2005_0927_CT_v60i3

CityTimes es

www.sdcity.edu/citytimes

Volume 60, Number 3

Poet speaks

Prize-winning author draws crowd at theater Arts, page 5

Serving the San Diego City College community since 1945

Sept. 27, 2005

Budget largest in district history

Some key budget items ■ An additional $1 million to add more classes.

■ $1 million to supplement the hiring of 30 additional contract faculty.

■ Land purchase for a state-ofthe-art nursing facility at City College, with cosmetology and photography to be included in the building.

■ $6.5 million in computer hardware and software.

■ Acquire land to expand the Ceasar Chavez Continuing Education center in Barrio Logan.

By Manny Lopez City Times The San Diego Community College District’s Board of Trustees has approved a new $616 million budget for 2005-06, which makes it the largest budget ever approved in the college districts 90 year history.

The new budget, approved on Sept. 6, 2005, includes $369 million for operating expenses and the issuance of $245 million in

new general obligation bonds from Proposition S, the proceeds of which are to be used for the acquisition, construction, repair, renovation and modernization of certain District property.

The $369 million for operating expenses represents a significant increase compared to the almost $259 million which was reported in the last audited budget ending in June 2004.

What is most interesting about the increase is that it comes at

a time when California is facing huge operating shortfalls.

Charles Rogers, Controller for SDCCD said that, “the actual cutbacks in San Diego occurred about two years ago. Since then Governor Schwarzenegger has been very generous to California community colleges.”

District Chancellor Constance Carroll said that the 2005-06 budget reflects the districts focus on serving students. Further she added “I am pleased that we were

able to address key priorities in our budget, including new fulltime faculty positions, expanded classes for students and support for our strategic plan to meet growing community needs.”

District Board of Trustees President Marty Block said, “the San Diego Community College District is an extremely efficient, and cost effective organization that generates tremendous eco-

See BUDGET, Page 2

New ID system begins October 3 District’s goal is to protect privacy

By Cindy J. Wimer City Times The San Diego Community College District will be assigning new unique College Student IDs (CSID) starting on Oct. 3 for students who attend City, Mesa and Miramar Colleges.

The district has created this new form of ID to replace the current system that uses Social Security Numbers in an effort to protect the privacy of students.

Many students may have already received a flyer in the

mail or an e-mail from the district regarding the change. There are a couple of ways to obtain a new CSID — by either going to http:/ sutdentweb.sdccd.edu or visiting the Admissions office on campus.

Students must replace their current picture ID with a new CSID card. The new numbers will not be available until Oct. 3.

Originally, the district wasn’t planning on making this change for a couple of years. But according to City College Vice President Dr. Larry Brown, “There is no solid reason for waiting.”

The numbers will be required for all campus and Web service business. District officials recommend keeping the number in a secure location.

Will Katrina destroy transfer plans?

Good deed has some students worried

By Teshonne Harper City Times

Club spinning

Mike Sullivan / City Times

Peter Papineau, president of the SDCC Music Society, DJs in Gorton Quad during Club Rush on Sept.

20. The event offered students the opportunity to support hurricane relief efforts while getting to know campus clubs. Constitution Week was also celebrated the same week. See story, Page 3

Jay Sees Fortknightly

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San Diego State University has enrolled 27 students who were unable to attend schools that were hit by hurricane Katrina.

“We are shocked and saddened at the tremendous devastation caused by hurricane Katrina,” said SDSU President Stephen L. Webber. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the people of the gulf coast states, but the primary challenge is how we can

be of assistance. Helping students continue their education is a beginning.”

This has some students at City College who are planning to transfer to SDSU worried.

“I do think that it’s good that they’re doing this.” Says Bobbie Burns “But I plan to transfer to State and I worry that they will take up space in majors that are already impacted.”

“It’s good and it’s bad,” agrees another city college student Juno E. Hernandez. “Good that they want to help but bad for us who want to go there.”

Sara Knook, another City College student, disagrees. “I think

See TRANSFER, Page 2

Storm of opinion Letters, page 5

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NEWS / CALENDAR

City Times

Budget Continued from Page 1 nomic and social benefits for San Diego with relatively modest investment in taxpayer dollars.”

Other features of the increased budget include: ■ An additional $1 million to add more classes.

■ $1 million to supplement the hiring of 30 additional contract faculty.

■ Land purchase for a state-of-the-art nursing facility at City College, with cosmetology and photography to be included in the building.

■ $6.5 million in computer hardware and software.

■ Land purchase in the Clairemont area for a new Continuing Education

Transfer Continued from Page 1 that if it’s only 50 -100 people it doesn’t worry me too much.”

“Besides,” Knook jokes, “San Diego is so expensive to live that those that do come won’t stay.”

Jason Foster, a spokesman for SDSU denies that accepting the displaced students will adversely affect transfers from local community colleges. “We will do our part to help students in the wake of this tragedy.” Foster contends, “But not at the expense of our own students.”

center that will combine both North City and Clairemont campuses at one location.

■ Acquire land to expand the Ceasar Chavez Continuing Education center in Barrio Logan.

■ $1 million in equipment for the new science building at Miramar College.

■ Purchase the San Diego City Schools Muir Avenue school site and renovate building to house Mesa College technology training programs.

The San Diego Community College District serves almost 100,000 students each semester making it the second largest community college districts in California and the sixth largest in the United States.

