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CITY TIMES ART EXHIBIT
Professors get recognition PAGE 4
PROP. 8 DEBATE
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
A Pro and Con on overturning law PAGE 3 Volume 65, Number 1
Calendar........................... 2 Opinion............................. 3 Arts.................................. 4 News tip? Call 619-388-3815
August 31, 2010
College unexpectedly adds classes By Ricky Soltero City Times With the ongoing dispute over how to fill the budget gap and the several budgets cuts that have hit San Diego City College over the last two years, the college unexpectedly added about 287 extra units this semester. For the last two years, classes would fill quickly and many students looking forward to transferring or graduate had to wait longer
to take required courses. “First semester it seemed hard,” said Michael Robles, a City College student. “Everything seemed full even after my counselor appointment. But everything has gotten a lot easier (this semester).” A local news outlet recently reported that the San Diego Community College District had cut approximately $10 million in the past two years, but this year it was estimated that 1,150 additional classes despite the
budget reduction. “The stimulus for the increase, I believe, is largely due to an unprecedented students demand that has resulted in over 98 percent of all available class seats (being) occupied.” City College President Terrence Burgess said. City College Vice President of Instruction Mary Benard said the number of sections increased by 25 percent compared to fall of 2009. Classes were 90 percent full as of Aug. 21 and there are 6,196 stu-
dents on waitlists for classes. “We have been experiencing extraordinary demand since the financial meltdown in 2008. We believe the high unemployment, the loss of jobs, and reduction in capacity at the universities are all contributing to increased enrollment,” Vice Chancellor Lynn Neault said. There is also a state law requiring 50 percent of budget expenditure to be implemented for instructional classroom categories.
“This fall, a decision was made to ensure compliance with the law and to meet some of the extraordinary demand,” Neault said. Although Burgess assures that every year the district has been compliant with this rule in the past. “We are adding classes district wide is to assure that we are not required to further cut student support programs, such as library services, and to maintain a 50-50 balance between instructional and non-instructional expenditures.”
Students urged to get pertussis booster shot By Nico Smedley Contributor Nurses in the Student Health Services office are urging City students to get booster shots to increase their immunity against pertussis (the illness more commonly known as whooping cough) as it continues to spread throughout California. Debbie Helm, a family nurse practitioner who
“I think it is a big deal anytime someone dies because of an illness that is completely preventable with vaccination.” Debbie Helm, nurse practitioner works on campus, especially encourages those who are regularly in contact with infants or with anyone who has a compromised immune system to get the injection. Helm notes that the main defense against the disease for members of that population is through the immunity status of those around them. The reported numbers of whooping cough cases in California have been on the rise this year. According to the California Department of Public Health, 2,774 cases had been reported as of Aug. 10, which is about a seven-fold increase over the 395 cases reported through
the same date in 2009. Additionally, seven infants have died in California by Aug. 10 of this year, compared with three throughout all of 2009. While many students may not feel that something like whooping cough is worth taking the time and money to vaccinate themselves against, Helm said she hates the fact that people are dying from something that is relatively easy to avoid. “Is the epidemic a big deal? Yes and no,” Helm said. “As far as there being large numbers of people in the state coming down with severe illness or death, no, it is not such a big deal. However, I think it is a big deal anytime someone dies because of an illness that is completely preventable with vaccination.” “I do wish more students would come in to get the vaccine,” she added. Most people do not consider whooping cough to be a serious illness worth worrying very much about, mainly because a vaccine that provides immunization against it has existed since the 1940s. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before the creation of the vaccine pertussis, deaths in the United States were between 5,000 and 10,000 each year before the creation of the pertussis vaccine; whereas, after vaccinations became readily available, the figures went down to around 10 per year. See Cough, page 2
