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Men’s basketball reaches new heights under coach Charlens SPORTS / PAGE 3
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 64, Number 8
February 9, 2010
Bike thefts rise on campus Students urged to be more vigilant of their property By ERNESTO LOPEZ City Times
Eight bicycle thefts were reported on campus during the first two weeks of classes, report campus police. Of those, only two have been recovered. College Police Sgt. Louis M. Zizzo said bicycle thefts happen on campus throughout the school year but six in one week is
“uncharacteristic.” “When a bike is stolen, we take the report and the bike's description and serial number get entered into the stolen property system,” Zizzo explained. “If an officer stops someone on a bike they suspect to be stolen they could run the serial number.” City student Luis Caballero said he “always parks (his) bicycle close to (his) classes and
move(s) it every time (he) goes to a different classroom.” Caballero suggested students get the U-lock because, “It’s very durable so it's harder to break through.” Engineering student Ben Maclin said he parks his bicycle in high traffic areas to avoid theft. “The way people lock up their
See THEFT, page 3
CARLOS MAIA City Times Students park and lock their bicycles in front of the T-Building, a designated area.
Senate seeks aid for Haiti
BEAT Club occupies gov’s office Students protest budget cuts
By ERNESTO LOPEZ City Times
City College’s Classified Senate is raising money to support Doctor’s Without Borders medical relief efforts. The senate is asking the campus community to donate $1 per person. According to their Web site, Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Today, they provide aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. Classified Senate President June Cressy said they have joined Mesa College in the fundrasing efforts because, “Doctor’s Without Borders convey the message that our individual and collective moral obligation to help others does not end at a line on a map.” Cressy added that the organization has been described as, “the smoke jumpers of international aid organizations. They go in first, do whatever it takes to help, one Band-Aid or suture at a time, and are often the last to leave.” The fundrasing effort will be open the remainder of the month, to donate online or track fundrasing progress visit http:// www.firstgiving.com/cityclassifiedsenate.
Club Rush revamped By RICKY SOLTERO City Times
Club Rush will be different this semester. It will now be a two-day event held on Feb. 9 and 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gordon Quad. Most of the new attractions will occur on Feb. 10. Radio station 91.X will be present to give away prizes and play music at noon. There will also be vendor tables set up with part of the proceeds going to a Haiti Fund. One of the changes is a meet and greet that the ICC has planned were coffee and bagels will be served. “We're giving an opportunity for students to be introduced to the student government so they know who we are, what we do…we represent the student population,” stated Beto Vasquez, ICC Vice President. One of the main focuses of the event will be aiming for attendance by students who attend classes at night.
Index
Calendar..................................2 News/Sports.......................... 3 Arts........................................ 4 Life......................................... 5 Opinion................................... 6
By JOHN BALCHACK City Time
CARLOS MAIA City Times Balloons adorn the entrance of the newly re-opened sports facility at City College on Park Boulevard. The new building will house a weight room, a sports medicine rehabilitation room and offices for the sports staff and adjunct professors.
Sports complex reopens Students can now enjoy the refurbished P building By VANESSA GOMEZ City Times
Black and red balloons waved near the entrance of the P building during its grand reopening Feb. 4 on Park Blvd. Renamed the Health, Exercise Science and Athletics Building, Kathy McGinnis, Dean of Athletics joined fellow faculty members to open the doors of this completely renovated stateof-the-art building. City College President Terry Burgess also joined the festivities as well as District Chancellor Constance Carroll, members of the District Board of Trustees and construction project managers. The $10.9 million project was funded by propositions S and N which were approved in 2002 and 2006. Burgess noted that special thanks go to citizens who supported the two bond measures. “San Diegans voted to tax themselves $1.55 billion…to give City the chance to transform into a 21st century campus over the next five years. The P
See COMPLEX, page 3
CARLOS MAIA City Times Dean Cathy Mcginnis shows off the new P-building weight room to administrators. From R to L: Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Martha K. Kanter, Chancellor Constance Carrol, Director of Public Information Richard Dittbenner and Board of Trustees member Peter Zschiesche were among those to view the Proposition S and N-funded facility on Feb. 4.
Inside
Q Food Pantry
providesa meal for hungry students LIFE / PAGE 5
As part of the ongoing backlash against cuts in education funding, City College students occupied Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s local office on Jan. 4. While supporters outside held a large sign declaring the government building “Occupied,” nine members of the student organization BEAT (Bringing Education and Activism Together) made their way to the 6th floor where the Governor’s San Diego representation is housed. Once inside, they demanded to have their concerns heard. The governor was not available but the students were able to speak with his Director of External Affairs Bismark Obando. Devin Morrow, one of the occupiers, said, “We talked to Sacramento for about an hour. We talked about education but he was not sympathetic to our point of view.” A leader of BEAT, Jose Rodriguez said, “(Sacramento) ‘wants to stick with what works’, things like charter schools and privatized education. They also said there would be more cuts coming.” During the occupation, BEAT’s faculty advisor Larissa Dorman was outside the building communicating with the students inside. “The students felt placated. Since intercession was cancelled, they had nowhere else to go (to be heard). They asked to speak with the gov. but the office staff told us that wasn't going to happen. We spoke with the governor’s representative (over the phone) but he seemed unclear on the specifics of the situation. Their ideas are for strings attached funding based on teacher performance. They say that the cuts are needed and the students are whining.” BEAT members attempted to stream video of the protest onto the web but had technical problems. They were able to post text updates on social networking sights according to Morrow. Staff members of the governor's office were said to be inhospitable to the visitors. “They told us that, unless we were there on state business, we couldn’t use the restrooms,” added Morrow. After the students arrival in the office, California Highway Patrolmen were called to the scene. “They gave us options not to be arrested.” said Morrow. “I tried to tell then that our ideas
See BEAT, page3
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