2007_0911_CT_v62i1

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‘Newscene’ students win Emmy awards

News, page 3

WHO’S NEWS Student president gets goals in gear

Read us online: www.sdcitytimes.com

Campus preparing for move to Modville

News, page 5

CityTimes

Volume 62, Number 1

Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

DA to look into land transaction

Benjamin Cruz City Times For Clemente Valdez, winning the student election during the spring semester was just the start of what he said is going to be the busiest new school year for the Associated Students.

Although he was inaugurated in June, Valdez just took office Aug. 27. Valdez now finds himself attending meeting after meeting with the Board of Trusties and Associated Students.

“One of the first things as president is to have students vote on the Student Community Center again this fall,” Valdez said.

Valdez is referring to the Student Community Center proposal in Clemente Valdez last spring’s elections. If passed, it will approve the building of a multimillion dollar facility paid for by the students.

Valdez isn’t giving up on the idea. He believes that the student center is vital to the success of many students.

This time, however, Valdez said he will have the ballot casting online as opposed to campus polls, and will extend the voting to five days. The changes, Valdez hopes, will guarantee them the votes needed to pass the proposal.

“I’m going to open forums, I want to go into classrooms and have questions and answers,” Valdez said. “Were going to ask professors for times they’ll let us into their classes and talk about the Student Community Center.”

The student center isn’t the

See GOALS, page 2

INDEX Calendar..................................... 2 News..........................................3 Opinion.......................................6 Sports........................................8 Please recycle this newspaper.

September 11, 2007

Chancellor asks for probe in light of questions over sale Josie Salazar City Times San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance Carroll has asked District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to investigate circumstances surrounding a 2006 property deal in which two local developers, acting on their own, may have misrepresented the College District to several Downtown property owners.

The district bought a n Next Issue: An in-depth parcel of land on the 15th look into the alleged misStreet block of down- representation and property town for the fair-market sale, and reported comments value of $1.2 million from the Union-Tribune from well-known devel- about former Vice Chancellor opers Mike Madigan Damon Schamu. and Paul Nieto.

According to the The San Diego Union-Tribune, the two developers allegedly had offered the property owners a below-fair-market value price of $750,000 and promising tax breaks, claiming to be agents of the college district, then selling it to the district, making more than a $500,000 profit.

District officials state that in itself, the acquisition of the property by the district was a legal process; nevertheless they asked the district attorney

See LAND, page 2

Next stop, City College College, city and transit officials marked the opening of the College Station trolley stop in late August. The station, location across from City College in the new Smart Corner development, was celebrated as modern, clean replacement for the stop that occupied the site before Smart Corner was built. “City College Trolley Station is the beginning of the revitalization of the College Neighborhood of East Village, and we who work and study at the college are excited about our future,” college President Terrence Burgess (pictured left) said at the celebration.

CARI ARTHUR City Times

Rush promotes campus clubs Cari Arthur City Times

SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE Courtesy Photo

Students gathered for Club Rush in Gorton Quad Sept. 5 and 6, meeting with campus clubs to discuss local and national issues as well as club membership.

The Associated Student Government sponsors this event twice a year to help clubs gain exposure with students. The ASG is confident that students will realize the benefits of joining a club as it allows them the opportunity to socialize, meet new friends and feel good about making a difference.

Among the organizations on hand was the San Diego City Robotics Club.

The club is less than a year old, but that did not stop members from receiving ninth place at the

See RUSH, page 4

2

NEWS / CALENDAR

City Times

CALENDAR

Compiled by Alissa Wisniewski Send items to City Times, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101, e-mail citytimes@gmail.com, call (619) 388-3880, or fax (619) 388-3814 SEPTEMBER n Dead Sea Scrolls Free Lecture 13th @ 9:40 – 11 a.m.

Saville Theatre n Women’s Volleyball Game vs. Irvine Valley College 14th @ 5 p.m.

Harry West Gym n Child Development Student Orientation 15th @ 11:30 – 12:30 p.m Education Cultural Complex n Cosmetology Orientation 17th @ 1 – 2 p.m.

Room L-112 n Adams Avenue Street Fair Co-sponsored by Jazz 88.3 29th and 30th @ 10 a.m.

Adam’s Avenue

n Jazz Live 18th @ 8 – 9 p.m.

Saville Theatre n Constitution Week The Big Debate: Evolution vs. Creation 19th @ 11:15 – 12:35 p.m.

Saville Theatre n Men’s Soccer Game vs. College of the Desert 19th @ 4 p.m.

Soccer Field n Women’s Volleyball Game vs. Saddleback College 19th @ 7 p.m.

Harry West Gym n Women’s Volleyball Game vs. Orange Coast College 21st @5 p.m. n Soprano, Canciones Espanoles 24th @11:15 – 12:30 p.m.

Saville Theatre

Broadcaster, professor Lewis dies Fred Lewis, longtime San Diego broadcaster and City College radio/television professor, died Sept. 6 at age 78, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Known for his polished, affable style, Lewis in recent years produced a weekly cable TV show called “The Heart of San Diego”.

The half-hour show centered on inter-

views with local civic leaders, politicians, academics, business owners and athletes.

Lewis’ family requests donations to the Fred Lewis Scholarship at City College.

Donations can be sent for the scholarship in care of the San Diego City College Foundation, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101.

— City Times

September 11, 2007

Land Continued from page 1 to conduct an independent investigation for any fraudulent actions that may have been taken by the two developers in acquiring the parcel of property before selling it to the district after information came to their attention that the two developers may have falsely claimed to represent the college district.