Construction workers work to fix a broken pipe moments after accidently hitting it on Aug. 23, the first day of fall semester classes. The accident caused students, faculty and staff in the C building and other areas to be without air conditioning for several days. Carlos Maia, City Times
Broken AC turns up heat in classrooms Construction crew hits pipe carrying water for air conditioning By Coatlicue Villanueva City Times While drilling near B Street on Aug. 23, construction crews at City College hit an unidentified pipe that carries chilled water to the air conditioning units in the C building. This caused many professors and students to be without air conditioning on the first day of fall classes. According to Jerry M. Davis, Vice President of Administrative Services on campus, construction crews were “in the process of installing a retaining wall.” While doing this, a pipe was hit
that was not shown on the plans they were given. Current plans date back to the 1970s. Professors Elva Salinas and Ana Rogers teach classes in the C building and had to carry their own fans to class everyday in an attempt to cool down the air for their students and themselves. “It’s intolerable in the classroom,” said Rogers, who had to hold her class outside due to the heat. “Students are literally pouring sweat.” Some became so nauseous that some had to step outside her classroom in order cool down. Rogers jokingly said how she uses her classroom as an example of Native American sweat lodges in her history class. “I’ve worked here since 1975 and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Salinas, who also experienced her stu-
dents becoming nauseated due to the heat. “The air gets suffocating.” Salinas added that they still keep teaching despite the heat. “Faculty are masters at adapting and incorporating their environment into the learning for their students,” she explained. Crews worked through the night to try and repair the damage. Originally the time given for the repair was 24 hours. This schedule has now been extended to “a couple of days,” according to Davis. Davis sent out an e-mail Aug. 23 explaining the situation and that construction crews were in the process of replacing the leaked water as well as checking the current stability of valves. He assured that construction crews were “doing everything in their power to get the air conditioning back as soon as possible.”
www.sdcitytimes.com | August 31, 2010
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TAKE NOTE Compiled by Michele Suthers Get your event in the paper. E-mail us at citytimes@gmail.com or call 619- 388-3880 n Sept. 3, Friday Last day to receive, process and pay for adds. n Sept. 3, Friday Deadline to drop classes with no “W” recorded. n Sept. 3, Friday W. Soccer vs. East LA, 3 p.m. W. Volleyball vs. Mt. San Jacinto 5 p.m. n Sept. 6, Monday Holiday-Labor Day n Sept. 7, Tuesday Refund Deadline for enrollment fees and/or nonresident tuition. n Sept. 7, Tuesday, M. Soccer vs. Desert, 2 p.m. n Sept. 8, Wednesday M. Soccer at Victor Valley, 2 p.m. W. Volleyball vs. Santa Ana 5:00 p.m. n Sept. 11, Saturday Jazz 88 Ocean Beach Music & Art Festival (7 stages and 26 bands) $30. 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. www.OBMusicFest.org n Sept. 15, Wednesday 9:40 - 10:50 a.m. Saville Theatre. John Cleary Upgrading an Imperfect Constitution.
Cough Continued from Page 1 However, the CDC notes that for infants the disease has always been a serious threat, sometimes proving to be fatal. And, because their immune systems aren’t
mature enough to handle a vaccination, the best way of protecting them is to immunize adults and limit the spread of the disease in the first place. Paradoxically, though, because the disease has been contained for so long, immunization against it has
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become less necessary and, therefore, less common over time, which has led to a slow but steady increase in cases reported over the past 30 years. This is part of what has led to 2010 having the highest rate of reported incidences in California in many
years — enough for the state to officially declare it an epidemic. Some students on campus who have heard this news aren’t necessarily worried. “People are way overreacting,” City College student Monica Lim said. “It’s stupid.”
CITY TIMES Volume 65, Number 1 August 31, 2010 www.sdcitytimes.com Published as: The Jay Sees / 1945-1949 Fortknightly / 1949-1978 City Times / 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks
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City Times is published twice monthly during the semester. Signed 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. 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. Letters to the editor Letters to the editor are welcome, 350 words or less. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, spelling, punctuation and length. Memberships Journalism Assoc. of Community Colleges, California College Media Assoc., Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Assoc.