Its three two year colleges — San Diego City, Mesa and Miramar along with six Continuing Education Centers located throughout San Diego — offer remedial education for adults to work force training to preparation for university transfer.

According to data from the California Postsecondary Education Commission, the number of students who transfer to SDSU from City average around 221 a year. For the upcoming spring semester, 150 City College students have already signed transfer agreements to SDSU, which is over a 100 percent increase from last year.

The City College Transfer Center has already processed 120 transfer agreements for fall 2006. But Duane Short, Transfer Center Director explains that “more come in everyday.” He urges students planning to attend SDSU in the fall of 2006 to visit the academic counseling office in Room A-110, to sign an agreement before the Sept. 30 deadline.

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Sept. 27, 2005

Health insurance: a prerequisite for college?

By Manny Lopez City Times It is estimated that 30 percent of all college students in America lack adequate health insurance.

That represents nearly 10 percent of the nation’s total uninsured population, according to The Institute of Medicine, a non-profit scientific advisory firm.

As a result, a growing number of public colleges and universities are requiring that students have health coverage as a prerequisite for enrollment. Students must either enroll in the schools student health insurance plan (SHIP) or show documented proof they are otherwise covered.

Currently, all 10 schools within the University of California system, Ohio State University and the University of Connecticut require health insurance.

Public universities within the state of Idaho, Massachusetts and New Jersey have gone a step further and have insti-

Compiled by Cindy J. Wimer Send items to City Times, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101, e-mail citytimes@gmail.com, call (619) 388-3880, or fax (619) 388-3814 ■ SEPTEMBER 30 Women’s soccer vs. Southwestern Home game 3:15 pm

■ SEPTEMBER 17 Men’s Soccer vs. Victor Valley Home game 1:00 pm

■ OCTOBER 5 Women’s soccer vs. Cuyamaca Away game 3:15

■ OCTOBER 19 Men’s Soccer vs. Southwestern Away game 3:00 pm

■ OCTOBER 7 Women’s soccer vs. Grossmont Home game 3:15

Women’s Soccer vs. San Diego Mesa Away game 3:15 pm

■ OCTOBER 12 San Diego Opera Unplugged Presented by the World Cultures Program Saville Theater, 7:00 pm

Chapman University College’s San Diego campus is now accepting applications for the upcoming term.

Men’s Soccer vs. Cuyamaca Away game 3:15 pm

Chapman University College, one of California’s most highly respected universities for adult learners, is also the perfect transfer choice. New terms start every 10 weeks and our accelerated programs are taught at convenient times by professionally and academically accomplished faculty who are focused on your success.

Women’s Soccer vs. Imperial Valley Away game 3:15 pm

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Teacher training and credential programs are approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

See HEALTH, Page 3

CityCalendar

■ OCTOBER 8 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country UCSD Invitational at UCSD 8:30 am

Computer Information Systems (BS) • Criminal Justice (BA) Liberal Studies (BA) MS Teaching • Organizational Leadership (BA) Psychology (BA) • Social Science (BA)

tuted legislative or administrative rulings requiring coverage.

The American College Health Association, a leading advocate for college and university health issues has recommended that all students demonstrate sufficient health insurance coverage or sufficient resources to pay for anticipated and unanticipated medical expenses as a condition of enrollment.

The San Diego Community College District is not actively considering such a requirement at this time, but does offer its students the resources of the Health Services Department, for a mandatory fee of $13 per semester. Students currently enrolled can visit the Student Health Center, located in room A-116 and receive free or low cost medical services provided by a licensed physician or medical practitioner. Free counseling services are provided by the Mental Health Department located in room A-221.

■ OCTOBER 14 Men’s Soccer vs. San Diego Mesa Away game 3:15 pm Women’s Soccer vs. Imperial Valley Home game 3:00 pm ■ SEPTEMBER 15 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country SDCC Invitational at Balboa Park 8:00 am ■ SEPTEMBER 16 Men’s Soccer vs. Compton Home game 1:00 pm

■ OCTOBER 21 Last day to petition for graduation with an Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement for June or Summer 2006 graduation Men’s Soccer vs. Palomar Home game 3:00 pm Women’s Soccer vs. Palomar Home game 1:00 pm ■ OCTOBER 26 Men’s Soccer vs. Imperial Valley Home game 3:00 pm Women’s Soccer vs. Southwestern Away game 3:00 pm ■ OCTOBER 27 Study Abroad Information Meeting Contact Marion Froehlich at mfroehli@sdccd. edu 12:30 – 1:30 Room D-121A Men’s and Women’s Cross Country PCC Cross Country Championship Balboa Park 8:00 am

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CityNews

Sept. 27, 2005

City Times

3

‘Escape’ can help ACLU speaker highlights week marking Constitution women stay safe Patriot Act among topics of discussion with students

By Tiffany Stecker City Times The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s San Diego chapter, Kevin Keenan, spoke Sept. 22 on the City College Quad, surrounded by the hustle of Club Rush Week.

The Associated Student Government invited Keenan for City College’s Constitution Week. His talk, entitled “Know Your Rights,” focused on the Patriot Act and the violations of civil liberties it has caused in the name of national security.

Chicano history professor Ternot MacRenato introduced Keenan. “The ACLU is constantly attacked by government for protecting us from them,” said MacRenato.

