Ohlone tops Delta, 19-3
How to make money on art
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Fremont, California
Vol. XXXVI No. 6
Seek beauty where you find it
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Archer decides to delay retirement By OMER AHMED Opinions editor Board of Trustee member Dan Archer surprised his fellow board members Wednesday night when he told them he would not be resigning as previously announced. Archer had announced at a previous board meeting that he would be resigning in May, about two and a half years before his term would expire. Now he plans to retire later so that his replacement can be voted in during the Nov. 7 General Municipal Election.
At the Feb. 22 board meeting, where Archer withdrew his intent to retire, the board had planned on discussing his alternate. When the specifics of the change in plans were brought up, Archer said, “I have never submitted a formal resignation.” By abstaining from handing his papers to the county, he has not made any official move or record of his original intent to retire. After some discussion, Board president Bob Brunton ended the discussion and removed the issue from the board’s agenda.
X marks the spot By OMER AHMED Opinions editor
Last month a consultant issued a report outlining ways to beautify the Ohlone campus. So Monitor photographers took a look around to seek the truth. Familiarity breeds contempt, and most of us are so focused on trudging up and down the stairs that we forget to stop and appreciate the scenery around us. Even a consultant would have to admit, Ohlone has its scenic moments. See Page 4 for more photos. Photo by Ross Tsvetano.
On the anniversary of Malcolm X’s assassination, the Ohlone Muslim Student Association (MSA) had an event in his memory. At the event, Ashraf Ali, an African-American Islamic scholar, gave a speech to a crowd of more then 30 people in the Quad. He presented a history of Malcolm X and a commentary on his ideas. The speaker explained that ElHajj Malik El-Shabazz, the name Malcolm X eventually adopted, was once known as Detroit Red. “He started as someone who was involved with drugs and crime.” This would not last and he eventually was arrested in 1945 and sentenced on charges of breaking and entering, possessing firearms and larceny. “In prison, he hated religion so much, his nickname was Satan,” said Ali. While in prison, he joined the Nation of Islam, a radical African-American branch of Islam. Ali paused here and said, “The Nation of Islam had a lot of problems,” then cited its radical beliefs such as the hatred of the “white devils.” He told the audience that
the bits of mainstream Islam that were a part of the Nation’s teaching have value. For Malcolm X, “it was the only thing that could make him fall to his knees in prayer.” From here, Ali described Malcolm X’s pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city of Islam, where he had a realization that separated him from the radical doctrine of the Nation of Islam. In Mecca, Malcolm met Muslims of many difference races and skin tones. He gave up his former racist views and began to preach a message of equality that he validated with Islam. Ali expounded on Malcolm X’s newfound belief by saying, “If we are all creatures of the one god, we are all equal.” After his speech, Ali responded to questions from the audience on topics such as the nature of morality in Islam and the recent riots over cartoons depicting the Islamic Prophet Mohammed. The MSA will hold “The Way, The Truth, and The Light: Jesus in Islam” with guest speaker Ali Attaie on March 6 11:50 a.m. in the Quad. MSA president Hamzah Hararah described the event as “A comparison of Jesus in Islam and Christianity.” A deaf interpreter and refreshments will be available.
half of all textbooks now come bundled with additional material. This additional material, such as CD supplements, are a prime reason for the increase in textbook prices. The study concluded that over 60 percent of instructors “rarely” or “never” use the additional material in their curriculum. Rising textbook costs have not gone unnoticed; AB 2477 was put into effect January 1, 2005 to combat escalating prices. However, the
bill does not contain any provisions for enforcement. Publishers are still free to manage their textbook divisions as they had been previous to the passage of AB 2477, and they have. Textbook prices are still rising and underutilized supplements are still a part of that equation. Students aren’t the only group suffering, the Ohlone College Bookstore, which operates as an independent business has also Continued on Page 6
Federal report: Many reasons for high book prices By SEAN G. CRAWFORD Investigative editor In the past two decades, college textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of inflation, according to a July 2005 Government Accountability Office (GOA) report. College textbook prices have been rising at an average of 6 percent a year since 1986. These increases are creating very substantial problems, specifically for
community colleges and Ohlone is no exception. Textbooks and related supplies as a percentage of tuition average at 72 percent among full-time community college students. The average full-time community college student will spend over $900 on textbooks and supplies in an academic year, according to the California Student Public Interest Group; this represents almost threequarters of the cost of the average
community college student’s educational expenses. Publishers of college textbooks hold a captive audience and are unfairly monopolizing a niche market, contend student advocacy groups. A study entitled: “Ripoff 101 How the Current Practices of the Textbook Industry Drive up the Cost of College Textbooks,” has been a key tool in the organized effort to stymie the rising costs of textbooks. The study found that