In a statement sent districtwide on July 16, Carroll said, “This afternoon, we contacted the District Attorney’s Office to request that this agency conduct an independent investigation to ensure that a thorough and independent review is made.”

City College’s president, Terrence Burgess, said, “We generally are not making public comments while the District Attorney’s investigation is underway.”

Paul Levikow, a spokesman for the district attorney, said normally they would not

Goals Continued from page 1 only thing Valdez will focus on as student president. He said the student government has always had difficulty when it comes to the transition between the outgoing council that ends their term and the new incoming council. He plans to change that.

Valdez said another goal is the possibility of regulating smoking on campus. Although a similar proposal was passed in the spring elections, Valdez said that some students will smoke on campus anyway.

Like other first-semester City students, Valdez took the school’s assessment test and scored high enough to be accepted into the honors program. During the first days of his honors classes, a classmate came to him and told him about the Trio Aspire program.

“I went to Trio Aspire and talked to a counselor, Kathy Lopez. I told her I wanted to go to law school so she told me I should intern at a law firm and other things like student government,” said Valdez.

comment on the existence of a case, but since the Union-Tribune article, he confirms that they have been asked to look into the case.

City Attorney Michael Aguirre was also conducting his own investigation, however according to Levikow, was asked to stop his investigation because “it is not his jurisdiction.”

Aguirre was not available for comment.

In addition, according to the UnionTribune article, now-retired district Vice Chancellor Damon Schamu, the head of the Facilities Management, had known of the alleged misrepresentation though chose not to intervene. According to the article, he retired shortly after the Union-Tribune contacted him about the matter.

The college district disputes the claim about Schamu, Public Information Officer Richard Dittbenner said, stating that they have no knowledge that Schamu knew of the alleged misrepresentation.

“We do not have any evidence that he knew that,” Dittbenner said. “At the first of the year, he put in his papers in normal sequence for retirement.”

When 2006-2007 President, Francisco Fabian announced that he would not run again last spring because he was transferring, Valdez saw it as an opportunity. He ran against three other students.

Valdez said he plans to be president only for a year. He knows that being student president at City is no easy job, and that he will have to take on a light load of classes during his presidency.

After that, he’ll have a semester left at City, maybe two. The main reason for not seeking re-election next spring is that he said he wants to see how well the transition goes with the next student president.

“I want to stick around for at least a semester after my term ends to make sure the next administration is even better with the transition,” said Valdez.

Valdez is studying psychology and plans on going to law school. Although he lives down the street from Southwestern College, he chooses to go to City because of its diversity.

“I am very excited to be in the position that I am in,” Valdez added. “This is a place where I can have a great impact on students. My job at City is great. I want to make it a better place.”

Wilson statue draws jeers, cheers Chris Bloss City Times Over 300 protesters showed up to Horton Plaza on Aug. 25 to the unveiling of a bronze statue of former San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson.

The protesters were mostly immigrantand gay-rights activists trying to disrupt the ceremony using chants, bull horns, and drums.

The immigrant-rights activists were opposed to Wilson’s support for Proposition 187, which denies undocumented immigrants social services such as medical care, schooling, and welfare.

Gay-rights activists said they felt ignored and shut out of surging downtown businesses by Wilson during his service to the public Wilson was not without his supporters that day, with more then 500 attending the ceremony behind fences that blocked off the normally open plaza.

They came to praise Wilson, who is credited with changing the small naval town and problematic downtown area into the thriving business capital of San Diego.

Also in attendance were 15 members of the San Diego Minutemen who came to show their support for Proposition 187 but were shut out of the ceremony.

Profs go online to cut book costs Melody Chiu USC Daily Trojan LOS ANGELES (U-WIRE) — A number of University of Southern California and Hebrew Union College professors have opted to use a private company instead of campus bookstores to provide course readers and textbooks for students.

Professors teaching 16 different USC courses and three Hebrew Union courses have begun ordering course readers through University Readers, a small, online company that binds select textbook materials into course readers and sells textbooks.

Hebrew Union College history professor Sharon Gillerman is using University Readers for the first time in two of her courses this semester.

“It sounded like it was more efficient,” said Gillerman. “I could get [the materials] in two to three weeks before the semester, and I could just FedEx everything to them and they would Xerox it themselves.”

The custom publishing company, based in San Diego, was started about 15 years ago by Bassim Hamadeh, the company’s CEO. Hamadeh said his years of experience as a college student made him sensitive to the high prices of university course materials.

“Our goal is to save students money and make custom publishing an easy process for professors,” he said.

Hamadeh said his company has agreements with publishers that allow it to “reproduce content both in print and digitally at special rates.”

September 11, 2007

NEWS

City Times 3

Students’ work earns Emmys Benjamin Cruz City Times

the seventh most walkable city in America by Fitness magazine and the American Podiatric Association.

However, around City College and East Village, some hazards and accessibility issues exist.

Traffic from recent development, increased construction and highways pose danger to pedestrians.

To help address the need of the community the Traffic Safety Project was formed.

The safety project is a collaboration between San Diego City

The 33rd National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Pacific Southwest Emmys on June 16 is an evening Micaela Arroyo and Tony Sanchez will never forget.

“Oh my God! We Won!” Arroyo screamed when her name was called to the podium to receive her award.

The event, which took place at the La Costa Resort & Spa in La Costa, awards Emmys to local broadcasting news professionals for their best work. In their special student categories, Arroyo and Sanchez won the nomination for Outstanding Student Achievement.

While the idea of a Spanish version of Newscene is not new, Professor Laura Castañeda said producing one was. She added that when Sanchez came to her with the idea, she was very excited and gave him her full support.