Keenan remarked on the various clubs recruiting for new members, saying that he became a student activist in college through student organizations. “I thought we should stand for something,” said Keenan.

Keenan spoke about how the Patriot Act has silenced individuals and made almost everyone vulnerable to terrorism suspicion. According to Keenan, over 150 community entities have already called for improvements to the federal government.

Libraries have criticized the FBI for their searches of people’s library records and the censorship of librarians who choose to speak out against these searches.

Keenan pointed to a recent case in Connecticut, where a librarian feared imprisonment were he to violate a FBI gag order and criticize the government’s seizures of library records. The FBI placed the gag order after the librarian was charged for educating the community on intellectual freedom.

During the question and answer session, one student asked Keenan to specify the effect of the Patriot Act on students. Keenan answered that

Mike Sullivan / City Times Kevin Keenan of the American Civil Liberties Union discussed privacy issues during a talk with students Sept. 22. international students would be put in a database and targeted, eventually creating a less diverse academic community. Students’ medical and library records could also be viewed and judged by the federal government.

Keenan pointed to a specific case in San Diego where SDSU visiting professor Dora Maria Tellez was threatened with deportation back to Nicaragua because of her involvement in the Sandinista Revolution of 1979. Dozens of faculty members have signed a letter of protest.

Keenan’s talk was followed by a talk by Library Assistant Jerry Stafford of the UCSD Medical Center Library in Hillcrest. Stafford, a civil

Health

Continued from Page 2

This trend towards mandatory coverage has come about as a consequence of increased drop rates caused by health problems and unexpected medical bills.

Too often, college and community hospitals are forced to absorb the high costs of health care from uninsured students.

Aetna Insurance Co. reported that uninsured college students 18-24 incurred 718,000 emergency room visits in 2001.

According to the U.S. Census 2002 report, young adults ages 18-24 were less likely than any other age group to have health insurance.

rights activist, spoke more specifically on the legal means the government uses to obtain personal information. He mentioned national databases, such as the Matrix system and the Total Information Awareness Program as tools that violate rights to privacy.

These systems also perpetuate potentially false information, such as erroneous credit ratings, and ease employee abuse of records.

Both speakers were especially wary of a national identification system that would compile all information on a national level. “It will turn us into the Stalinist society of Eastern Europe that America, in its best days, was standing against,” he said.

A major part of the problem according to Aetna is the double-digit inflation that has gripped the American health care industry for the past decade surpassing the cost of living index. The National Coalition on Health Care reported that health care spending continues to rise at the fastest rate in our country’s history, with no apparent end in sight.

Normally, when students leave home for college, they have three options for health insurance coverage. They can continue to be covered as a dependent under a parent’s plan, enroll in a plan sponsored by the college or university, or choose to be uninsured. Sometimes health insurance for families will not cover medical expenses while a student is away at college. Some managed care plans do not

By Cindy J. Wimer City Times Statistics show one out of every four women will be assaulted in her lifetime, either through an aggravated attack or by rape.

About 85 percent of campus rapes occur during the first three months of college due to pledging and parties. In San Diego County, communities of the Downtown area and Pacific Beach report the most occurrences of these crimes.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports 83 percent of rape victims are between the ages of 12 and 25. Of college women surveyed, 25 percent are victims of rape or attempted rape, and 90 percent of these rapes on campus involved alcohol. The most startling statistic is that 75 percent of all women assaulted knew their attacker.

There are ways to prevent an attack without having to earn a black belt. The Women’s Self Defense Institute has developed a series of classes called “Rape Escape” that teach women basic self defense skills.

The Rape Escape program teaches the 4 “A’s” of self-defense, including Awareness, Assess, Act, and Attitude. They believe that 90 percent of self-defense is awareness of one’s surroundings. It is important to have a “survival mindset”, to be confidant, and not to appear like a victim. Be loud, and either fight back or run.

The Institute also gives instruction on physical moves to ward off an attacker. Primary targets include the eyes, throat, knees and groin. Women are taught eye gouges, palm and knee strikes, and shovel kicks to the groin. The program is designed so the women can learn quickly and retain what they are taught during a stressful situation.

Women should always resist unless the use of a gun or knife is imminent. Assault victims who resist are twice as likely to escape. Analysis of 3,000 attackers said they fled from women who resisted. They frankly do not want the hassle and will move on to another victim who will not fight back.

The institute’s motto is to “Fight like a Girl.” Their philos-

cover students living outside the plans coverage area.

Conversely, some schools have resisted mandatory coverage, fearing the extra costs will push students away toward other colleges. Others worry that students are already burdened with large loans and rising tuition costs. Schools like Old Dominion, Kent State University and South Dakota’s Board of Regents have decided against the idea.

Patty Neblock, marketing representative for StudentHealthInsurance.com says that “an uncovered medical expense can be financially devastating for a young person just starting out. The uninsured also run the risk of becoming uninsurable.”

The leading cause of personal bank-

College District police offer defense class The SDCCD Police Department is having a Rape Aggression Defense Class on Nov. 5 and 13 in the new gym (P3-206). Classes on the 5th are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on the 13th from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. The class is free to faculty, staff and students.

This is a 12-hour program that teaches no-nonsense and practical techniques of defense.

Students will also get a comprehensive manual and the program has a lifetime return.

