Q KNIGHTS’ DREAM
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Team’s winning streak comes to an end SPORTS / PAGE 16
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 63, Number 12
March 17, 2009
‘Hey Governator, what do you say?’
Students and staff protest recent budget cuts Evonne Ermey City Times “Hey Governator, what do you say? How many programs you cut today?” was the rally cry City College protesters used to grab the attention of downtown pedestrians as they marched the 25 odd blocks from City College to the San Diego County Administration Building on Feb. 26. The protesters, ranging in number from 20 to 30, were made up mostly of Associated Student Government and Promethean Workers Association members unhappy with the recent budget cuts passed by the California Legislature in February. As reported earlier this semester by City Times, City College alone faces $1.8 million in budget cuts for the 2009-10 school year. State programs slated for the cutting block include CalWORKS, Medical, MTS funding and education. The cuts, along with tax increases, are the legislatures response to the $42 billion gap in the California budget. San Diego Police Officer Cory Mapston said there have been four budget-cut protests downtown in the past two months. Needless to say, students concerned about state funded education benefits and or reliant on public transportation or state funded childcare are nervous about what is to come. “The programs they are cutting right now are all the programs that are helping the needy. Why are you going to cut programs for the neediest of needy people in an economic downpour? They can cut some tax benefits from the multibillionaires in Hollywood,” said Josef Shannon, co-coordinator of the rally and Associated Student Government vice president. Shannon, who relies on both medical and public transportation to get to school, is one of many who will be directly affected
See CUTS, page 5
Carlos maia City Times
An assemblage of City College students and Associated Student Government members rallied Feb. 26 along Broadway as they were escorted by the San Diego Police Department. The student demonstrators were headed toward the San Diego County Administration Building in order to protest state budget cuts.
Book sale on campus success with the students Shannon Kuhfuss City Times Students flocked to City College’s 12th annual Library Book Fair held on March 11. The fair was located in Gorton Quad and went from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Book Fair operated based on the donations of books from the City College community. The books ranged from ages children to adult and covered every genre
Index
Take Note.................................2 Arts........................................ 6 Focus...................................... 8 Opinion..................................10 Sports...................................16
under the sun. Some students, such as Ben Riley, found more than they expected when coming to class Wednesday morning. “I had no idea this was even going on, but I wandered over to see what the crowd in the Quad was all about. There were a ton of books I wouldn’t have thought to buy. I bought a book on French. I don’t even speak it, but now I just might learn to.”
The tables in the Gorton Quad remained fully stocked with not only books, but also students and faculty throughout the day. Volunteers from the City College community worked from morning until night seeing that the books were organized, customers were helped, and the sales were taken care of. The Book Fair called for donations of any books available, but no magazines. The donations were so plentiful that boxes full
Inside
Q NON-WEDDING
Group’s event takes Prop. 8 to task News / PAGE 3
of books were piled next to the tables for the customers to rifle through. The proceeds from the fair went to the City College Library, with each book only costing customers $1. “It’s nice to be able to get some great books at lower prices. I donated as well as bought books. I know the money being made from it is going to a good place, so I’m very happy to take part in the fair,” said student Emily Chiaz.
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