2009_0331_CT_v63i13

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Q Food for change La Casita under new management LIFE / PAGE 5

CityTimes www.sdcitytimes.com

Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

Volume 63, Number 13

March 31, 2009

SIFE wins again

Group takes 15th consecutive championship Roda Catapang City Times A sustained moment of unsettling silence following a presentation could unnerve any speaker, causing uncertainty and resulting in a hurried mental run through of their presentation, all the while wondering, “Did I do something wrong?” But SIFE team presenter Colette Desaulnier was unfazed by the brief quiescence that followed an unusually short round of questioning by competition judges. Desaulnier and fellow presenters, Vikrum Deol, Alberto Andrade and Alyssia Houge, had worked innumerable hours since the start of spring semester, building and preparing their presentation, and they were confident that what they had in their possession was a well-tuned presentation showcasing SIFE’s ongoing projects on City College’s campus and in the community. And they were right to not worry. The SIFE team walked away with the league championship, making it their 15th consecutive win at SIFE Regional Competition, which took place in Los Angeles on March 17 and 18, and earning them a finalist spot at SIFE USA National Expo in Philadelphia May 11 and 12. Two-year and four-year colleges from California, Nevada and Arizona competed at the regional competition where SIFE teams delivered their presentation to a panel of 20-30 judges who rated their presentation based on how effective the team measured and

demonstrated that it created economic opportunity by helping others.” Team supporter Yessica Vasquez noted that judges were so impressed by the team’s presentation that during intermission, prior to announcing the winners, judges were taking note of City College students they came across. “Judges were saying how well we had done,” exclaimed Vasquez, SIFE team supporter. “Every time they saw our badges and it said we were from City College … they would tell us how well we had done.” The presentation, also judged for the speakers’ voice projection and speech clarity, consist of a 24-minute presentation and five-minute round of questions by judges. After SIFE delivered their presentation, judges followed up with questions that may have come up during the presentation. What usually took up to five minutes and included several questions for clarification and elaboration was quickly completed in three minutes and ended with a compliment from judges. “I thought it was odd that they weren’t asking many questions,” Vasquez admits. “And the questions they did ask were simple.” Desaulnier expressed her belief that this was most likely because they had covered all that the judges needed to know in their presentation, which described SIFE projects on campus such as the student-run A La Cart coffee cart and their upcoming contest

See SIFE, page 7

Carlos Maia City Times

On March 24, as she moves from one class to another, Lidia Gutierrez purchases a coffee from Edward McChanon, one of the student SIFE employees. Gutierrez, a psychology major, refills her own coffee cup that she used earlier in order to limit waste. Every school day, students and teachers alike line up in front the student-run coffee cart in Schwartz Square to get their favorite flavor of java just the way they like it.

City College offers help for students during a tough job market Lindsay Tasior Correspondent

Today’s job market may qualify one with education, experience, and connections, but if you’re looking for a job and lack any of the above qualifications, you may be out of luck. Unemployment is the most important economic issue today. The search for the perfect job has quickly narrowed down to the search for a job as US employment rates continue to fall since February with now more than 12.5 million Americans unemployed.

Index

News/Calendar.................... 2-3 Arts........................................ 4 Life......................................... 5 Opinion................................... 6 Sports.................................... 8

The economy has directly impacted City College, among widespread budget cuts, fewer staff and, questionably, more students? “More and more people have returned to school to get a better, more advanced degree,” said an admissions clerk at City College. “A better degree could mean a better paying job in the future.” Students enrolled at City College are offered opportunities to connect with surrounding businesses through a program known as Work Experience, a cooperative plan that links a student’s studies with the outside world,

allowing them to complete on-thejob training while earning college credit. Joseph D’Ambro, a student services assistant at the Transfer/Career Center located on campus in building A-111, said Work Experience allows the students to explore occupations related to their major. The program helps students build a marketable resume to help increase their earning potential. So, out of a job may not mean you’re out of luck. The Transfer/Career Center offers opportunities for internships and resume-building work-

Inside

Q respect?

A lesson in genetics and condescension VOICE / PAGE 6

shops. The Center also offers listings for paid positions around San Diego County. Career assistants, like D’Ambro, guide students through the interview process and how to create a cover letter. That’s how Stephanie, a student at City College, landed her job. “I talked directly with a student assistant who helped me find a job that’s easily accessible and right for me. He prepared me for my interview and helped me put together a resume suitable for the position I was applying for.” Stephanie has worked at Ralphs market for a year now.

She said City College works hard to help students find employment in convenient, nearby locations. Students can also find employment on-campus. Jobs are offered at the cafeteria, the book store and the library. John, who declined to state his last name, is a second year student at City College and said that working in the cafeteria oncampus is “easy; a nice transition to [his] already stressful school schedule.” “School is really important, you can tell because everyone

See JOB, page 7

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