“Micaela and I were thinking of a Newscene in Spanish, then though, a magazine show could be better since we didn’t have a complete newscast that speaks Spanish,” Sanchez said, “and for doing it, we won an Emmy.”

Castañeda said a magazine version of a newscast is similar but each story is three minutes long as opposed to the traditional one-and-a-half minute long feature story and the regular thirtysecond ones. She adds that a Spanish one is even better.

Arroyo said she was very excited that they won because all the hard work in putting the project together paid off.

“We stayed up at Jon’s place working on the show an entire night just to get it done,” Arroyo added, “With an Emmy on my resume, I will stand out from other beginning reporters.

I know it’s going to help out a lot when I apply at news stations.

“I just had a feeling that they were going to win,” Castañeda said. “When I saw their final product, I was really impressed. They put a lot of hours into it. I am proud of my students.”

Newscene en Español is a Spanish news magazine version of the school’s already existing news show, Newscene. Because Newscene is aired every weekend of the semester, except for holidays, it was Sanchez’s idea to fill in the Friday of Thanksgiving with his special Newscene version.

Castañeda said that past students have always taken advantage of the weekends Newscene doesn’t air. Erica Henry, a past student of Castañeda’s, also won an Emmy for doing a special project about the previous Newscene

See SAFETY, page 7

See EMMYS, page 7

CARI ARTHUR City Times

Robotics team member Tracy Tse (left); Chris Wilson, club vice president; Paulette Hopkins, dean of math, engineering and technologies; and Trudy Gerald, associate dean; show off the underwater robot that placed ninth among major university machines during competition over the summer.

Robotics team places among top universities Rejel Kiok Contributor When you think of robots, do you think of science fiction movies? Well think again.

Today, robots are part of our everyday life. They’re painting cars, making cookies, driving trains, defusing bombs and so much more.

Robots have been with us for less than 50 years, but the idea of a lifeless creation to do our bidding is much older.

This summer the San Diego City College Robotics Team joined a competition on July 11 that pitted them against 27 other universities.

They placed ninth despite having a budget of $3,000,

which paled in comparison to the $70,000 budget of their competitors. The team also won the Most Improved award and a check of $500 that will go towards their next project.

Robotics is a field that combines electronic and mechanical, computer and software engineering in the hopes of building something - in this case, an aquatic vehicle. The team’s lead programmer, Chris Wilson, said the field is not exclusive to engineering majors.

“Most people feel that they can only participate in a robotics project if they possess technical knowledge … the other and possibly larger part of our project consists of marketing.

Projects like ours need market-

ing in order to get the word out … and gain new sponsors,” said Wilson.

The robotics team competed against teams from the University of Texas at Dallas, Duke University, Georgia Tech, MIT, and Virginia Tech, among others.

When asked about his experience with the competition this summer, Wilson said, “It was remarkable. The first couple days are reserved for testing …

During those two days VIPs … inspect the work … The VIP’s are mostly competition sponsors looking to recruit young talent.”

One of the benefits of joining the robotics team is that it can be a tremendous boost to a stu-

dent’s resume while using skills learned in class.

“While we are all there to win, each person was also there to learn. Half the time we were either answering question from other teams or asking questions of the other teams,” Wilson added.

Whether students work on the technical or non-technical side, companies are always looking for people with skills in working with a team.

While preparing for the competition, the team encountered numerous problems, such as not having facilities to test their project. The team settled on using a dumpster filled with

See ROBOTICS, page 7

Better pedestrian safety is project’s goal Shay Dewey City Times Raising awareness on traffic safety was the cause for an on campus information event brought by the Transportation Safety Project on Sept. 4 and 6.

Shontey Hambrick, the community organizer for Institute for Public Strategies, Lakia “Kaya” Queen and Lawrence Walker, two student ambassadors from City College who are active on the Traffic Safety Project, partnered with Metropolitan Transit Services for an on campus event

to give safety tips and guidance for riding the trolley and buses as well as bicycle and pedestrian safety.

In addition to providing infor-

mation, another goal was to increase awareness in traffic safety and to encourage students, faculty and the community to get more involved.

Walker and Queen passed out safety brochures, key chains and water bottles while educating students on safety while riding the trolley, buses, walking or bicycling. Students dropped by to share their concerns about safety in the area.

The City of San Diego’s Master Plan calls for a more walkable transit oriented environment. In fact San Diego was recently voted

4

NEWS

City Times

September 11, 2007

Rush Continued from page 1 2007 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition. The goal of SDCR is to provide students the opportunity to learn about the field of robotics by building an underwater robotic and competing in an obstacle course at the AUV competition.

Vice president Chris Wilson said, “The theme for SDCR is to do more with less.” Last year they had the smallest budget and the smallest robotic but still beat out teams from MIT, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Duke. Meetings are 9-12 p.m. Saturday in room T-214.

Do you support human rights?

Amnesty International might be a club for you. Rachel Brewer, copresident of AI said, “We are here to educate students about human rights issues going on around the world, in our own country and locally.” Brewer went on to say, “We encourage students to get involved who want to transfer (to a university) and become a valuable member of our community.”

Locally they will be focusing on border issues and concerns.

Meetings are 2 p.m. Tuesday in room B-202.

The African American Student Union offers assistance for all students with tutoring, filling out forms and any other help you may need to become successful throughout your college years.

Melissa Baker-Taylor of AASU said their motto is, “If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.”

The AASU is in the process of starting a fellowship on campus in order to promote unity among students and give African Americans a voice. During their Sept.

