Monitor 2007-1-29

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Vol. XXXVII No. 1

$2.5 million donation is Ohlone record

Ohlone beats San Francisco at home

OPINION

Bomb squad removes device

SPORTS

NEWS

NEWS

Gore’s film to be shown on campus

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Fremont, California

Take a fun class for a change

Monday, January 29, 2007

Newark campus rising

By Emily Burkett Staff writer

Ohlone has been given a challenge. If the college can find $2.5 million in donations, a local family foundation will match it, dollar for dollar, bringing the total to $5 million to be used to furnish the new Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology.

Ohlone has three years in order to fulfill this requirement.

It would be the largest donation ever made to Ohlone.

When asked where the additional $2.5 million in donations would come from, President Doug Treadway, replied, “We have many sources... we think we know where we can get it.”

The donations collected to match the private challenge pledge will be totaled and presented to the family foundation in increments over the course of three years.

While the donation isn’t in hand yet, the administration already knows where it will be spent.

The college plans on utilizing these funds to fulfill the $10 million obligation to furnish and equip the Newark campus.

Treadway went on to explain that the incremental form of funding that the challenge grant has taken will not disrupt plans at the Newark campus.

“We’re building the Newark campus no matter what,” Treadway said.

According to Treadway, while they might not be able to initially afford all of the newest equipment that the college has hoped for, the Newark campus will be opening on time.

The campus is being funded primarily by a $150 million bond measure approved by district voters in March 2002.

The solar panels for the roof of the Newark Campus were paid for by splitting the cost between three parties: PG&E, Ohlone and the Ohlone College Bookstore.

Even so, the college hasn’t technically spent the bookstore’s money, Treadway explained. The solar panels have been ordered but the college will not be billed for them for another several years.

Typically speaking, grants and donations make up only 5 percent of Ohlone’s funding. Most of it comes from the state government with a negligible amount from the federal government. All funding is based on student enrollment.

Most donations that come through Ohlone are given directly to students in scholarships or are used for equipment, like the challenge grant.

Photo by Kevin Protz

Simon Barros, director of facilities, explains some of the energyefficient equipment during a tour of the new Newark campus for Ohlone staff on Wednesday. The campus is scheduled to open for classes in spring semester, 2008.

Tuition down to $20 a unit, bill would cut loan interest

By Noah Levin Staff writer There’s some good economic news for students who are looking at hefty loan payments and wondering how they will make ends meet.

First, tuition at Ohlone, and all California community colleges, is down to $20 per unit, compared to $26 last semester. Secondly, the U.S. House of Representatives has

No more cheap seats

Workmen put the finishing touches on Room 3201, replacing hard, noisy seats with plush ‘theater’ chairs. There is new paint, lights on the aisles, ‘smart’ equipment and overhead screens.

passed legislation that would cut interest rates in half on need-based federal college loans over the next five years.

The legislation, the College Student Relief Act of 2007, H.R. 5, introduced by Rep. George Miller (D-CA), would cut interest rates on need-based federal loans for undergraduate students from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in five steps: from 6.8 percent to 6.12 percent in 2007;

5.44 percent in 2008; 4.76 percent in 2009; 4.08 percent in 2010; and 3.40 percent in 2011.

Once fully phased in, these cuts would save the typical borrower, with $13,800 in need-based federal student loan debt, $4,400 over the life of the loan.

The House voted on the bill as part of the Democratic leadership’s “Six for ‘06” package of policy Continued on Page 2

By Emily Burkett Staff writer

mester which allowed for students to register at a much later date.

“We saw a spike later in the semester than usual,” said Ron Travenick, associate vice president, in his presentation to the Board.

Where enrollment typically levels out during the first few weeks of school, Ohlone witnessed a sharp increase.

However, administrators speculate that the late start calendar is not the only pull. Ohlone’s transfer rate is also one of the highest in the state. Last fall, Ohlone sent 125 students on to University of California, Berkeley.

“The word is kind of out there,” Continued on Page 2

Enrollment jump ranks 2nd in U.S. Ohlone topped the charts in community college enrollment growth last semester, reaching the number two spot nationwide. The spike in the number of Ohlone students has been the subject of speculation in Board of Trustees meetings and College Council meetings for months.

Administrators and faculty are in a hurry to pinpoint what drew more students to the college.

“It’s something we’re wondering about,” President Doug Treadway explained. The president and much of the college community attribute the growth to the new 16-week se-

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News ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ comes to Ohlone January 29, 2007 monitor

By OMER AHMED News editor

Former Vice President Al Gore’s film, “An Inconvenient Truth” will be shown for free at Ohlone throughout the first week of school.

Administrators are arranging a live appearance for Gore in the future.

The film will be shown on Wed. at 6 p.m., Thurs. at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and on Friday at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. All showings will be at the Jackson Theatre in the Smith Center on the large projector screen.