The 8 hour class begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance and progresses to hands on defense training. The fivehour class is 100 percent full contact in “simulated assault” scenarios.

Interested women should pre-register at any SDCCD Campus Police Office. There is a $15 fee for all non-students ages 12 and up.

— Cindy J. Wimer

ophy is that a woman should not fight directly into the strengths of a man but to use her own particular strengths. The old school thought of telling women to not fight back does not work.

While date rape is on the rise, actual statistics are difficult to know as only about one in 10 rapes are reported. The drug Rohypnol has been around since the 1970s and has a variety of nicknames. It has become the “in drug” on college campuses, particularly in fraternities.

Rohypnol can easily be slipped into a drink and, within 30 minutes, produces a sedative effect causing amnesia, muscle relaxation, and slowed psychomotor responses. The best defense from being drugged is to never accept a drink from a stranger or leave a drink unattended at a party.

Women interested in finding out more about “Rape Escape” classes or videos go to www. playitsafedefense.com.

They offer classes for $20, a variety of books, and products on selfdefense. Another good site for resources is www.defendu.com.

ruptcy and the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. is the lack of insurance.

Mario Chacon, Dean of Student Affairs at San Diego City College said that, “the number of uninsured students is incredibly high. When health insurance is promoted as a requirement, students view it as an obstacle. If institutions are making it available affordably, then that’s a good thing. If financial aid can cover the expense, then that would be even better.”

Barry Garron, Public Information Director for the San Diego Community College District added, “A healthy student makes for a better student. Healthy students can perform at a higher level and have a strong chance to be successful in college.”

4 City Times

CityVoice

Sept. 27, 2005

Education is failing to promote world peace In modern western civilization students receive vast amounts of schooling and training yet there is still war and conflict covering the globe. How is it that we are so highly educated yet still we cannot make peace between nations? The current standardized system of education, which covers the globe, is obviously failing to create world peace. In fact many of the world leaders and politicians making the decisions to initiate wars are educated at the most prestigious schools that we respect so much.

Why do we respect these highly educated leaders so much?

They have failed to create a peaceful safe society. In fact their business ventures and political agendas put mankind at greater risk everyday. How is it that an individual can kill a human being and be sentenced to life in prison or death; yet a president can order the mass murder Dashiell Kuhr of thousands including women and children and be respectable? That is an injustice. We can justify war with all sorts of clever explanations such as they threatened our safety, or we are protecting freedom or we are liberating people from oppressive governments but politicians have used propaganda like that for over a hundred years.

We must be willing to look at the reality behind the pleasant sounding phrases. Protecting freedom. Killing humans sometimes innocent and unarmed. Liberating Iraq. Breaking down doors, pushing around Iraqis, pointing guns in women’s faces.

What comes with those noble sounding phrases that make us proud. What else is really there?

Support our troops. Dead American soldiers.

But when you stop with all the explanations and labels for a moment and just look at the reality of war; you can examine the simple fact that war is mass murder. And you might say that it is for a noble cause. But can you possibly justify mass murder as civilized means of achieving your goals. I do not offer lengthy persuasive arguments of better ways to govern this complex society but ask the reader to simply examine the foolishness of highly revering the very educated and placing a lower value on the uneducated.

The poor man may kill in gang violence for his “turf” which makes him money though the sale of drugs; but the rich man my initiate war for land and resources that make him wealthy.

But we prosecute the poor man and the rich man is respected.

Perspective

See PEACE, Page 7

CityTimes Volume 60, Issue 3 September 27, 2005 Published as: The Jay Sees / 1945-1949 Fortknightly / 1949-1978 City Times / 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks Cindy J. Wimer Editor-in-Chief Teshonne Harper News Editor Dashiell Kuhr Opinion Editor Jonathan Pivar Arts Editor Shane Crumrine Sports Editor

Mike Sullivan Photography Editor Roman S. Koenig Journalism Adviser City Times Staff Jessica Brown, Edgard Guerrero, Manny Lopez, Genie Pearce, Josie Salazar, Adrian Santa Cruz, Ivette Servin, Tiffany Stecker, Jeremiah Wessling Contributors Ternot MacRenato

Letters to the editor welcome City Times welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be typewritten (no more than 300 words) and must be signed with the author’s first and last names, major and phone number. City Times reserves the right to edit letters for space. Send them to the mail addresses listed below.

City Times is published twice monthly during the semester. Signed opinions 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.

How to reach us: City Times San Diego City College 1313 Park Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92101 Newsroom: L-125 Phone: (619) 388-3880 Fax: (619) 388-3814 E-mail: citytimes@gmail.com

Member: Journalism Association of Community Colleges, Associated Collegiate Press and California Newspaper Publishers Association

Media Matters for America graphic

Bush administration offers no real solutions to poverty In my last story I touched on the poverty problem in America but I would like to elaborate on this subject just a bit.

The Bush administration wants you to think that the economy is in recovery. Oh really?

Well let’s take a look at some of the statistics.

In the year 2004 there were 37 million or 12.7 percent of the population living in poverty and that figure has increased for the 4th year in a row. There are 45 million Americans who have no health insurance, which has increased by 6 million since 2000. And the median income has failed to increase for the 5th straight year.