12 meeting, they will be having a brainstorming session to discuss issues within the African American community and decide what direction to move forward with this year. Meetings are 1 p.m.

Wednesday in room D-104.

MEChA is a student movement formed in the 1970s to promote education and awareness to

CARI ARTHUR City Times

NASM international organizer Sidney Martinez (right) talks to a student about the group during Club Rush, an event that aims to inform students about the numerous clubs on campus.

Chicano youth. Their goal is to educate Chicanos on staying in school, attending college, promoting awareness and to be proud of their culture.

Contact MEChA directly at mechadesdcity@yahoo.com for further information and club meetings.

Campus Antiwar Network

is a national organization with two main goals: troops out now and college not combat. Marcos Perez of CAN invites all students, military personnel and war resisters to come out and join the fight for anti-war on Tuesday Sept. 11, 10:30–11:30 a.m. in the cafeteria.

“The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers is an organi-

zation that helps students to get internships and reach out to high school and elementary schools to try to help students get involved and help them to inspire to be something in the science field.” said Melissa Bonilla, vice president at SDSU. As a benefit to being part of SHPE, large fortune 500 compa-

nies will look to hire from within the SHPE community for their professionals. All members of the local SHPE club will attend a national conference Oct. 31-Nov. 4 in Philadelphia, Pa. to participate in activities, attend a career expo and take business workshops.

Contact SHPE directly at shpecity@gmail.com for further information.

The New Aeon Socialist Movement is an organization based on a mix of new age socialist ideas.

International organizer Sidney Martinez said they have two campaigns for this year, the Darfur massacre and people around freedom for Tibet.

“The 2008 Olympics will be held in Shang Hi, China so we are trying to get people to go out and protest the Chinese Consulate and write letters to the Chinese Government to demand freedom for Tibetan Monks.”

Locally, Sidney and his group will be organizing an event on Sept. 28 in L.A. to take part in the solidarity protest camp out.

They will be providing transportation and are encouraging students to get involved and surround the federal building in L.A., while the national camp out event will be in Washington, D.C. Contact Sidney directly at eartheasparrowhawk@yahoo.com for further information.

Vendors who participated included Bank of America who was offering students free checking for five-years. In case you missed them on campus, personal banker Gladis Robies said, “Students can contact me and I will offer them the same 5-year free checking as we are doing today.” Robies went on to say, “Contact me at the Gaslamp Banking Center, provide your Student ID and I will extend the offer.”

Other vendors who participated included Exotic Body Oils who sells fragrant body oils, incense and more, 24-Hour Fitness and Washington Mutual, which offered student discounts for the two-day event.

The Associated Student Government holds meetings 10 a.m.

Friday in room D-107 that are open for all students to attend.

San Diego State bookstore offering textbook rental Pilot program started last year with two classes, now expanded to 11 courses Alanna Berman SDSU Daily Aztec SAN DIEGO (U-WIRE) — A college education doesn’t come cheap. On top of ever-increasing tuition fees and the costs of living in San Diego, students at San Diego State University are expected to spend $1,332 this year on books alone, according to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. The use of new editions, along with increased publishing costs have pushed prices higher; however, the SDSU Bookstore is trying out a new tactic to solve that problem — at least for some students.

This semester, 11 courses will offer students the option to rent, rather than buy course materials, saving students an estimated 40 percent, according to the Bookstore Advisory Committee.

The SDSU textbook rental program started as a pilot program last fall that included only two courses, CJA 420 and JMS 480. Beginning with the fall semester, the program is expanding in response to the demand for more cost-saving options when it comes to textbooks.

“There is a concern among students, faculty, and the bookstore that the cost of books is too high,” said Todd Summer, director of course materials at the SDSU Bookstore. “Finding the best way to save students money is crucial.”

In an effort to help students save, Summer said the bookstore offers 200,000 used titles each semester, stocking the largest selection of used books in the San Diego area.

“The rental program uses only new books,” Summer said. “Which lets us keep as many used books as possible on the shelf for students not renting.”

About 100 students used the rental program in its pilot year; however, Summer said it isn’t a good sample because they were 400-level courses in which students are in their major and more likely to keep their textbooks.

This year, 11 courses are offering rental texts, including the largest course, COMM 103, in which 5,000 students are expected to enroll this year.

Students taking the class will have the option to purchase the required text new

‘Finding the best way to save students money is crucial.’

Todd Summer, SDSU Bookstore director for about $80 or used for about $55. If the book is going to be used again, the bookstore will buy it back and give students about 50 percent of its value, Summer said.

Those who wish to rent their books would pay about $30 for a rental and would return the book to the bookstore at the end of the semester. Those who choose to rent books are not eligible to participate in the buyback at the end of the semester.

Students should be aware that rental books that have been heavily highlighted and marked on would be subject to an additional charge. Summer said in these cases, the difference of the rental and the cost of the book would be charged to the owner

upon return. In other words, the student would pay the full new price of the textbook, but could not sell it back.

Accounting senior Pansy Thein said she spent almost $1,000 on books last year.

“In accounting, it’s good because we can reuse a book for the next semester,” Thein said. “It saves me money, but I bought four books for one class, and they were all over $100 each.”

Thein said she would rent her books if she could.

“New editions are used each year,” she said, “so I can’t sell the books back at the end of the class.”

Instructors must order a book for four semesters for it to be offered as a rental.

“Not every class is taught every semester by the same teacher, and some classes are not offered each semester,” Summer said. “Not all classes are right for the program.”

This year, 1,500 students are expected to rent their books and the bookstore plans to expand the program. For more information and the list of courses offering textbook rentals, visit www.sdsubookstore.com.