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VOICE Debate on reversal of Proposition 8 Prop 8. overturn may disregard voters’ decision Advocates for overturning Proposition 8 have begun to rejoice a victory in their fight against bigotry, sexist beliefs, and stereotypes. But they’ve got it all wrong. None of these are the primary reason that the voters of California passed Prop. 8 in the fall of 2008. The main opposition to same-sex marriage is morality. According to letcaliforniaring.org,”more than 70 percent of voters who were Republican, identified themselves as conservative, or who attended religious services at least weekly supported Prop. 8.” The analysis also shows us that 67 percent of the voters who are 65 years or older also supported Prop. 8. These findings make it apparent that morals are the driving force behind Prop. 8 and based upon its passage, the majority of voters in California view same-sex marriage as unacceptable. However, Judge Vaughn Walker has given voters a slap in the face by overturning Prop. 8, claiming that “individuals’ moral views are an insufficient basis upon which to enact a legislative classification.” Although we pride ourselves on being a country where the citizens have the power, Walker has taken that notion and thrown it out the window in his 136page decision in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case which overturned Prop. 8. As long as these social values exist, it is necessary
PRO
Mollie Shepardson to uphold the wishes of the majority. Furthermore, Prop. 8 places no harm on gay or lesbian couples because society as a majority does not approve of marriage not being between a man and a woman. The laws of nature lay down the lines that men and women are biologically meant to procreate and mate. As a society, we prefer that the mating take place in the safeguard of a marriage in order to provide stability. Voters are not unaware of the fact that most gay and lesbian couples will have sex regardless of being in the confines of a marriage; however, it is not something that I as a voter could instate a law to prohibit. Judge Walker’s ruling overturned the majority vote and deemed its morals as “insufficient.” Hope lies with the hold the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals put on Judge Walker’s ruling. In order to uphold moral interests, it is now time for proponents to hold rallies in support of Prop. 8 as well as post blogs, write to friends and family and join support groups for the preservation of marriage between a man and a woman. The goal that we now strive for is the reinstatement of Prop. 8. Mollie Shepardson is a City Times staff writer
Michele Suthers, City Times
Prop. 8 deemed unconstitutional Federal judge Vaughn Walker struck down California’s ban of same-sex marriage on Aug. 4 because the Marriage Protection Act violates the United States Constitution. Critics of the ruling say the judge invalidated a law that a majority of California voters had approved. They’re right: he did. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Walker has been accused of judicial activism or stepping beyond his proper authority as a judge and undermining the will of
California voters, who had passed the Act as Proposition 8 by a 52 percent to 48 percent margin. In my opinion, however, Walker’s ruling is an example of our nation’s legal system working just as intended. After all, federal judges are supposed to strike down laws that violate the Constitution. Our nation’s founders respected the will of the people but also recognized that significant portions of the people — say, 52 percent — sometimes get carried away. With this in mind, the
CON
Shane Finneran founders decided to spread the government’s power. For instance, the people and their representatives were given the power to pass laws while federal judges were given the power to challenge laws that do not jibe with the U.S. Constitution. Like Judge Walker, I think the California Marriage Protection Act does not comply with the Consti-
tution. As the judge noted, U.S. courts have clearly established that the right to marry is one of our society’s most important freedoms. The act denies this freedom to certain people for no reason other than their sexual orientation. This means the California Marriage Protection Act violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process — so the act has got to go. Shane Finneran is a City Times staff writer
Working class hero sheds light on America’s workers A few weeks ago, I woke up to an e-mail linking me to a report about a flight attendant that abruptly quit my company in a blaze of glory. As the media frenzy unraveled, the now infamous story of JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater would come to fruition, and I cringed at the negative repercussions that might arise from the debacle. What followed not only echoed the voice of a frustrated worker, but the overwhelming support of a country forced to put up with remedial work conditions in a crushed economy. Slater was assaulted, insulted and pushed to his limit on that flight from Pittsburgh to New York. He shared a few inappropriate words with the passengers, grabbed two Blue Moon beers and bid adieu to both his job and the
confines that kept him from his fantastic exit down that emergency slide. Slater instantly became a security breach, deploying a slide fast enough to kill any worker on the tarmac below. That legendary departure continued as Slater raced home to his partner, only to be arrested by police swarming his home. Slater’s exit is the stuff of dreams as I think also about cracking open the door on our planes all the time to parachute out. The very idea of flying in a metal tube at 36,000 feet with screaming babies and cranky businessmen makes me feel nothing but sympathy for all who work for JetBlue. The practical side of me that considers my rent, a weekly trip to Trader Joe's and my addiction
View from the top Vanessa Gomez
to Dave Matthews Band concert tickets keeps me from reaching for that emergency escape handle. But how many Americans, dependent on their jobs, are at the point of pulling that escape handle , and choose to recoil in submission?