On the other end of the spectrum the salaries for CEO’s have increased to 431 times the average worker! The Center for American Progress has calculated that if the average workers wage had grown at the same rate the lowest paid American worker would now be making $23.03 an hour.

Even Treasury Secretary John Snow has said, “The fruits of strong economic growth are not spreading equally.”

The Bush administration’s media goons are out there trying to play down the whole poverty issue by stating that the poverty levels were higher during the Clinton administration than they are under Bush. As usual they don’t tell the whole story.

The poverty statistics were at 15 percent when Clinton took office which is higher than the current 12.7 percent, but what they don’t explain is that the

Perspective Cindy J. Wimer statistics were that high when Clinton took office and steadily declined every year he was in office and just the opposite has happened under Bush in that it has grown every year he has been in office. (Check the U.S. Census Bureau chart below).

They also neglect to point out that Clinton inherited these figures from George W’s father.

So just who is benefiting from the Bush administrations policies?

Does the name Halliburton sound familiar? Halliburton has earned more than $9 billion in no-bid contracts for their work in Iraq. Pentagon audits have shown that there is $1.03 billion in “questionable costs” and $422 million in “unsupported costs.”

Since they have done such a bang up job in Iraq, the Bush administration has now awarded them some of the first rebuilding contracts in New Orleans including a $29.8 million contract to rebuild Navy bases. Guess who negotiated that contract?

Joseph Allbaugh, another buddy of Bush’s who was his 2004 campaign manager. Allbaugh was also the first FEMA director under Bush and is responsible for putting his friend “Brownie” in charge of FEMA upon his departure to become a lobbyist.

Another group Allbaugh lobbies for, The Shaw Group, has

received a $100 million housing contract and another $100 million from the U.S. Army of Engineers.

So while the Bush administration continues to pass out no-bid contracts and tax breaks to their buddies, Bush underfunded his “No Child Left Behind Program” by $27 billion in the first three years.

With the bill for Iraq at $200 billion and growing daily, the pentagon budget climbing toward $450 billion (not including the $5 billion monthly bill for Iraq and Afghanistan), and the entire education budget for next year at $56 billion (Nearly 2 billion less than 2005), it is not hard to figure out where the Bush administrations priorities are.

Then just to rub a little salt in the wound Bush suspended the Davis-Bacon law for the Katrina damaged area. This law was enacted in 1931 and sets a minimum pay scale for federal contract work and requires contractors to pay the prevailing wage in that region. The prevailing wage for construction work in New Orleans is $9, which is already below most other parts of the country.

So does Bush know more than a handful of people in Washington? He just keeps appointing the same group of cronies who worked for his dad and Reagan.

All I know is it pays to be a FOG (friend of George) in this country.

Cindy J. Wimer is City Times’ editor-in-chief

Corrections In the Sept. 13 edition of City Times, on page 1 there was reference to the Reading Center in room C-226. It is actually called the English Center. Also, the names of City Times writers Dashiell Kuhr and Genie Pearce were spelled incorrectly on some items.

City Times regrets the errors.

CityArts

Sept. 27, 2005

City Times

5

Prize-winning author draws big crowd at Saville Theatre

By Jeremiah Wessling City Times

Photo courtesy of the Tijuana Historical Society

City College’s Saville Theatre was jammed-packed with students, local devotees, teachers and administrators on Sept. 14.

Wall-to-wall, groups of people gathered to hear an open reading from the winner of the Pushcart Prize and the American Book Award, local author/poet Jimmy Santiago Baca.

This appearance, put together

by San Diego City College President Terrence Burgess, Elva Salinas, Jim Miller and the World Cultures Department as part of their “Season Of Hope” program, gave inspiration to City College students and local writers.

Baca’s short story entitled “Bull’s Blood” is featured in the local anthology “Sunshine/Noir: Writing From San Diego And Tijuana,” which was published by the college’s San Diego City

Works Press.

Baca, who was born in New Mexico of Chicano and Apache descent, grew up in an orphanage. At 21, Baca was sentenced to five years in a maximum-security prison. At that point, Baca turned his life around by learning to read and write and finding his passion for poetry.

Writing about life as he sees it, Baca describes topics from his upbringing, some of which brings laughter and others that bring pain.

“America has ingenious ways of pulling us apart, but there is more that unites us than separates us,” Baca reminded the audience Baca’s open reading was a way to reach out and inspire local writers, as well as to get more individuals involved in their community. This Season of Hope looks to be insightful, thoughtprovoking and enjoyable.

Ensalada just north of Ensenada

By Jonathan Pivar, City Times Just minutes south of San Diego across the border lives a breathing city rich in scum, allnude bars, a young drinking age, and plenty of fake Rolex. Tijuana may have the reputation of being a crime-infested border town with dirty streets and a dodgy water supply.

A trip to TJ is really dependent on openmindedness and a respect for its culture and people, as well as taking the attitude of a humble house guest. Tijuana offers great experiences to be had with friends, bargains to be bought, and great food to consume — if you

know what to look and ask for.

During prohibition in the 1920s Hollywood and San Diegans would make the trek over the border to hit TJ’s nightclubs, a quick departure from the speak-easies in the States. They became hooked on Mexican food — tacos, burritos, and Caesar salad? Yes, Caesar salad.

