of Trustees is also meant to raise the graduation rate across all 23 CSU campuses by 8 percent by 2016. The rate is intended to increase the number of minority and low-income students
Please see GRADUATE, Page 3
NEWS
2
SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010
COMMUNITY PROFILE
FAREWELL TO EDDIE HELPS STUDENTS $150 ticket price goes toward fund to save classes By Meg Faulkner el Don Staff Writer
Blanca Valdivia el Don
Chancellor Eddie Hernandez served RSCCD for 13 years.
Chancellor Eddie Hernandez retires in June. The district faces unprecedented financial woes. Now the Board of Trustees is trying to save course offerings through its Farewell to the Chancellor event scheduled for April 29. Trustee John Hanna said Hernandez’s retirement almost went uncelebrated because of concern about lack of sponsors and participants, and costs.“Yes, times are tough and people aren’t spending like they used to. But we’re talking about one of the best CEOs in the country,” Hanna said. “He deserves a farewell.” Hanna likened the farewell event to the annual Chancellor’s Ball, a fundraiser that generates sponsorship revenue used to support scholarships. Last year’s Chancellors Ball raised $80,000. Instead of scholarship dollars, funds raised through the Farewell to the Chancellor event will go to the general fund and be used to save classes. Tickets to the dinner range from $100 to $150 with proceeds divided between SAC and SCC and sponsors are able to specify the school or even the program. Private sponsors have been tougher to find this year, but Hanna said he hopes that the board will be able to show corporations the value of their sponsorships.
“An organization like St. Joe’s can donate, and designate that their donation will go straight to the nursing and allied health programs, which then frees up money for programs that don’t have outside support,” Hanna said. Thinking beyond the fundraising dinner, Hanna sees public/private partnerships as a viable alternative to shrinking state budgets. Such partnerships are not new, he notes, citing the Northgate Market scoreboard by the SAC soccer field. A scoreboard like that could have cost the school thousands of dollars; instead, Northgate market picked up the tab in exchange for the advertising opportunity. Similar arrangements have worked elsewhere. For example, at the RSCCD building offices are leased to offset property maintenance costs. At a recent Academic Senate Meeting, Hanna described the fundraising plan and urged members to develop partnerships with the private sector, not only through the Chancellor’s dinner, but as a general strategy for the future of the college district. “I’m trying to backfill money that we’re not getting because our budget’s been cut. The Republicans don’t want to raise taxes, and the Democrats don’t want to relax regulations to cut costs. We have to start thinking differently. We have to stop the politics and do what’s best for students,” Hanna said.
CAMPUS, LOCAL & STATE
News You Can Use Transfer Time
Tax Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is an IRSsponsored community program that performs tax returns free of charge. Returns are done by IRScertified volunteers at California State University, Fullerton on a first-come, first-served basis. A single applicant must earn $40,000 or less per year, a family of three or less must earn $45,000 or below and a family of four or more must earn $50,000 or less, per year. For more information, call 657-278-8681. -Dawn McDougall
Iphone fun
Used Books
Wishing Stars – Disneyland app for Apple’s iPhone challenges guests in 14 different quests within the Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif. Quest difficulty ranges from easier, for kids and families, to harder, for Disney experts whether age 8 or 80. Users can take Disneyland trivia challenges and play games while waiting in line to gain star fragments. To complete a quest, users must collect all pieces of the wishing star. -Portia Bode
The Used Book Sale returns to SAC this spring, with a variety of “alreadyloved” literature available at affordable prices. The sale takes place Tuesday, April 20, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the book store patio. For anyone cleaning out their bookshelves, the SAC Bookstore also accepts donations on the day of the sale. All proceeds go to scholarships for SAC students. -Dawn McDougall
Make an appointment in the University Transfer Center, located in S-110, to talk to a university representative from California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, University of California Irvine, UC Riverside and UC Santa Cruz. For information on appointments, dates and times visit the transfer center or call 714-564-6165. -Michelle Wiebach
Cesar Holiday Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College will be closed Wednesday, March 31, in recognition of Cesar Chavez Day. Students can use the day off to find out who Cesar Chavez is and why he is important. Spring break begins the follow- Bare for a Day ing week April 5 thru 11. Join TOMS enthusiasts -Felipa Penaloza April 8 and go a day, a few hours, or even a few minutes barefoot. Communities around the country are kicking off their shoes and going barefoot to raise awareness about not having shoes, like the children in developing countries. For every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, a pair is given to a child in need. So get together with friends and go barefoot and experience cuts, scrapes and bruises like those who can’t afford shoes. -Michelle Wiebach
Vote in ASG Elections
Don’t miss classes
Associated Student Government elections take place April 14 and 15. Come to the quad and exercise your right to vote for new ASG members including president, vice president, treasurer, and various senate positions. -Michelle Wiebach
Second 8-week classes begin April 12. The last day to add a class with instructor’s signature is April 16. -Felipa Penaloza
NEWS
SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010
Earn your Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Management
nLINE
APPLY NOW! Advance in your career or make a career change while learning how to create profitable businesses, vibrant communities, and a healthy environment.