September 11, 2007

NEWS

City Times

5

Finishing touches under way on Modville complex Jackie Beltran City Times Modville is the name for the new modular village that will soon be put up in the student parking lot behind the T building.

The reason for Modville is due to the reconstruction of the L building, which will undergo serious renovations on its two levels.

The lower level will house 2 multipurpose rooms, Puente, a new state of the art conference room, 6 classrooms, Trio Aspire, MESA, New Horizon, and EOPS. The building’s upper level will contain the English Center, Math Center, Assessment/Multipurpose room center, an advisement and follow up center, and a tutorial and academic center.

The new Modville will be put up during the 2008 Intersession and will be available for the Spring Semester.

It will be in service during the renovations of the “L” building, which will last for an estimated time of 10 years.

The new modville will consist of 11 classrooms with two restrooms. “All classrooms will be

considered Smart classrooms as they will all have internet access, LCD/DVD Video capabilities, Podiums with Air condition systems” says director of Business Services Carol Dexheimer.

This construction is made possible by passing the SDCCD Propositions S (2002) for $685 million and Proposition N (2006) for $870 million at a total of $1.5 billion. These bonds are one of the biggest in the nation.

Modville will be an open area accessed from all sides of campus.

It will have easy access with steps and ramps that will be up to code in standards with the building code of ethics for all students.

To accommodate students in regards to parking spaces where the new Modville will be, approximately 700 spaces are in the works to be open in the new career tech center, which is scheduled to be open in 2009.

“Better utilization of property by building upwards on our own school property, and all these new constructions and renovations are for the benefit and better accommodations of our students” says Dexheimer.

CARI ARTHUR City Times

CARI ARTHUR City Times

The Modville complex, located in the student parking lot near the T building, is undergoing final touches in preparation for use when the L building closes for renovation.

Construction workers Zach Smith (seated) and Jason Frieze install a ramp Sept. 6 to one of the modular classrooms that will replace the L building when it undergoes major renovations next spring.

States, colleges working to reduce the cost of textbooks Pauline Vu MCT Campus WASHINGTON — College students across the country are experiencing sticker shock at their bookstores. At the University of Maryland, a new “Understanding Business” book sells for $139. At the University of North Carolina, Tar Heels could shell out $153.35 for “Principles of Economics.” And at the University of Wisconsin, “Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity” goes for $109.90 — used.

But relief may be on the way as states and university officials move to lower the cost of college textbooks by taking aim at some publisher and faculty practices blamed for raising prices.

This year — when students at four-year public universities spent an average of $942 on books and supplies, the College Board reported — there were 86 bills in 27 states that dealt with textbook

affordability, according to the National Association of College Stores (NACS).

Some of the bills proposed direct relief through sales-tax exemptions or credits and deductions, but the seven states that enacted laws — Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington — largely targeted the behavior of publishers and college faculty. They follow the lead of Connecticut and Virginia, which in the last two years passed bills to cut textbook costs.

State and university officials have stepped up their efforts since a 2005 report by Congress’ Government Accountability Office found that from 1986 to 2004, college textbook prices increased 186 percent, more than twice the rate of inflation. But over the same period, tuition rose 240 percent, and publishers and college bookstores say that increase is fueling the anger at textbook prices.

“The textbook thing is something that people have latched onto, and it’s kind of easier to tackle,” said Charles Schmidt, a NACS spokesman. “It’s been the issue to show `we’re doing something to make higher education ... more affordable and accessible.”

According to the GAO report, many textbooks now come “bundled” with supplemental materials such as workbooks, study guides, CDs or online resources, driving up the price.

The jury is still out over whether the bundled materials are necessary. A survey by MassPIRG, the Massachusetts branch of the national Public Interest Research Group, reported that half of 287 surveyed professors said they never used the additional material. Yet a Zogby International survey found that 75 percent of professors nationwide either require or recommend that students buy textbook packages that include the add-ons.

Bruce Hildebrand of the Association of American Publishers, which commissioned the Zogby study, said professors request that textbooks be sold with the support packages to help students who may be unprepared for a college workload. Hildebrand added that complaints about bundling focus only on cost and not on the material’s effectiveness.

“Is it better to give (students) the lowest-cost book and have them flunk out, or give them the book and the materials that merits their needs and have them get a return on their investment?” Hildebrand said. Critics’ arguments “don’t address quality, they don’t address efficiency, they don’t address pass rates, retention rates, graduation rates,” he said.

This year, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington passed bills to encourage unbundling. Oregon’s new law, for example, requires publishers to give colleges the option of order-

ing bundled items separately.

Oregon’s law also orders publishers to inform faculty how often a book is updated to help them decide whether it is necessary to require students to buy the latest edition, while Maryland’s law sets up a study to look into the factors that drive up textbook prices.

Tennessee’s and Washington’s laws require that college bookstores inform professors of book prices before the placing orders.

Tennessee also demands that professors turn in their textbook lists in a timely manner; the less time stores have to order books or students have to shop around, the pricier a textbook’s final cost.

University officials in Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin also are working on initiatives to cut textbook prices.

In July, the Wisconsin Board of Regents ordered its universities to submit plans by December on how they will lower textbook prices.

6 City Times

OPINION

September 11, 2007

Constructive changes for City Times and campus Since 1945, City Times has been bringing the City College campus community news on local events and stories pertinent to students.

This semester we are excited to return with a full arsenal of staff writers, editors and a full time faculty adviser. As an award winning paper and member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges, we at City Times are committed to the pursuit of excellence in journalism.