Each showing will include an

introductory presentation. At the first showing, Math, Science & Technology Dean Ron Quinta will highlight some of Ohlone’s own environmental programs. At the last show, Anthropology Instructor George Rodgers will talk about his new sustainability coordinator position. The second Thursday showing will feature a debate by Ohlone’s forensic team after the film.

“An Inconvenient Truth” is a cautionary documentary focusing on the effects of global warming on the environment.

It was primarily based on a slideshow presentation Gore had

been showcasing before he was vice president and after his defeat in the 2000 presidential election.

The rights to present the film were acquired through the Campus Climate Challenge program and around 700 schools in the U.S. and Canada, including a number of U.C. and C.S.U. colleges, will also be showing the film for free this week through the program.

Sarah Zentner, the college president’s executive assistant, is heading the project at Ohlone. She said, “We see the film as a great educational opportunity. It’s part of an effort to have a generational shift

toward more awareness.”

Zentner also said the college administration was working with the agency that represents Gore to schedule a live appearance.

According to her, “So far they have been very receptive and we are looking toward the end of this year or ’08 as possible times.”

It is currently unknown what type of event might be scheduled if Gore comes to Ohlone.

Zetner said that Gore could make a keynote speech at the main campus or possibly take part in the opening of Ohlone’s Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology.

School: The official way to goof off

By ANNA NEMCHUK Editor-in-chief Like I’ve just hit them in the face with a week-old tuna - this is the expression I generally see when someone finds out I’m taking over 20 units and working full-time. In an attempt to forestall the inevitable exclamations of horror and fetching of the straitjackets, I quickly blurt that I need all those classes for my degree. Okay, well, that’s sort of true. In a vague kind of sense. For some degree or other.

Truth? It’s frivolous. There are just too many cool classes and I’m very bad at saying no to temptation.

Before “real life” begins, I’m of a mind to squeeze out every last drop of joy from the great ketchup bottle

I’ve spent most of my life despising - school.

Where else could you spend your time reading “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and ranting about how inane it is to censor “Lolita” and be commended for being academic rather than prurient? (English 106 - Censorship and Literature) Nervous about that impending zombie/robot/alien invasion? A successful background check later, you can learn to shoot an actual gun with, ladies and gentleman, no “supersoakers” involved. (Administration of Justice 141 - Post Level III Part I Basic Firearms Qualification) Fancy yourself more of a CSIstyle investigator? Abandon the couch for a night every week and go learn all about hackers and how

Tuition lowered Continued from Page 1 initiatives for the first 100 legislative hours of the new Congress.

According to past estimates from the Department of Education, tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities have risen 41 percent - after inflation - since 2001. The typical student now graduates from college with $17,500 in total federal student loan debt.

Half of the student-loan borrowers who would benefit under this legislation have family incomes between $26,000 and $68,000, according to the Congressional Research Service; the median family

income of borrowers was $45,000 in 2003-2004. This is well below the overall U.S. median family income of approximately $54,000, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

“This is good for the students because they will not have to borrow as large of loans,” said Ohlone Head of Financial Aid Services Deborah Griffin. “It’s now more affordable to go to school for those who couldn’t before. The interest rate on student loans has actually been slowly increasing over the past two years, so it’s good the government will lower the rates over the next few years.”

By Cheyenne Martin Staff writer

After close examination, the EOD squad decided to remove and destroy the device immediately instead of collecting evidence on the spot. The device was demolished in a water chamber off campus.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Fremont Police Department are currently examining the remains in order to determine the manufacturer.

Mazzone stated that, at this time, the device is believed to have arrived in the campus parking lot the previous night. Additionally, it is currently believed that the device was intended as a test rather than to cause harm. The matter will continue to be investigated by the Fremont Police Department and Campus Security.

Improvised bomb found in parking lot A potentially dangerous device was discovered in Ohlone’s lower parking by a local citizen a week before classes started. Campus Security was notified by the concerned citizen around 1 p.m. on Jan. 22. The device was described by Fremont Police Sgt. Chris Mazzone as a glass bottle wrapped in duct tape with an M-80 firecracker jammed into the top. Campus Security examined the object in parking lot G and determined it had not been detonated. The Fremont Police Department, Alameda County Sheriff Department and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Squad were then contacted and arrived on the scene.

kicking your computer is really not the best solution for the blue screen of death. (Administration of Justice 115 - Cyber Crime) I was the kid that took apart the radio and came up with some soup for my Barbie, a hair clip and, mystifyingly, a working radio. If you were the one left with electric burns and a pile of bent screws, go forth and discover, without causing a power outage, just how it is the microwave melts stuff. (Engineering 114 - How Technology Works) Is your pasty skin really just a front and all your dreams involve bandannas, pants in constant danger of losing the fight with gravity and cheering crowds in cut-offs? Discover Zen and the art of spinning on your head. (Theatre and Dance 211i

- Selected Topic: Fundamentals of Break Dancing) Everyone and their sister thinks the world’s firmly in that handbasket headed for parts extremely hot, but what are you going to do about it, grasshopper? To beat an enemy, you must first understand him - at which point, chances are he won’t be an enemy any longer.

