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CAMPUS LIFE
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, October 8, 2014
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT COMPILED BY LYNN JAMES PHOTOS BY DAVE MARTIN University representatives let students know what qualifications a student needs to transfer to their schools on Transfer Day
in September. To hear what representatives from universities like Brandman, Cal State Long Beach, UC San Diego and others had to say, scan the QR code, or visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0Un_rep_8.
SCAN QR CODE
TO HEAR IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
CO-WORKERS MOURN COLLEAGUES’ DEATH Deaths over the summer months brought unwelcome change to the Learning Skills Center in the Life Science Building. Two colleagues beloved by students and faculty would not return in the fall.
Ronald Glass
David Fonseca PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LEARNING SKILLS CENTER
AMY ELLENBERGER NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY
DONALD GORDON BIOLA UNIVERSITY
MACKENZIE MILLAN AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY
THOMAS A. GUTTO LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
“The ideal transfer student is someone who is very passionate about working in the TV and film industry as well as the entertainment industry in general. These are students who want a hands-on experience doing projects and learning by doing.”
“If you have 15 college level units, academically you meet our standards. We’re looking for someone who is excited about integrating their faith with higher education. So we want people that are interested in learning what they believe and why, but we also want them to be focused academically.”
“We have a very holistic process of how we review our applicants. So, I guess someone who is probably between the 2.5- 3.0 GPA [meets standards]. [We want] someone who has a story. Someone who has something to tell us; someone who wants to grow and learn while a student at American Jewish University.”
“We are looking for our students to prepare themselves academically, so they are taking good college-level transferable courses. They tried to take courses within their areas of interest or program … Students who are persistent … We post at least a 3.0 GPA.”
BY JESSICA BRECKER
His main objective in his career was to always help students. We were very shocked and hurt when Ron died.” Glass was a Renaissance man of sorts according to his colleagues. Allen says he knew multiple languages, and helped students in the language arts program as well as with reading, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and GED preparation. “He was like a genius,” Allen said. Glass earned an A.A. degree from LACC and a B.A. degree from Cal Sate Los Angeles. He began working in the Leaning Skills Center in the mid 1980s. His co-workers say Glass had a knowledge of, and passion for music that trumped all others. “He was very exquisite in music, adored opera,” Allen said. According to Allen, Glass loved country music, but his favorite pastime was going to the opera. “Both men loved opera, and would go with Ms. Adunni,” said Allen referring to her Learning Skills colleague. “One of my warmest memories was two months before they both died, we were all at a performance of a soprano who had 32 standing ovations,” said adjunct professor Oni Adunni. Adunni says Glass would know the name and plot of every opera, each singer’s credits and more. “I would be so proud of myself when I would remember on par with Ron. He was my mentor in terms of opera,” Adunni said. “[I] went [to the opera] last Sunday, [and] I just couldn’t help but think about them.” What both professors seem to remember most of all was Glass’s adeptness with computers. They say
he was always exploring the Internet for information on any topic being discussed within his earshot. “Ron was a computer wiz,” Adunni said, “If he heard a question, about the American Revolution for example, he would go on the Internet and get the answer and information. He was interested in everything.” Des Vignes says any question presented to Glass by a student would result in an answer containing “900 million things that related to that topic.” “He was truly a brilliant young man. He really was,” Des Vignes said. Fonseca passed away July 11, 2014. Adunni says he was in the hospital when he learned Glass had died. Even though Fonseca had planned to retire, he made plans to return to LACC and fill the gap. “He found out that Ron had died and we would be short-staffed, so he was going to come back and volunteer,” Adunni said. Fonseca seems to be remembered most for his generosity and concern for others. “David was the type of person that would give you the shirt off his back, period,” Adunni said. “One time, it was raining, and he drove a little beat up car,” Adunni said. “[To] everybody he passed he said, ‘you want a ride, honey?’” He called everyone honey, but he had his own way of saying it. On this particular rainy day, Adunni says Fonseca had eight people in his car. They were sitting on each other’s laps, on the floor, in the front seat, and in the back seat by the time he pulled out of the parking lot that day. “That would be totally indicative
of his personality,” Allen said, “He was that type of person.” However, she also explained that with Fonseca, generosity was a two way street. “He wanted the shirt off yours!” she said. Fonseca had no trouble giving away the possessions of others as well. It appears he had a philanthropic streak. “We would always get on David, because he would give our books away,” Des Vignes said. “We started noticing we were running out of books!” Des Vignes says it didn’t seem to matter how many times he was told not to, he would still give away textbooks. But, she said this just underlined that fact that he was a man who cared for others. Adunni and Allen described both Fonseca and Glass as family, not just to the employees, but also to every one of their students, who according to Allen, “would make a bee-line to go to David or Ron” upon entering the classroom. “Ron … I loved working right beside him on computers,” said Soma Ali, who works at the Learning Skills Center. “We were a team.” Adunni and Allen described both men as having “personalities like magnets” and they say students were in tears when they learned they had died. “[Fonseca and Glass were] two men with enormous concern. Every single day we miss them,” Des Vignes said. “I will miss David Fonseca for the rest of my life,” Allen said. “When they created Ron and David they broke the educational mold. I can hear Ron talking to me. It is very difficult to work without them.”
Learning Skills, Room 201 in the Life Science Building closes its doors early these days at 1 p.m. It is not that there isn’t important business to attend to. The cut in hours is directly related to the loss of two key members of the department’s team, two employees who will not be returning. Over the summer break, learning skills instructional assistant Ronald Glass and longtime student worker David Fonseca died. Department chair Maryanne Des Vignes has a welcoming smile on her face in spite of being completely swamped with work. When the Collegian caught up with her, she was surrounded by students who needed her help. Right now, the Learning Skills Center has only two full-time employees and three adjunct employees. “We only get one [adjunct employee] a day for a few hours,” Des Vignes said. “That’s the really tragic part. Administration has not given me the go ahead to fill the positions. With both David and Ronald being gone, I am in this room all the time.” Fonseca and Glass were loved, and the employees who work in Leaning Skills are in mourning. “They were here so long we saw them as family and we got to know their idiosyncrasies,” Des Vignes said, “[Fonseca and Glass] were such an asset to our department.” L.A. City College lost Glass on June 9, 2014, following a massive stroke. Glass was 51 years old. “[Glass] was basically my right and left hand,” said leaning skills professor Joyce Allen. “I miss him every single day. Ronald was extremely bright and very intelligent.
HAVE AN OPINION? A STORY IDEA? THE COLLEGIAN IS INTERESTED!
PHOTO BY CURTIS SABIR
Cubs Take the Fast Track to Cronkite School BY RICHARD MARTINEZ Representatives from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University met with Los Angeles City College journalism students at the Collegian offices on Sept. 29. College President Renee Martinez, Dean Allison Jones, Media Arts Chair Daniel Marlos and newspaper adviser Rhonda Guess played host to ASU Vice Provost of Academic Partnerships (left) and
Dean of Admissions Maria Hesse (center left). Students had the chance to learn what it takes to be admitted into the Cronkite School of Journalism directly from ASU administrators. The ASU representatives say they chose LACC because students in the journalism program consistently receive accolades in national journalism competitions. They also read about the success of the program in President Martinez’ college newsletter.
Students who complete the required coursework and maintain a 3.0 GPA could have guaranteed admission to the university. ASU admissions guidelines allow the university to admit a student and hold a guaranteed place for as long as two years. ASU also participates in an online degree program for Starbucks eligible employees. Starbucks pays full tuition for employees who meet the corporation’s requirements and are admitted to ASU.
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