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CityTimes
Volume 62, Number 7
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
City College President supports Prop 92
Katie Dunn City Times “The melting pot analogy has now become a tossed salad. Nobody assimilates,” said one Latina woman showcased in Carlos von Son’s documentary film, “Border Piece.” The film shown on Nov. 14 revolved around the 2006 border crisis and controversy of undocum e n t e d workers in America. Carlos Von Son Documenting the parades, protests and conflicts between the anti-amnesty citizens and those that support it, Von Son sheds light on a controversial battlefield of intolerance. The film was what Von Son called an unbiased “chronological documentary” where each event taped occurred in real time order. The events shown were taped through the year of 2006 and early 2007. In the film, many illegal immigrants spoke of their determination to work in the United States. “We only came here to work, nothing else,” said one man who had recently crossed the border illegally. In order to survive, immigrants may spend many days and nights determined to cross the border. The cause? Their families living in poverty. To balance the documentary, people against illegal immigrants in America were also interviewed. One man said that he didn’t like to see “Americans not getting work the ‘illegals’ are taking.” Supporters responded by saying the jobs illegal immigrants were taking were those that Americans wouldn’t do. “We are not terrorists, we are workers!” Protestors yelled as they walked the streets of San Diego. One supporter
See FILM, page 2
INDEX Calendar..................................... 2 Arts.........................................3-4
November 27, 2007
Alissa Wisniewski City Times
Danny Penera CityTimes
Students interested in the experiments visited chemistry student Kristy Wishmeyer’s table during National Chemistry week.
Experiments conducted in Gorton Quad in honor of National Chemistry Week Danny Penera City Times Mathematical equations and obscure jargon, are some images that come to mind when the word “science” is uttered. Students at City College did their part to void those stereotypes while celebrating National Chemistry Appreciation Week on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Every November, Chemistry classes at City College honor National Chemistry Appreciation Week by performing experiments in the Gorton Quad. Tuesday’s celebration consisted of students from City College Professor Theresa Bolaños’ classes working stands where passersby could conduct chemistry experiments with real world applications. People from all age groups participated in the events. These activities were visited by both college professors and children from the daycare service. Participants walked away with many things not usuallly the result of a chemistry class experiment. Stands like the silly putty table reassured people that not all chemicals are for serious functions. Aside from the silly putty stand, the super ball, quicksand, and slime stands aimed to entertain those who stopped by.
Danny Penera CityTimes
Chemistry student Kristy Wishmeyer mixes chemicals for her experiment. The experiments offered an increased stock of information. All the experiment stands were run by one of Bolaños’ students and although some technical terms were used, no formal knowledge was needed. Each of the students gave a brief explanation of what they were doing and guided participants step by step. “This was the chemistry class’s way of showing off some of the fun applications of chemistry,” said Bolaños. Even the people who had conducted the experiments countless times where having fun.
Chemistry student Sebastian Law enjoyed doubling mixtures and using various colors to fulfill his own scientific vision. Other students, like Kristy Wishmeyer, who worked the slime experiment, remained enthusiastic throughout the day despite performing the same experiment numerous times. It is this very enthusiasm and enjoyment that epitomizes what National Chemistry Appreciation Week is all about, showing that Chemistry is truly valued, if not all over the nation than at least at City College.
$15 fees per unit could be on the horizon for California community college students. Come February, voters will have the power to support or oppose Proposition 92, a new K14 funding legislation that seeks to remedy the shortcomings of Prop. 98, the current legislation passed in 1988. Prop. 92 will codify in the Calif. constitution three primary functions. City College President Terrance Burgess supports the new legislation. “It’ll stabilize the split between K-12 and college funding … make it predictable,” said Burgess. Funding is currently placed in a large pot, then disproportionately distributed to K-14 education levels. Community colleges usually receive between 10 and 11 percent of the funds with the rest going to K-12. About 40 percent from the Calif. general fund goes to K-14 funding each fiscal year. K-12 enrollment determines the amount of funding and every student is guaranteed funding. Community colleges have an enrollment cap so every student over that cap is funded out of the schools’ pockets. “We can’t turn students away so we incur costs without having money for it,” said Burgess. Under Prop. 92, the pot will be divided into two parts. A designated amount will go to K-12 and a separate amount will be provided for community colleges. Funding for community colleges will be decided by calculating the young adult population growth rates, up to five percent. Prop. 92 will also place a ceiling on student fee increases. According to the Calif. Legislative Analyst’s Office, fees have fluctuated between $11 and $26 per unit over the past decade. This fee would lower to $15 under Prop. 92 and limit the Calif. Legislature’s ability to increase this fee. They would need a two-
See PROP 92, page 2