Come grok the world’s differing governments and see just where our leaders are going horribly wrong.

(Political Science 105 - Comparative Government) You’re going to have plenty of time for the white picket fence, corporate corner office and snarky boss.

School is a chance to do something fun while pretending it’s not.

Here, you can borrow my tuna.

She also mentioned that the Newark Center opening would be a particularly appropriate event as the center will be the first “green” campus in the United States and will be equipped with geothermal heating, solar panels, efficient lighting, reduced water consumption, recycled building materials and other environmentally sustainable elements.

For more information on the showing of “An Inconvenient Truth” at Ohlone, to go www.ohlone.edu/newsevents/ 200701inconvenienttruthmovie. html

Ohlone numbers shoot up Continued from Page 1 Treadway said. “A person who goes to Ohlone has a better success rate than someone who just goes straight to a major university.”

But “the word” hasn’t reached the college-bound students of the district alone. Last fall, one third of Ohlone enrollment came from outside the district and very early figures for this semester say these individuals came back.

“These students are passing up other community colleges that are closer to them to come to ours,” Treadway expanded.

3 MONITOR

January 29, 2007

CLASSIFIEDS Sharks Ice is Hiring -- Sharks Ice in Fremont is looking for energetic and motivated Ohlone students. We are hiring for the following positions: Bar tenders, Snack Bar Attendents, Skate Guards, Pro Shop and Cashiers. Apply online at www.sharksice. com or call (510) 6237200 for more information.

P r o fessi onal Piano LessonS -- Private lesson with qualified teachers certified by Royal Music School. Great coordination training with lots of fun! Individual and group rates are both welcome.

Wonderful relaxing atmosphere and practical progressions. Try it out and develop your musical sense now! Interested parties please call Christy @ (510) 648-0066.

H I R I NG M U S I C TEACHERS -- Are you musically talented and looking for a highpaying part-time job?

We are looking for a few motivated, musicallygifted teachers to help teach weekly music private/group classes in the Cupertino and Fremont area. Looking for teachers in the following areas: String, woodwind, brass, piano/percussion instruments, also conducting, band, composition and

Advertisements voice. If interested, please contact Carol Liu, Director of Joyful Melodies Inc. at (408) 725-9049 or Mail@joyfulmelodies. com.

Hiring Office Help -- An engineering company, located in Fremont, is seeking part-time or full-time office help.

Responsibilities: General office help, assisting with accounts payable/receivable, purchasing, shipping and receiving, matching with purchase orders.

Requirements: Strong organizational and communication skills, reliable and multi-tasked, familiar with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and QuickBooks is a plus. Send your resume for consideration to tooltekeng@gmail.com.

Hiring mechanical d r afte r -- An engineering company, located in Fremont, is seeking a par t-time or full-time mechanical drafter. Responsibilities: Drafting of par ts and assemblies, wor king with Bill Of Material and detailed drawings, suppor ting design/engineering depar tment and constructing BOMs. Requirements: Strong organizational and communication skills, reliable and multi-tasked, familiar with AutoCAD, Pro/ENGINEER is a plus. Send your resume to tooltekeng@gmail.com.

Sports

January 29, 2007 monitor

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Men’s basketball overcomes CCSF

By Jeff Weisinger Sports editor The fourth-ranked Ohlone Renegades upset the second-ranked CCSF Rams last Wedsday night at home before a standing-room-only crowd in the Epler Gymnasium. The Rams were an undefeated 5-0 in league play, winning seven straight going into this game while the Renegades were 4-1 in league play, with their last loss on Nov. 12. These two teams met earlier in the year in the finals of the Delta College Holiday Tournament with Ohlone winning 81-70 back on Dec. 17. Last month Ohlone spent some time ranked No. 1 in the state.

Would that be a sign of things to come?

In the game’s first half, Ohlone proved that even though they were ranked lower, that they were the stronger team as the Renegades played well on both offense and defense as they took a three point lead going into halftime leading the Rams 38-35.

The second half, however, seemed as close to the last 3 rounds of a 12-round championship boxing match. No matter what Ohlone tried to do, CCSF seemed to match, it.

As the second half went on, the Renegades began to pull away from CCSF as they led 55-44 with nine minutes left to play. However, midway through the second half, they also began to show signs of fatigue as they missed back-to-back scoring opportunities and had too many turnovers going into the closing stages of the game.

As much as CCSF tried to claw their way back, the Renegades held on, led by Jermaine Smith’s team-high 15-point performance and Willis Gardner scored 11 on the night. The Renegades had an answer for each scoring attempt by the Rams.

And as the final seconds drew closer, chants of “We’re number one!” filled the stands at the Epler Gymnasium as the fourth-ranked Ohlone Renegades upset the second-ranked Rams 72-68.

Ohlone will take on Cañada College this Saturday at 5 p.m. at home.

Photos by Jeff Weisinger Sophomores Jermaine Smith and Allen Hester played well defensively against CCSF.

Renegades Patrick Collier tries to dunk the ball in the second half.

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