Professor Roman Koenig will serve as full time faculty adviser at City Times and plans to create a degree program for journalism students on campus.

Koenig also hopes to create a City Times Editorial Board closer affiliation between City Times and “Newscene”, City College’s own television news show.

Returning with a full time faculty adviser means a better program and a better paper for City College.

Although the stories may be incentive enough for some, readers may also notice the City Times has had a face-lift. The redesign will give City Times a fresh new look, making it bold and eye-catching for readers.

Renovations this fall are being seen all around campus as plans for spring construction on the City College L building come to fruition (story page 5). Student concerns over parking will also be covered as the complex popularly known as ‘Modville’ takes precedence over student parking in Lot 2.

Future changes for campus life may also include online voting.

In a proposal made by new ASG president Clemente Valdez (front page), online voting may soon come to City College.

Discouraged by last year’s voter turnout, Valdez hopes to encourage campus improvements, making it easier for students to take action.

Making a triumphant return this fall semester, City Times wishes only the best to readers as we close the summer and open to a fresh page of new opportunity. In our constant struggle to bring City Times our best, we encourage readers to send us their thoughts and ideas on how we may improve our paper.

EDITORIAL

CityTimes Volume 62, Issue 1 September 11, 2007 Published as: The Jay Sees / 1945-1949 Fortknightly / 1949-1978 City Times / 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks Luis Bahena Editor-in-Chief Alissa Wisniewski News Editor Emily Pfaff Opinion Editor

Sasha Pfau Feature Editor Cari Arthur Photography Editor Shay Dewey Copy Editor City Times Staff Jacqueline Beltran, Christopher Bloss, Shevaun Brandom, Benjamin Cruz, Brian Dowd, Katherine Dunn, Nailah Edmondson, Evonne Ermey, Aysha Johnson, Whitney Lawrence, David McAtee, Jamila Mosi, Larisa Myers, Lauren Nichols, Danny Penera, Josie Salazar, Amanda Vongsavath, Shanika Whaley

Brandy Magyar Arts Editor

Contributors Lauren Ciallella Stephen Knuth Donna Maranto

Robert Moreno Sports Editor

Roman S. Koenig Journalism Adviser

EMILY PFAFF City Times

In the garden of eatin’ From Catholicism to ‘Barbeque-ism’; a spiritual fork in the road If I were on death row I know what I would eat as my last meal — Greek chow-mien from Mr. Souvlaki’s in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Partially because of the nostalgia it stirs from annual treks to this coastal, Greek neighborhood when I was younger, but mostly because of the miracle that appeared in the form of lamb, rice, feta and onions.

Somehow this cracked egg of a building with warped floorboards and crude tables created a holy union of ingredients that induced a spiritual awakening on my palate.

I had found something good and true. Greek chow-mien was the tangible epiphany giving birth to my new religion — Barbequeism.

Barbeque-ism is the appreciation of life through food and has become my devout practice. I believe that when God decided to create Eve from Adam’s rib, the “boys” (God and Adam) celebrated this amazing idea with a backyard cookout at the best setting they could find — one killer garden.

During the festivities, the alleged rib ended up getting grilled with some tasty sauce before they realized it was meant for Eve. This inherent “secret sauce” became the driving force

VIEWPOINT Lauren Ciallella

behind every hetero-male’s craving for female flesh.

We celebrate the “Eve” on the biggest parties of the year (Christmas and New Year’s) because it means letting loose before the actual event. Hey, if a talking snake can happen, why not this?

Instead of smoke at Mass, there could be wafts of caramelizing onions or waffle cones. Instead of wafers for communion there could be blessed bruschetta.

Instead of wine … well, let’s not mess with the sanctity of the church. Let’s stick to the facts.

The “burning bush” was due solely to Moses’ insistence on adding more lighter fluid.

What truly fuels the soul are the relationships we encounter and appreciation for what they teach us. Every Sunday my family would meet for (dinner) service at 5 p.m. and pass plates (not collection) in an open forum of discussion.

Christmas called for homemade raviolis and cannolis.

Summer suggested staying at the beach late and sharing a sandwich with my sister, toes in the sand.

These rituals brought unity to

every dinner, every week, every year.

Food possesses that angelic ability to transcend barriers by cultivating common ground. It bridges the age gap, it continues traditions. It celebrates life’s bounty on emotional and physical levels.

Even when I was at the height of my “teenager-dom”, I would still enjoy going out to breakfast with my grandfather. Sitting down to conversations (rather than confessions) nourished the part of me that made me feel connected to something bigger than myself.

These connections became a stronger moral guide than the judgment juice that spilled from pews and practiced prayer that only resonated with the rafters.

When Mr. Souvlaki changed their location and chow-mien recipe last year (they insist it’s always been pork, but lamb is an extremely identifiable flavor), I was at a loss of what to use as my emergency last meal if ever facing “the chair”.

Hopefully, my Barbeque-istic beliefs would spare me otherwise they would spare (rib) me at one Hell of a barbeque.

Lauren Ciallella is a regular contributor to City Times

City Times is published twice monthly during the semester. Signed opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, City College administration, faculty and staff or the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.

One class closer to the finish line

District policy statement This publication is produced as a learning experience under a San Diego Community College District instructional program. All materials, including opinions expressed herein, are the sole responsibility of the students and should not be interpreted to be those of the college district, its officers or employees.

I always look forward to going back to school; it gives me a reason to get up in the morning instead of sleeping in, not to mention the act of working on my future.

At the same time, there’s a certain frustration that comes with going back. Like many students, I’m not eligible for financial aid, which can make going back somewhat of a struggle.

This can be an issue when it comes to getting through school.

