San Jose City College Times, Vol. 72, Issue 5, Dec 13, 2011

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Dec. 13, 2011

VOL. 72, NO. 5

New course can save lives Instructors will teach basic skills of Emergency Medical Services BY OLIVIA PAYNE TIMES STAFF

A new prerequisite course is going to be implemented in the Emergency Medical Services program at San Jose City College. The first respondent course, Emergency Medical Services 010, will begin in the spring 2012 semester. According to the spring 2012 course catalog, the prerequisite will prepare students to function as an EMT-B in clinical and emergency medical services. “We are preparing them for a career in the EMS where they should have an easy transition, by us making sure that they maintain the standards of EMS,” Newly appointed EMS Instructor Scott Miller said. The students are taught anatomy, psychology, procedures dealing with behavioral issues, treating open chest wounds and abdominal respirations said Miller who has been working in the program since 2005. “We instill that when they come to this program, we are preparing them for a service in the 9-11 system,” Miller said. “That’s why they wear the uniform and badges everywhere so that they know what to expect when they get into the field.”

Miller said he is working to add to the program, a long-term goal is to bring an advanced EMT program to SJCC’s Health Science department. Miller said his ultimate goal is to apply an associate’s degree in EMS. “At the beginning of the semester the program has 90-110 students enrolled, at the end of the program 50-55 student’s graduate,” Miller said. Miller said in this field there are career opportunities as emergency room technicians checking vital signs and administering some of the medications that are taught in the class. An ER tech provides basic treatment of patients. They can also do physical therapy. The biggest career opportunity is working on the ambulance in the 9-11 system. “Students are being prepared for Inner-Facility Transport. After completion of the program, that’s where most of the students end up going,” Miller said. The IFT has students working on a Basic Life Support Ambulance. They transport patients from home to ER or from the hospital to a convalescent home. “On the ride along we are right there, hands-on and

JUAN MENDOZA / TIMES STAFF

Preparing for finals, Patsy Ledesma, left, and Jessica Le, right, practice putting a neck brace on fellow classmate Bleysyka Torres, center, on Tuesday, Dec. 6 in T-514. involved,” said Bleysyka Torres, 25, nursing major student. “It gives me more practice so I can feel more comfortable doing what I will be doing in the future.” The IFT is a stepping stone where students get a solid basic life support foundation before they get to advanced EMT, said Miller. “Even if I don’t go into the field to work as an EMT, I feel that my family is much more protected because I took this course. I feel that I can assist them in any medical emergency, “Torres said.

The program has 10 instructors that assist with the hands-on training and the ride alongs. “We teach hands on all the skills necessary to be an EMT”, said instructor Manny Gadduang. During the summer time, students who are transitioning out of the university system to medical schools come to the EMS program to get medical basics, before they go off to medical school, Miller said. “My goal is to expand the program to fire lining EMT, where students learn fire

behavior, how to deal with major fires and treat people in fire lines,” Miller said. “It’s not actual fire fighting it’s working with medics and fire teams on the fire lines.” By next year Miller said he plans to have the prerequisite, fire lining and a CPR course offered at San Jose City College. “Most people think that the program is limited to just ambulance work,” Miller said. “The course is a lower level of pre-med; it gives students an idea of where they want to be in the medicine world.”

American Chemical Society honors professor Adamczeski given a teacher-scholar award in a ceremony at the Biltmore

CORDELL KINTNER / TIMES STAFF

Harry Ungar gives San Jose City College professor Madeline Adamczeski the Teacher-Scholar Award on Nov. 17 at the Biltmore Hotel.

BY CORDELL KINTNER TIMES STAFF

In a room behind the bar in the Biltmore Hotel, the American Chemical Society held its annual awards ceremony in honor of Madeline Adamczeski, 50, professor of chemistry and director of the Western Regional Center for Peer Lead Team Learning Division of Math and Science, S111. The Teacher-Scholar Award, given to faculty members who show extraordinary efforts and to recognize work of outstanding community college faculty, was awarded to Adamczeski on Nov. 17. “I believe I received the award because I go above and beyond,” Adamczeski said. “I try to make opportunities for my students to succeed.” One of the major accomplishments Adamczeski spearheaded was bringing the PLTL program to SJCC. PLTL is a program in which students who do well in the class are recruited to be leaders, and they assist their fellow students in learning and problem solving.