Italian restaurateur Caesar Cardini (1896-1956), proprietor of Caesar Hotel (also known as “Caesar’s Palace” and Hotel Cesar) was the inventor of the now widespread and often posh Caesar salad. Located on the

See ENSALADA, Page 7

Ternot MacRenato / Contributor Jimmy Santiago Baca met with City College faculty after his reading, among them Elva Salinas, left, and Candice Lopez.

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Sept. 27, 2005

VOICE

City Times

Letters to the Editor

Hurricanes brew storm of opinions Our own lack of preparation could catch us off guard Dear Editor: It is good that our City Times editor-in-chief can incite us into holding the federal bureaucracy accountable for Louisiana’s delayed response to New Orleans’ flooding. Perhaps now we should see how far our newspaper’s editor is removed from the reality of our own lack of disaster preparedness on campus and in our surrounding communities.

Our legislature in Sacramento well knows the law concerning the cooperation of students at City College, the College President, and the Adjutant General of the California National Guard as required by California Military & Veterans Code (M&VC) section 517. Still, being informed does not imply any action for the public good.

According to M&VC section 500, in any California Community College with 100 or more enrolled students, there shall be one or more companies of the California Cadet Corps. If 100 students do not attempt to enroll as cadets under M&VC section 500.1, the mandatory “shall” is consistently ignored by campus administrators. The trick of not letting students know that they could be signing up for firstresponder leadership training is exposed in the disappearing act of the California Cadet Corps chapter not found anywhere in California’s Education Code.

If anyone serious about disaster preparedness is also disinterested in the value of military leadership training, recall that from now on, our federal government will rely heavily on military command structures for responses to massive civil disasters, a hard lesson learned after Hurricane Katrina. Military responses are overwhelming once fully deployed, but in the hours and days after a catastrophe, most lives are lost in the local inactivity of waiting for distant responders to arrive. In that critical time, our lives are in our own hands and in those of our neighbors, prepared or not.

California’s community colleges provide the greatest number of college-trained adults for our state’s economy.

The sheer number of enrollees can create the greatest positive preparedness at the least cost to taxpayers. City College already graduates registered nurses, many of whom are eligible for direct commissioning in the armed forces’ medical support branches. The San Diego Community College District has already made millions over many years by training military personnel on bases in Michigan’s Great Lakes, Orlando, Florida and Meridian, Mississippi. It makes sense to use the District’s training resources to improve overall disaster preparedness on campus and in the surrounding communities against unavoidable, overwhelming disaster, to be prepared for that time immediately after a crippling catastrophe when the cavalry is still

roaming about somewhere over the horizon.

What doesn’t make sense is the District lobbying for federal homeland defense grant money while state-mandated military training programs are ignored and not implemented.

The first step is asking to enroll. Without stepping up and asking about California Cadet Corps classes, nothing happens.

It is always better to have the training and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.

If there is any question about that, just ask the mayor of New Orleans.

John C. Gonzales Associated Students President 1988-89

Editor’s ‘coward’ piece negates Bush’s true courage Wayne Stayskal / KRT Campus

Dear Editor: Re: “Protests growing thank to the ‘coward of Crawford County’” Cindy Wimer is at it again.

She provides us with an editorial that is full of half truths and weakly researched issues regarding the new Iraqi Constitution.

She states that President Bush thinks that Americans are stupid and further that the President of the United States of America is a coward.

Ms. Wimer states that Iraqi women will have fewer rights under the new Iraqi constitution. This is false. While it is true that the new constitution will use religious law as one of its foundations, the new constitution will also incorporate International Natural and Common law. Iraq will not become a Shiite theocracy with this new constitution.

Are women be mistreated, yes, but lets put this in perspective, women are being mistreated everywhere at this time, (including the United States of America). In the years to come, women’s rights in Iraq will increase at a pace unheard of in Middle Eastern countries.

As for President Bush: I’ve been a member of the Democratic Party for all of my voting life and I certainly don’t agree with many of President Bush’s policies. However, that said, I can still appreciate the courage it takes any American to run for high political office.

I believe that there are two kinds of courage, physical courage and moral courage. Physical courage, to take a bullet for a fellow service member, or to run into a burning building is easy to see, and easy for the press to report. Moral courage, is more difficult to pin down, but is displayed all the time, the young man who gives up his seat on a bus to a senior citizen even though his friends will give him grief about it, the witness to a crime who tells the police the truth about what happen, etc. In this vein, Presidents must make daily decisions that put mend and women in harms way, and you’d better believe that that takes an enormous amount of

moral courage.

Freethinking Americans; it appears that Ms. Wimer is writing more likely to make ‘Freebasing’ left wing administration bashers feel good about themselves at the expense of others who have taken up the cause of democracy and service to country.

T.K. Kisiel Spanish

Student questions editor’s facts, veterans group’s validity Dear Editor: I was shocked to see that Veterans for Peace was listed as a good organization to send support to, especially in a section of the newspaper that purported to help us discern between reliable and unreliable organizations. The editor had written a commentary in the same paper blasting Michael Brown as unfit for his FEMA position because of lack of experience. The fact that she then promotes an organization that admits it’s not experienced in disaster relief leads me to conclude that the editor was merely trying to support her pet political organization. And she does this in a section that claims to help us find good, reliable organizations to which we can donate!