My slight paranoia about my

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LIVE AND LEARN Luis Bahena

future doesn’t help either.

Every so often I have the tendency to question where I am with school and where my future is going. In most instances, it results in me freaking out and making myself some sort of academic plan.

I had planned to take three classes this semester. However,

due to insufficient funds on my part, I was only able to afford one class.

Not only was my whole academic plan ruined, but I had jeopardized my future as well.

So, I decided to try and calm myself down by looking into other options for schooling. Dropping out of school to work full-time was never an option.

On a slow and tedious day at work I received an e-mail from

See CLASS, page 8

September 11, 2007

NEWS

City Times

Emmys

7

Safety

Continued from page 3

Continued from page 3

professor who passed away.

“I would like to have another Newscene en Español produced by students.

Many students through the years are interested in the Spanish markets. It will help them a lot,” said Castañeda.

Sanchez said he thanked everyone who helped in the show during his acceptance speech.

However, Arroyo said she was too nervous and excited that her mind almost went blank when it was her turn to speak at the podium.

Another reporter for Newscene en Español, Edna Málaga, said she accepted the award on behalf of Jon Aiello, who could not attend the award show because of personal commitments.

“Going up to receive an award is motivation for me. It made me want more Emmy’s and I know I am going to get more,” Málaga added.

Málaga said she is currently being interviewed by news stations around the country as a potential reporter and that they were impressed that her journalism skills are Emmy material.

Tony, who writes for a local newspaper, did not comment on his career plans.

As for Arroyo, who is currently working at NBC San Diego in downtown as an editor, is preparing herself to transfer to another

College, the Institute for Public Strategies and East Village Community. This project is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety with a $417,000 grant.

The safety project not only gives information and safety tips to the community but also actively works with planners, council members and the California Office of Traffic Safety to improve safety and accessibility through new improvements and infrastructure.

According to Hambrick, one of the projects’ recent successes was on the corner of Market Street and 14th Street where they were able to get new crosswalks painted and extend crosswalk time.

Hambrick says that City College faculty members have taken an active role in the safety project.

For instance, Kathy McGinnis’ fitness class did two walk audits where students identified hazards, took inventory of crosswalks, disability access and inconsistencies such as walking signals but no crosswalks. These audits were then compiled and taken to the planning departments and community meetings to receive attention from the policy makers who are able to implement change.

Dan Tomsky, senior project manager for the Institute for Project Strategies, says that San Diego City College and the East Village community are in a dynamic state of redevelopment and it is an exciting opportunity for students, faculty and the community to get involved.

Other groups involved are local agencies such as the East Village Community Action Network, Center City Development Corporation and Vitality San Diego which aim to implement smart growth planning and greater quality of life for residents of San Diego.

He urges students and community to get involved with the planning process by going to community meetings and becoming student ambassadors at City College.

One goal of the Traffic Safety Project and the Institute for Project Strategies partnership is bringing the communities voice.

Tomsky and Hambrick ask that more students and faculty partner with the community groups. Listings of events are announced on Jazz 88.1 and on the City College website.

Hambrick urges students to attend community and Planning Council meetings so that the policy makers get to hear the concerns of students and the community they are affecting.

For more information, contact Hambrick at (619)296-3311, ext.

26, or Dan Tomsky, (619) 2963311 ext. 15, or visit the City College Web site at www.sdcity.edu.

NEWSCENE Courtesy Photo

‘Newscene’ reporters Micaela Arroyo (left), Tony Sanchez (center) and Edna Málaga hold the City College TV program’s Emmy awards June 16. The awards were held at the La Costa Resort and Spa. station as a sports reporter but still thinks of planning for a second Newscene en Español here at City.

“I want to go back to Newscene and work on another one, make a better one, next semester,” Arroyo added.

The regular Newscene airs every Friday during the semester, excluding the summer, at 6 p.m. on channel 16.

Signal boost gives Jazz 88 Robotics broader reach in county

Continued from page 3

Matthew Schneck Contributor Jazz aficionados all over San Diego County can welcome a new signal to their radio dials, KSDS Jazz 88.3FM. San Diego’s only all-jazz-andblues radio station has invested $100,000 in equipment to boost its broadcast power from 3,000 to 22,000 watts.

“It means that there is better coverage everywhere,” station manager Mark DeBoskey said about the recent changes. “It means a real radio signal.”

Extra watts mean the 22 year old station will now broadcast in North and East County, the South Bay and downtown office buildings.

City College student Chad Giles expressed excitement that Jazz 88.3 can now be heard throughout San Diego.

“I always stick around the downtown area to do my homework because the jazz music helps me relax,” Giles said.

“When I was up in Temecula visiting family and was flipping through my favorites, I was pleasantly surprised to hear 88.3 flowing from my speakers.”

Boosting the award winning non-profit station’s signal strength did not prove easy, however. Stuck in a crossborder dispute with Mexican TV station XETV/Channel 6, KSDS could not manage to get approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

Channel 6 broadcasts in English from Mexico and has spent years trying to stop KSDS plans of increasing signal strength.

KSDS stronger signal can potentially interfere with the Channel 6 signal disrupting TV reception for people who live around the radio station’s transmitter at Mesa College.

Through an idiosyncrasy in the radio waves, Channel 6 broadcasts at 87.9 FM. KSDS stronger signal at 88.3 FM could potentially bleed over.

According to Channel 6 operations director Bob Anderson, in an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, under FCC law U.S. and Mexican radio stations are protected from each other.

“People who live near the transmitter could see varying types of interference, from snow on the screen to the faint sound of jazz music creeping into Channel 6’s audio,” Ander-

son told the Union-Tribune.