Flight attendants aren’t the only victims to everyday work-related abuse. Baristas, servers, bank tellers and postal workers are just a few professions that have felt the wrath of customers. Most of them become jaded and complacent in their work duties, ignoring blatant disrespect and succumbing to ridiculous demands to protect their cash flow. Slater’s swan song made him an overnight working-class hero, bringing to light a serious reality of millions of disgruntled American citizens forced to submit to sub-par job conditions. Desperate to keep afloat on their bills, employees are keeping quiet while customers abuse them and take advantage of them. Could employers also be manipulating their work forces by dangling the uncertainty of job security?
Everyone has a breaking point at their workplace. When do the elements of self-respect, a dismal workplace and constant paychecks tilt the scales towards abandoning ship? Slater’s abrupt resignation, as outrageous and legendary as it might be, really stands apart as a commentary on today's broken economy. How much longer do hard-working Americans have to endure nasty customers, depleted 401Ks and salary cuts before another “grabs two beers and jumps?” Until that question is answered, I will continue to sport my “Let Slater Slide” pin in the hopes that hardworking folks everywhere can have their sweet escape. Vanessa Gomez is a City Times columnist
www.sdcitytimes.com | August 31, 2010
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ARTS Two campus professors exhibit art Fine arts teachers are among 35 local artists to be recognized By Olivia Holt City Times Contemporary art pumps and flows in the heart of San Diego. Each year, the Athenaeum’s 19th Annual Juried Exhibition recognizes the work of 35 local artists, and two of those artists happen to be instructors in City College. “I am thrilled and excited to show some new work that hasn’t been exhibited yet,” Terri Hughes-
Oelrich, Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at City College said about her two chosen pieces. Her installation piece, a “(Cowgirl) Float Parade” and “(Gusher) Float Parade” are two out of a parade series Hughes-Oelrich is currently working on. “These floats are really out of context, since they are part of a whole series of floats that will move around in space,” Hughes-Oelrich said. But the main themes in the parade series is the “celebration of the past, change and growth of a city, and these works question land use for oil production.” Anna Stump, a Fine Arts professor at City College, was also chosen by juror John Wilson, Executive Director of the Timken Museum in
Balboa Park, for her work “Pinata 1, 2, and 3.” “I grew up on the border and have been involved with the border culture my whole life,” Stump said. “I’ve been afraid to address that because I’m not a Latina, but I finally decided that this culture belongs to me, too. So I’m going to make art out of it. The symbol of the pinata is full of happiness, hope and sweetness, but also of violence.” The exhibit is on view from now until Sept. 4 at the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, located at 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla. Admission is free. For more information about the exhibit visit www. ljathenaeum.org.
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An independent film that has been featured in the Sundance Film Festival, “The Kids Are All Right” stars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, a lesbian couple named Nic (Bening) and Jules (Moore), with their 18-year-old daughter Joni and 15-year-old son Laser, both children having been a product of a sperm donation. The story starts with the children Joni and Laser on a quest to acquaint themselves with the sperm donor (their biological father), an easy-
going restaurateur named Paul (Mark Ruffalo). Joni and Laser are hesitant at first about meeting their biological father but Joni slowly grows to be fond of him while Laser doesn’t. Meanwhile, without ties of his own, and because the family wants to connect with him, Paul weaves his way into the family's lives. But the more involved Paul becomes, the more it creates problems among the family members. For example, feeling underappreciated by Nic,
MOVIE REVIEW Bri Heath
Jules begins an affair with Paul. A remark she makes to Paul late in the film will undoubtedly irk some reallife lesbians and bisexuals. Having slept with Paul, Jules tells him she cannot be with him because she identifies herself as “lesbian”, even though, in an earlier scene,
she seemed to enjoy having sex with Paul. Funny moments abound in this light-hearted drama, but a few moments may be lost on those who are not familiar with the challenges of families headed by gay couples. The film’s theme seems to be that the children of gay couples face the same anxieties as those faced by children who grow up in more traditional homes. Bri Heath is a City Times contributor