Additionally, Veterans for Peace is under investigation by the Red Cross and law enforcement agencies in Louisiana for various allegations. They had been kicked out of their first site for posing as Red Cross workers, and have made false claims about supporting the Red Cross and receiving various endorsements from the Red Cross. When asked about these things, Red Cross officials were surprised, not even having known about the existence of Veterans for Peace relief efforts in Louisiana.

Clearly the editor is asking us to support an organization with dubious ethical standards.

This seems to me to be a serious breach of journalistic ethics. Supporting the group in an article entitled “Support my favorite organizations” would be one thing. However, when the group doesn’t even hold up to the editor’s claimed standards in one section of the paper, sponsoring the group as a reliable organization in another section is unacceptable. Please don’t mislead us in such a way to support your favorite political project.

Jeremiah Stoddard Physics Editor’s note: City Times has been unable to confirm allegations that Veterans for Peace is under investigation by the organizations listed in this letter. It is, however, a legitimate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

We must strengthen our national fabric with common vision Dear Editor: The Katrina disaster was a huge blow to this country.

Hundreds are dead. Families lost everything, their jobs, their homes, and their social network. The sick and the elderly in the region were victimized.

Entire industries crumbled; the economic base in the area disappeared, with ramifications throughout the US. Colleges were evacuated, flooding and fire damage ensued. Over 10,000 students fled, many dropped out and others enrolled in assisting institutions elsewhere.

Jazz ceased and we all bled.

But in the weeks after Labor Day, the country is responding and rebuilding. The pumps are pumping out the floodwaters.

The streets have been reclaimed.

Donations are pouring in, citizens are opening up their homes and hearts, business is responding, students are arriving on the scene to rebuild homes. Feisty

community leaders and business owners are re-emerging.

Despite the enormous challenge of rebuilding economic infrastructure, job opportunities, education and housing that face the region, there is hope, there is heart. The tradition of aid in America toward one another in a time of need has triumphed over the vulnerability and abandonment that the storm exposed.

However, the Katrina Hurricane has left us with a bigger question. How did our communities become so vulnerable?

These families had no insurance, no access to quality health care, not enough money to get out quickly when an emergency strikes, no savings account, no social network beyond the immediate region to assist them in the face of such incredible loss.

In fact, the disaster has exposed to the country the plight of our middle income and lower income families all across the country before the hurricane hit, and just how precarious their situation is. Millions of families live with the odds stacked against them; lacking opportunity, they live without cash savings, without insurance, without the skills of a well trained work force, without access to civic networks that serve communities. It is clear that in the same spirit of aid that has enabled our country to address the immediate needs of the victims after Katrina, we need to strengthen our social fabric with the same compassion and common vision.

And that is where education comes in. Only one quarter of this country has a college degree; but we know that a college degree creates a skilled work force, a higher salary upon graduation, and a stronger likelihood that civic structures can flourish to buttress communities from blows over time. Without the opportunity of a college degree, millions of people yearly live with the odds stacked against them.

Now is the time to strengthen this country’s programs that are available for lower- and middle-

See LETTERS, Page 7

Sept. 27, 2005

City Times

ARTS / VOICE

Ensalada Continued from Page 5 corner of 4th and Revolucion in Tijuana’s historic downtown, Caesar’s is still pumping out its legendary salad as it did early in its creation: tableside.

The preparation much like the décor hasn’t changed at the Caesar’s. It still has a very smart-looking art deco vibe, complete with a neon “air-conditioned” sign luminating the quaint outdoor patio.

Although Spanish is not a necessity for

Peace Continued from Page 4 We drive through “ghetto” neighborhoods and despise the filth and trash; and how the poor pollute their neighborhoods yet large corporations pollute the earth we live on and kill the animals, plants and are still respected. This is a double standard.

Is higher education and wealth a license to murder and pollute the earth?

Sure not all that are highly educated

Letters Continued from Page 6 income families and students to beat the odds, access affordable education, and be better situated to weathering storms of all kinds.

Rather than making college more affordable, Congress is planning a raid on student aid! This Fall, both the House and the Senate are planning to divert billions of dollars away from the students who need them. The House of Representatives has proposed cutting $9 billion dollars of aid to students by raising interest rates and eliminating borrower benefits; these cuts could cost the average student borrower up to $5,800 in extra interest payments. The Senate will raise interest rates for family loans and divert $7 billion dollars away from the students who need them. All in the name of a deficit reduction package, which actually adds to the deficit once the numbers are calculated!

ordering purposes, a little goes along way with the staff who really play it up and “The Original Caesar’s Salad” put on a culinary comedy show rich with (For 4 Persons) Mexican humor and insight on what is 3 medium heads romaine lettuce about to be tasted. chilled, dry, crisp; Miguel, our server, had been working Dash Worcestershire sauce; the crowds at Caesar’s for 19 years. 8/2/05 He 12:52 Grated parmesan cheese, 5 or 6 tableFin_11_5x6 PM Page 1 was as good a server as you would expect spoons; Croutons, about 1 cup; at any 5 star restaurant Stateside, and at 6 USD the experience is not to be missed.

Garlic flavored salad oil about 1/3 cup; The recipe for the salad is a bit different Wine vinegar, 1 to 2 tablespoons; Juice of 1 ½ lemon; than the widespread salad everyone is accustomed to, which really added to the 1 raw egg experience.