The FCC approval finally came for KSDS with thanks to pressure from local Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), and a 13-year application process.

Manager DeBoskey said the stronger signal would attract, “a whole universe of people who are jazz fans all over San Diego, and good American music fans who haven’t been able to listen to the station, who are not turned on to the radio station.”

A bigger fan base would boost donations to KSDS, which relies heavily on funding from listeners. Continuous donations guarantee the survival of the radio station even during difficult financial times.

KSDS has been broadcasting from the downtown campus of San Diego City College 24 hours a day since 1951 and in 1985 became San Diego’s only jazz station.

In 1992 KSDS was nominated Jazz Station of the Year by The Gavin Report, an industry trade publication and in 1993, was named Jazz Station of the Year by the National Association of Broadcasters, receiving the prestigious Marconi Award.

Numerous nominations and awards have followed, including Finalist nominations for Jazz Station of the Year in both 2004 and 2005.

The 13-year struggle for more watts signals a new beginning for an old friend and a bright future for City College.

water in a team member’s onecar garage to test the vehicle’s mechanics. Another problem was having the case leak one week before the competition. Luckily, two members were able to replace it within 24 hours. This is why having the right design is critical to the team’s project.

A good method the team developed was to use “off-the-shelf” parts to make the project easily repairable. Having experienced this competition, the team is motivated and excited for next year’s event.

“Based on what we learned from this year’s competition we immediately started planning for next year,” said Wilson. “We are working on fashioning next year’s entry to be similar to a zeppelin or blimp. We have a 3-D model of the design on our web site, sdcrobotics.org. This design allows us to half the number of enclosed propellers and thus minimizing power and space requirements.”

As technology advances, the robotics team takes a small step on the path of artificial intelligence.

We’re alive and well in Cyberspace ... www.sdcitytimes.com

8

City Times

September 11, 2007

SPORTS / OPINION

Knights women’s volleyball Class starts season with a bang ALISSA WISNIEWSKI City Times The first home game for the San Diego City College women’s volleyball team was a cause for celebration as the Knights defeated the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles.

Though the Knights won the match, it was a battle as the teams traded the lead and kept the score close throughout. The Knights won the first set 30-27 and the second set 30-29.

The Knights took advantage of their fluidity as a team and played off of each other.

Erin Bull accepted her teammates’ lobs and sent pulverizing spikes to the Eagles side, who were unable to stop these assaults, resulting in major points for the Knights.

By alternating between these spikes and light tips over the net, the Knights put their athleticism on display and secured the win.

The Eagles seemed to be on hyper drive, unable to slow down enough to counteract these changeups.

This is a good start to the season consid-

ering the Knights finished last season with a 6-13 record. Head Coach Dede Bodnar likes the team dynamic and believes this will benefit them this season.

“We have a great bunch of athletes who not only love to play the game, but they get along better than any team I’ve ever had,” said Bodnar.

This was evident during the match.

After each successful rally, the girls would shoot the ground with their hands and yell “boom!” They also offered reassurances and high-fives after each unsuccessful rally.

Both teams played with an intensity that made the audience tense, with clenched fists and darting eyes that could barely follow the ball. There were exciting volleys that allowed these players to showcase their passion.

The Knights hope to continue the celebration at their next home game against Irvine Valley College in the Harry West gym on Friday Sept. 14 at five in the evening.

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19

Continued from page 6

The Art Institute. They were announcing that they were going to have an open house in the beginning of August.

I marked my calendar and anxiously waited for the day to come where I would find other opportunities in the ever growing world of arts and entertainment.

The day came and went, leaving me feeling melancholy and longing for something I will never have.

I had discovered, after seating through inspiring and alluring presentations, that a single credit for the school was $464. My

dreams were crushed.

When it came time to pay for classes here at City College, I realized that it’s better to be working on something as opposed to nothing. I still freaked out, but at least I was slowly working on my future instead of sleeping in and waking up 8 years later in the same predicament In retrospect, I’m glad that I only took one class this semester. Sure, it may not be what I had originally planned out, but when life gets in the way, you have to learn how to deal.

At least I’m learning life experiences in the process. Until I have more money, I think I’ll decide to take things one day at a time.

Luis Bahena is City Times’ editor-in-chief

Post-surgery Darnall ready to deliver for SDSU volleyball normal,” Darnall said. “Just now I am actually starting to hit more.”

As expected, the healing process has SAN DIEGO (U-WIRE) — Waiting is been trying.

“I couldn’t do everything with the team,” the hardest part.

Whether it’s the build-up to Christmas Darnall said. “It was frustrating not to go or the moments before a hot date, a few through weights and training with the rest of my (teammates).” minutes can easily become an eternity.

Her return was slow, tedious, and buried Just ask Stephanie Darnall.

The San Diego State volleyball team’s in physical therapy sessions but it’s now a sophomore outside hitter is all too famil- thing of the past. The future, along with a iar with clock-watching and anticipation. depleted surrounding cast, lies ahead.

SDSU lost two seniors to graduation In December, Darnall had surgery on her right shoulder, and the recovery hasn’t who anchored the team through an up-anddown season. been quick.

Darnall, however, is confident her new Numerous rehabilitation sessions and a summer of rest were just the first steps teammates will help fill the void.

SDSU might wobble in 2007, but at least toward her getting back up to speed. theAd.qxd season’s here; there’s noPM morePage waiting.

“It took months to get back toTimes 2341 West three Region College Pub_City 8/2/07 4:23 1 SHALU GARG SDSU Daily Aztec

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