• QUALITY • FLEXIBILITY • STUDENT SUPPORT
For more information Call: 1-877-UW-LEARN (895-3276) Email: sustainable@learn.uwsa.edu Learn more at sustain.wisconsin.edu/ca
3
Graduate: new policies could change the college experience Continued from page 1 “The goal of this initiative is to not only increase the number of students who complete their degree, but to also help those from traditionally underrepresented communities who may need additional support to finish. After all, that is the end goal — a college degree,” CSU Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Jeri Echeverria said. However, in order to achieve this goal, the plan could include policies that change the college experience. These include mandating earlier declaration of a major, reducing the number of general education courses, restricting students from dropping classes and limiting registration for freshmen. “As the largest public university system in the country, it is our responsibility to ensure that we do everything possible to help our students be successful in earning their degree,” Echeverria said. CSU’s overall six-year graduation rate is roughly 46 percent but the long-term graduation initiative is intended to bring the rate up to 54 percent. This is in line with the top quartile of national averages of other similar institutions. The graduation initiative comes as a result of drastic budget cuts in the CSU and University of California systems. Having more students graduate in less
CON_SACdon_QTR_ad_final_OL.indd 1
time saves much needed money. The $584 million reduction in state support for the 2009-10 school year resulted in an increase of tuition at CSU Fullerton to $4,800 a year for an undergraduate student and a series of furlough days, forcing CSU and UC employees to go 11 to 24 days without pay. A proposal for new funding for community colleges will trigger a $14-perunit fee increase. This means with current fees at $26, SAC students could pay up to $40 per unit. “I think it’s insane because we have a lot of the population that is low income,” student Oscar De la Riva said. In order to protest the budget cuts and fee increases, students, teachers and administration from all levels of education came together March 4 for a Day of Action. “It makes me mad because they don’t know how it feels to be in a class with 40 plus students,” Valley High School senior Virginia Estrella said. On the SAC campus, where multiple general education courses have been cut because of the worsening financial situation, Dean of Students Lilia Tanakeyowma said, “The fact is that the budget has been bad and it’s still declining. How do you get worse when you’ve already reached the bottom?”
10/21/09 3:14:15 PM
4
NEWS
SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010
David Deridder el Don
Students and ASG members from both campuses like Nadia Lopez (right), assemble and rally, in front of the Johnson Center before the District board meeting.
Protest: district trustees encourage students to stand up to legislatures Continued from page 1
MONICA ORTIZ el Don
ASG President Alex Flores tells the student body about the threat of increasing fees and the rally to protest budget cuts. Trustee Phillip Yarbrough is angered by the cuts and urges students to not let legislatures raise tuition.
Daniel Hubert el Don
“I do believe in these economic times that it will affect students,” Norman Fujimoto, vice president of academic affairs said. “Many will take fewer classes and some may take none.” As the nation’s largest higher education system, the state’s 112 community colleges have faced continuous budget cuts, adding up to $520 million in 2009-2010 alone. The next fiscal year is equally bleak, as California faces a $20 billion budget deficit for 2010-2011. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers are looking at a variety of program cuts to close the deficit, many of which are targeted at education. For the first time in three years the governor is recommending increasing higher education spending by 12 percent, restoring some of the monies lost, but the state’s colleges would still receive less funding than in normal years. “The biggest frustrations I have are that the cuts are being imposed on us at the state level,” Trustee Phillip Yarbrough said. “The $40 a unit cost will cripple the school.” College officials are prioritizing classes by focusing cuts on recreational classes, theatre arts and sports programs. “You make me pay more, and then you better give me more,” SCC Associated Student Government President Tina Lam said in front of the trustees. Last spring, classes were cut by more than 12 percent, and the upcoming summer session has been cut by 15 percent. Earlier this year, the college’s popular Intersession, which ran during January, was axed in another money saving effort. As a result of shrinking courses and escalating fees, class sizes and waitlists have doubled and SAC enrollment has plummeted by about 20 percent. With another tuition increase on the horizon, SAC’s enrollment will continue to free fall, officials said. “I think you’re going to have multiple effects,” SAC President Erlinda Martinez said. “Students will reconsider if they want to continue on in college or drop out.” The district was forced to cut back and is now looking at three main course areas: transfer classes,
job training and basic education, Yarbrough said. “I was held back another year because of cut classes,” said criminal justice major Annabel Vargas, who has been here for three years. Students are taking the brunt of the budget shortfall and like others statewide, some decided that they need to stop objecting and “Students take action. need to be The chant, “No more cuts” at various echoed throughout the camlegislatures’ pus as students marched with fists held high, holding protest offices. Students signs and posters that read, need to demand “WTF” for “Where’s the fund- accountability.” ing?” and “Get your hands out of my pocket.” John Hanna “This is a sign that things RSCCD Trustee have to change,” SAC ASG President Alex Flores said. Some students wore shirts representing their campus at the protest, while others painted their fists red as a symbol and in support of the “March in March” rally in Sacramento that same day. Trustees John Hanna and Yarbrough joined students at the campus rally, showing their support and urging students to send a message to the state capitol. “Students need to be at various legislatures’ offices,” Hanna said. “Students need to demand accountability.” “Fight against the $40 units,” Yarbrough said. SAC’s Flores and SCC’s Lam encouraged everyone at the rally to participate in a text message campaign in which the goal was to get 1 million students to text state leaders. Students and supporters in near unison whipped out their cell phones and texted “No more cuts” to a number that sent all messages to California’s legislators. “It [the rally] truly identified our students as a district,” Martinez said. “It’s really good they advocated.”