Freshly ground pepper Here’s the “secret” recipe as given by Miguel:

commit these crimes but does their education enable them to solve these problems? In fact what is education currently doing to end this global corruption and stop these dangerous and “respected” criminals?

I sit in my classes at City College and I am scared for the world. I ask what my class is doing to enable me as a citizen to stop world war pollution. When I am finished with my schooling and receive my degree will I be closer to being able to bring about a peaceful society?

7

Some folklore says that Cardini came up with the salad after years of trial and error, some that it was Mexican-Italian influence, but the most believable explanation for the invention of the worldfamous Caesar salad is that he ran out of ingredients, threw everything he had on hand into the mix and served it. The latter seems to be the most believable, and his poor choices in vendors have to be thanked. For a great time, a great trip rich in culture and history, and some great affordable eats try out Caesar’s.

COLLEGE SURVIVAL TIP

THE BENEFITS OF USED TEXTBOOKS. THE WISDOM OF RIDING THE COATTAILS OF THOSE WHO’VE COME BEFORE.

Dashiell Kuhr is City Times’ opinion editor

to pay for college, even after adding up all available federal and state aid, expected family contributions, and student work.

The typical low-income student falls $3,800 short a year at a 4 year school, while the typical middle class student falls $2,300 short. Yet, the way to lead students out of this hole is right in front of Congress; both chambers could increase Pell Grant funding by $17 billion just by removing inefficiencies in the student loan program. This would raise the Pell grant scholarship by as much at $1,000.

If the additional cuts proposed above were also recycled back into the aid programs, then Congress would gain the ability to markedly increase grant aid further and provide lower interest rates on loans.

Allow us to make a case for used textbooks. They offer you the highlighted and underlined wisdom (assuming they actually passed the class) of those who’ve come before.

From pithy insights to racy doodles, it’s a little added value for your education dollar.

Here’s another useful tip to help you save a little in school: Free Checking from Washington Mutual. There’s no minimum balance required to avoid a monthly service charge and it’s free to sign up for a Visa® Check Card. Plus there’s free online bill pay available at wamu.com.

Along with the books of a Dean’s-Lister, Free Checking from Washington Mutual is all you really need to skim through school in style. For more information, visit your local Washington Mutual Financial Center or call 1-800-788-7000.

FREE CHECKING WITH NO MONTHLY FEE NO MATTER WHAT YOUR BALANCE

This is a golden opportunity to get JOB#:stuWM 6924 N5 middle and lower income families and dents out of the hole, and for the CREATIVE: Ameri- textbook DATE: of TIME: can people to maintain our tradition aid and community that has gotten PDF: usOUTPUT%: 100 through the aftermath so far. Let’s hope Congress responds to this spirit.

The fact is that millions of students and families come up short of what the federal government estimates they need

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8 City Times

CitySports

Knights’ goal: keep momentum going

Sept. 27, 2005

Left: photo: City College players congratulate Darren Cannone (13) on a first half goal versus East Los Angeles College on Sept. 13.

City won the match 2-1. Right: The Knights’ Michael Wilrich (15) goes high for a header during the East Los Angeles College game.

The San Diego City men’s soccer team has gone 5-1, as of Sept. 21 in their bid to defend their Pacific Coast Conference championship of last year. The Knights have gotten off to a fast start in nonconference play, behind leading scorers Dimitri Hidalgo and Juan Perez. Losing only won game, which was played against E.L.A.C. on Sept. 9. The team showed that they have heart in their next contest bouncing back to defeat E.L.A.C. 2-1 here at City College. The Knights are hoping to carry this momentum into their three remaining non-conference games and on into the regular season which begins on Oct. 12.

— Shane Crumrine

Mike Sullivan City Times

Volleyball sees early success

By Shane Crumrine City Times The San Diego City women’s volleyball team is exceeding expectations of this year according to head coach Dede Bodnar, starting out 11-4 this season after last years 14-6 overall record and 66 in conference play.

After winning their first two matches against Mt. San Jacinto and Santa Ana Colleges, the Lady Knights went undefeated at the Cuyamaca College tournament going 5-0 behind an M.V.P. performance by Carolina Soria.

“She played great,” said coach Bodnar of Soria “Her team leadership is incred-

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ible. She has just really matured it’s her second year playing for City. She’s totally matured as a player, you know, not just in her ability to play the game but in her ability to work with her teammates.”

Soria had an impressive stat line of 43 kills and 6 errors on 80 attempts. As well as M.V.P. honors Soria was selected as the Pacific Coast Conference women’s player of the week. She was also selected to the all P.C.C. team last year in Softball.

“She has really blossomed into a great player.” Said coach Bodnar of her second year player.

The Lady Knights next contest was at home against Irvine Valley on Sept. 16, which they lost in three straight sets.

The following day the team played in the Santa Ana tournament where they went 3-3.

A big reason for the team’s fast start this year is their new assistant coach Andy Stucke. Among other duties Stucke trains the girls in strength and conditioning.

“He has brought extreme knowledge, probably the most advanced knowledge in strength and conditioning for volleyball athletes.” Said coach Bodnar.” I think he is a good counterpart for me. I think we both compliment each other when I am aggressive he can bring the girls to calm down or focus, and when he’s aggressive I can bring the girls to calm down.”

With this nucleus of great players and a solid coaching staff the Lady Knights are hoping to bring a P.C.C. championship back to City College.

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