Monitor 2010-3-25

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Vol. XLI No. 8

Renegades play well, lose anyway

NEWS

Multimedia department head dies

SPORTS

NEWS

FEATURES

Game Truck stops

The Monitor will be back on April 8

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Fremont, California

March 25, 2010

Union reps named By KATHRYN DIXON Staff writer The Ohlone College Board of Trustees engaged in a one-hour closed session to discuss negotiations with the United Faculty of Ohlone (UFO), the California School Employee Association (CSEA) and the Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU). No action items were announced to the public. Diane Berkland, counselor, addressed the Board in its public session, thanking it for not laying off the counselors and for addressing the budget problem in the “Ohlone way.” President Dr. Gari Browning made a presentation regarding the revised 15-year facilities plan. Prior to the board meeting, Dr. Alan M. Kirshner, head of the UFO announced that its negotiating committee will be Darren L. Bardell, Heather McCarty, and Carol Lawton, a part-time representative. Kirshner said discussions are already under way and that “proposals will be part of the public record at the board meeting.” Sandi Goudy, head of CSEA, said, “CSEA wants to do their part, but not at the expense of the classified employee. Any and all cuts need to be done in a fair and proportionate amount across the board starting at the top. Classified have been understaffed for several years and this situation cannot continue if we are to provide the level of services the students are entitled to and have come to expect.” Ohlone’s CSEA elected new officers in January and on Friday, March 26, a new negotiating team will meet with the college for the first time this year and continue contract negotiations which are already in progress. Browning posted a “budget update” to the Board and the public on Wednesday. She said she hopes to reduce the $2.6 million budget gap which includes $1 million shortfall in the Deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) apportionment. The President hopes to address this shortfall by negotiating with the unions and the Deans, Directors, and Administrative group to reduce salaries, by furloughs or by other means.

Photo by Joseph Florez

Students from across the state gather in Sacramento to rally against education budget cuts.

Thousands of students march to protest education cutbacks By MANIKA CASTERLINE News editor More than 250 Ohlone students and members of the faculty assembled in Sacramento on Monday, March 22 to peacefully protest against the statewide budget cuts. Ohlone was the largest contingent of representation for our region, according to ASOC President Kevin Feliciano. The community colleges were expected to turn out approximately 5,000 participants while an estimated crowd of 10,000 actually converged on the Capital steps. Groups came from all over the state to speak out regarding the impact of the budget cuts to UC’s, CSU’s, and community colleges. A pre-rally was held at Raley Field where the buses from all the schools were gathered, some of which had departed their home campuses as early as midnight in order to make the long journey to Sacramento. Students marched about 10 blocks from Raley Field up to the Capital building chanting in opposition to budget cuts that are

education, we will fail to have a prosperous future. Ohlone student who attended the rally, Rutheigh Sanftner, said, “All the colleges had a spirit that united us behind the cause and that spirit grew.” Ohlone has had challenges to face due to depletion of money coming from the state. During fall ‘09, 50 course sections were cut as well as an additional 50 this semester. Classes are also running at a capacity of 80 percent. Civic Engagement Club President Andie Morhous said, “Ohlone had Photo by Manika Casterline an amazing turnout Ohlone student Rutheigh Sanft- and we bonded on a community level.” ner listens to speakers at the Civic Engagement March in March. had been planning on attending the Sacramento march long as budget cuts continue to ocsince late October and have been cur and there is no financial capital vocal on the importance of getting being poured into our system of damaging their schools. At the Capital, various speakers shared their own stories.The resounding message being that as

involved on every level. Morhous continued, “Students who had never been to this type of event before came up to me and told me that by doing this they felt empowered.” Feliciano responded that the Deaf students played a role in the march and felt included in ways they had not at previous events. Morhous and Feliciano also met with a staffer from State Sen. Ellen Corbett’s office and discussed the lack of funding to the Deaf and hard of hearing department, which affects Ohlone. A popular solution that protesters at the march advocated is a bill by local StateAssembly Majority Leader Albert Torricco’s (D-Fremont). AB 656 would charge a 9.9 percent oil severance tax that would help fund the California Higher Education Fund, which is created through the legislation. California State Universities would receive the majority of the revenue at 60 percent, while UC’s will get 30 percent and community colleges would account for 10 percent. Continued on Page 3


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