Union questions expenditures

Personal charges found on official accounts

Hagan has reason to believe that there was an unusual spending activity going on for over 20 years.

Students in the Promise program can now get two years of free college at any California community college according to Dean of Student Services William Marmolejo.

Assembly Bill -2, enacted on Sept. 13, expanded the current, one-year California College Promise program created by Assembly Bill 19 into a second year. The program pays for tuition and mandatory fees for two fall semesters, two spring semesters, and a summer term.

“It’s not just the free tuition,” Marmolejo said. “They get a lot more. We’re providing a structure for them to be successful.”

Students enrolled in the Promise program receive a peer mentor and a free Google Chromebook. They can also apply for the Mayor’s Young Ambassador Program, a free international travel program open only to Promise students.

Students in the Promise program also receive a $300 voucher every year they are in the program for up to two years. The voucher can pay for transportation costs, food, or textbooks.

“We’ve always hoped it would be a two-year program,” Marmolejo said. “We were constantly trying to raise money to extend the benefit into the

Pierce has the highest number of Promise students among all schools in the Los Angeles California Community College District. Promise students have a nearly 80% retention rate, according to Marmolejo.

“At Pierce, we really try to support them from day one all the way until graduation,” Marmolejo said. “That distinguishes us from other Promise programs.”

The First-Year Experience Counseling Center has increased the amount of summer transition programs offered to accommodate the number of students interested in the Promise program, according to Student Services Assistant Tatevik Melkumyam.

“Knowing that they have two years free definitely gives them peace of mind,” Melkumyam said.

The benefits of the Promise program outside of the free tuition have helped students achieve academic success, said Melkumyam.

“They feel more motivated that they’re getting support and can do better in their classes,” Melkumyam said.

Pierce’s outreach team works directly with high school guidance counselors to inform students about Promise. Career Guidance Counseling Assistant Kristen Acosta said that students and their families feel grateful to have the Promise program.

“This opportunity is a way to support them in a way they didn’t think they had before,” Acosta said.

Currently, there is no limit for the number of students accepted into the Promise program. Marmolejo hopes the program incentivizes students to be successful.

“We’re really proud of what we’re doing,” Marmolejo said. “We try to be forward-thinking to help our students as much as possible.”

To qualify for the Promise program, students must be graduates from a Calif. high school, complete the Pierce application and the FAFSA, attend a summer transition program, and enroll as full-time students. Summer programs include Summer Bridge, a sixweek program, #PierceSuccess, a four-day program, and GO Days, one-day workshop events.

To maintain good standing and qualify for their second year of Promise, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA and full-time status. Promise students are also obligated to attend one campus engagement event per semester. These are any Pierce-sponsored events outside of the classroom, including sports games and Transfer Center workshops.

“The more engaged a student is with the campus, the greater their chances of success,” Marmolejo said.

A union is only as strong as the rules that govern it.

Local AFT 1521A, the faculty and staff union that represents Los Angeles Community Colleges, is putting its rules to the test.

President Velma Butler was replaced by Temporary Administrator Ruby Newbold, by the AFT national executive council decision Monday, Sept. 16, following two internal investigations of misappropriation of union funds and retaliation against members who came forward to bring it to everyones’ attention.

According to Instructional Assistant Dorlah Lawrence, union members were notified immediately of the action being taken.

“We all heard from [Chancellor Fransisco Rodriguez] that the president was removed,” Lawrence said. “They’ve investigated some financial problems that she's had, that they think, that the board decided she had.”

Student Services Assistant Lupita Narkevicius explained that the investigation was prompted by the current treasurer, who noticed something unusual.

“Complaints came forward and they were found, they had foundation,” Narkevicius said. “They're doing a forensic audit, so that should tell you something. We won't really know until they finish the audit. You know, the scope of it.”

Pierce Textbook Buyer Holly

“It actually started way back in 1998, when the treasurer at that time had found some fraudulent charges,” Hagan said. “He asked me if I would circulate it and let the other members know, which I did at the time.” Hagan said she felt retaliated against personally, so she stopped talking about it because she delivered flyers.

“Unfortunately what had happened is that our union rep. was livid with me for bringing this stuff forward, and basically from that point forward I had very little union representation,” Hagan said. According to Narkevicious, union officers are not taking this matter lightly.

“There's some serious changes that are going to be made, more accountability,” Narkevicius said. “You know, business as usual can't continue.” Narkevicius has confidence in Newbold's ability to help and looks forward to the opportunity to make the union a stronger through better organization.

“We are under administratorship,” Narkevicius said. “She's great. She's gonna be a really good force for the union. I think by the time she's done, we’ll be a lot stronger as a union and more organized and have a constitution. That is what it should be.”

[see HERITAGE PHOTO ESSAY on pg. 4]

[see HERITAGE on pg. 6] the desk of the Roundup: Editorial