NEWS
5
SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010
Internet: college students are vulnerable to addiction 6 percent indicate signs of compulsive Internet use, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Internet Studies. of his best friends in person. He’s logged “I don’t really use the Internet to escape countless hours playing Runescape, World from things. I check my e-mail, go on of Warcraft and a bevy of multi-person Facebook and catch up with my friends. I role playing games online. probably spend two hours a day online,” Most days he doesn’t even realize how SAC student Alyssa Gomez said. much time is being wasted. Casey, who Web addiction sets in when surfing doesn’t think he has a problem, says, the Internet is used as a crutch to avoid “I don’t have anything better to do. If I underlying psychological issues. Internet wanted to go outside and talk to people, use aids in a person’s avoidance of the I would.” College students are particularly vulner- problem and creates a buffer between the conscious mind and the negative thought able to Internet addiction because many and feelings the underlying issue generof them have yet to develop a firm sense ates, Kandell said. of identity. Rehabilitation programs for Internet The transition from adolescence to addiction have been popping up to help adulthood that occurs during this age leaves a large percentage of the college set those who cannot curb their use of the information super highway. feeling lonely and depressed. reStart, a center in Washington on five The Internet serves as a coping mechaacres of land, boasts a 45-day program nism. It’s a great escape from academic completely free of Internet access and stress and social strife. When you’re full of therapy and outdoor expeditions. online you don’t have to worry about The program offers both outpatient and midterms. inpatient treatment and can only accomBickering friends don’t exist and you modate about six clients at a time. can make yourself the coolest person in Although clinics have been established the room. and many are coping with Internet addic“People plagued by social anxiety find it easier to communicate with people who tion, it has yet to be classified as a disorder and some medical professionals are have similar interests online. However, still skeptical. this produces a unique problem: the ebb For now, Casey continues to glance anxand flow of real-life conversation becomes iously at his BlackBerry every few minlost or even remains unlearned, leading utes and check his e-mail every half hour. to increasing difficulties in real-life “It just feels weird. Without a computer interaction,” psychotherapist Jonathan J. MERi SiMOn MCT Kandell said. I feel like I’ve been disconnected from the N A T I o N A l U Nworld, I V e r s I T y ® ” Casey said. Among 18,000 respondents, almost Excessive internet use can indicate underlying psychological issues.
Continued from page 1
Summer Sessions
What’s Next
2010 at CSULB
© 2009 National University 7480
For You?
• No formal admission to CSULB required • Earn units toward your degree • Enroll on a “space available” basis
Summer Sessions Schedule: Two 6-Week and One 12-Week June 1–July 9 (S1S) July 12–August 20 (S3S) June 1–August 20 (SSD)
At
National University,
we know how hard you’ve worked to get this far, and we want to help you get even further. As a community college
>> Guaranteed admission >> No enrollment fee >> Flexible scheduling
transfer student you’ll be able to take
>> Unique one-course-per-month format
advantage of these great benefits. . .
>> Scholarship programs
Registration begins April 5! Call: (800) 963-2250 ext. 60001 for more information. www.ccpe.csulb.edu/summer email: summer@ccpe.csulb.edu
California State University, Long Beach College of Continuing and Professional Education Lorinda Owens
orANGe CAmpUs: 765 The City Drive South 714.429.5300
CosTA mesA CAmpUs: 3390 Harbor Boulevard 714.429.5100
1 . 8 0 0 . N AT. U N I V
|
The University of Values
g e t i n f o . n u . e d u /t r a n s f e r