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Volume 66, Number 1
August 30, 2011
Building up higher education
Several cranes are being operated to continue the construction projects at City College on Aug. 24. Construction projects are planned to be completed by 2017. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
Structures begin to take form as a new semester begins By Ariana Stevens City Times The sound of construction continues to batter on as people weave their way through campus. 2011 has been the biggest construction year for City College since construction began in 2008. As a result the con-
struction areas have seen vast improvements. The Arts and Humanities, and the Business Technology buildings broke ground in Feb. 2010; a computerized picture being the only idea of what was to come. Now, looking over the same area, the buildings, which are scheduled to be completed by Jan. 2013, have begun to take form as construction continnues. The future of City College lies within the half-done buildings being worked on around the campus. The Arts and Humanities, and the Busi-
ness Technology buildings will include many amenities including: new classrooms, computer labs, a theatre, and two lecture halls — one for each building respectively. The buildings are also on their way to receiving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, Gold Certification by the United States Green Building Council. The LEED Gold Certification was also awarded to the Career Technology Center ,CTC, earlier this year. Terrence Burgess, City
College President, was quoted in a San Diego Community College District Press Release saying, “We have a commitment that all of our new buildings will qualify for LEED certification ....” However, these buildings aren’t the only ones that have been undergoing major changes recently. The Math and Social Science building has seen the most change. The building, which is also scheduled to be completed in 2013, added two more levels to the concrete structure this
summer. “The construction team is quickly approaching the completion of the (Math and Social Science’s) concrete structure, and from there, they will begin the interior construction of the building,” Tom Fine, campus project manager, said in an email. The Central Plant, which will provide heating and air conditioning to the buildings on campus, was completed over the summer and is now gearing up to install the equipment necessary to do its future job.
While all of these new buildings are taking form, others are just beginning. The Science building was bid over the summer and is currently only four weeks away from breaking ground. The remodeling of many other buildings on campus including the A, T, D, M, and C buildings is also in the works for coming years, as well as a new Child Development Center after all of these remodels are finished. The new estimated time of completion for the entire construction project is early 2017.
Student life under a budget Fee increases and less classes pushes back academic schedules By Cecilia Areta City Times “All fees are subject to change,” states the San Diego City College website in bright red, bold letters. Students know that statement all too well, thanks to the recent $10 per unit increase. The increase makes student fees 28 percent higher than Spring semester and is the second increase in under three years. The entire district is facing a $400 million budget cut. Raising tuition from $26 to $36 per unit is just one of the adjustments that the district had to make. Even with the tuition at California community colleges increasing to $36 a unit, the cost of classes is still less than the national average
of $1,080. California community college tuition still remains the lowest in the nation, according to a national tuition survey conducted in March 2010. According to the study posted on www.capoliticalnews.com, during the 2009-2010 semesters, a student taking 15 units at a California community college would pay an average of $780, which included textbooks and other fees. The national average for community colleges was $3,029. The cost of living in San Diego is significantly higher than other areas of the nation, making the $10 increase per unit a strain on students. According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics the western United States’ cost of living is 13.5 percent above the national average. For full-time students who work, the high cost of living is always a struggle to handle. “I have no one providing for me, except me,” said student Laura M. Martinez. “I have a full time job and
I’m sad to say that school comes second.” In addition to the fee increase fewer courses are being offered, making schedules harder to arrange. “It’s going to take me way longer to get the classes I need to transfer…It’s harder to get the schedule I need,” Martinez said. “The raise of tuition to $36 a unit does make a big difference,” said student Bree Junghans. “I have to save a lot more just to go to school. Community college is way cheaper than paying tuition at a CSU or UC, but increases are all around.” In a statement on City College’s website, the President of San Diego City College, Terrence J. Burgess addressed students saying, “With increasing economic challenges impinging on education, City College is working hard to accommodate your busy work and family schedules. We offer more than 100 majors, 100 certificate programs and 1,500 classes each semester, many online.”
Tina Fletcher (left) a representative from the AFT Guild attempts to dissuade a City student (right) from signing a pettition on August 25. Paulina Aguilar, City Times
Petitioning leads to arrest By Kevin Strover City Times An activist was struck in the face in the free speech section of Gorton Quad on Aug. 23 after interfering with a petition circulator who was collecting signatures. According to Campus Police,
Sgt. Jordan Mirakian, there was a dispute at approximately 10:45 a.m. that led to an arrest for battery. City College dispatch received a call about a disturbance between two individuals in front of the Learning Research Center. Officers See Arrest, page 3