Adamczeski’s students feel it was a great decision giving the award to her. “She works so hard and dedicates so much of herself to all of her students that it’s unbelievable,” said Athena Ford, 22, nursing student. Approximately 100 people attended the award ceremony, which consisted of dinner, then a short presentation about the various programs the ACS is implementing in schools, before they presented Adamczeski with her award. Adamczeski gave a short speech to accept her award. “To do what you love, and love what you do, is the greatest honor of all,” Adamczeski said. Students from the SJCC branch of the ACS were also in attendance. “I think she’s one of the best teachers I’ve had,” said Oscar Sanchez, 19, athletic training student, “She’s always busy because she’s always helping here or there, but overall she’s a very great teacher.” The award consisted of a plaque with her name engraved on it, as well as a $500 grant from the ACS.

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2 â– OPINION

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Queers need Safe Space on campus Gay bashing is nothing new, and can be found throughout history. From beating a person because they love the same sex as themselves to calling them a fag for the same reason. The word fag means bundle of sticks, but came to be a derogatory term for a gay man because in the times of witch trials the gay men were forced to do manual labor in the city, picking up sticks for the witch burnings. When sticks became scarce the towns started to burn the gay men in their place. It is wrong to use this word to refer to a gay man. The word homosexual is found to be offensive to some, because it originated as a clinical term which refers to a mental disorder. In 1960s San Francisco the police used to come into gay bars and beat the men, then arrest them under false charges. An activist and later politician Harvey Milk started to organize marches and an organization that business that welcomed gays. This moved mostly the “straight� owners’ businesses move out of the Castro. San Jose City College used to have to have a Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Questioning and Allies club. The LGBTQQA club was named Gay Straight Alliance. It started in the 1970s, but has fallen apart and remade a few times. “I heard that bullying started to become a big issue for students that had belonged to the club,� said Karrawinds Salters, Region IV vice president, “So then it just started to fall apart.� The school needed to recognize this is a problem earlier. This year, a non-affiliated person, on campus to collect signatures, pushed a student and said “you know how over-sensitive homosexuals are� to the officer after the student had complained. The officer did nothing but ask the individual not to act like that. For others it is believed that being a LGBTQQ is morally and religiously wrong. There are many different ways that the LGBTQQ community is persecuted every day. They are looked at differently by some people while out in public, which makes the person feel unaccepted at times. Proposition 8 denies the marriage of same sex cou-

“Do you support gay marriage? Why or why not?�

ples, which is a direct violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In the 1970s, Anita Bryant, a singer and beauty pageant queen, was also known for her support of bigotry against gay and lesbian teachers. She is famously quoted “As a mother,� Bryant said, “I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children; therefore, they must recruit our children.� Her main goal was to get all gay or lesbian teachers fired from teaching in public schools. She believed that the teachers were using their jobs to influence younger generations to be gay or lesbian. Even faculty members on this campus are not safe from bigotry; Librarian Joseph King said he was harassed during an orientation. “The students called me queer and made kissing noises at me,� king said. “They were looking at me and said it in a mocking tone.� Studies show that attacks like this and rejection from family and friends have led to increased attempted suicide rates. According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center website, in 2006 Eisenberg and Resnick found that LGB students in grades 9 and 12 were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide than their heterosexual peers. 52.4 percent of LB females and 29.0 percent of GB males had attempted suicide. The percentages of non-GLB females and males who had attempted suicide were 24.8 and 12.6 percent respectively. To save these students, some campuses in the US have started Safe Spaces for these students. The Safe Space Program is designed to let students feel that they have a safe and accepting place to go if they ever feel like they are being harassed. San Jose City College would need to order the Safe Space kits and designate the space with the sticker included in the kit. This would be a small step to promoting equality and providing more recourse for the LGBTQQ students.

SPEAK O U

BY OLIVIA PAYNE AND JUAN MENDOZA / TIMES STAFF

Michelle Blair Age: 40s English professor ■I don’t ascribe to the fact that God or the bible said it had to be a certain way. People should be happy and in love and there shouldn’t be differences.

Coty Dolan Age: 21 Major: Administration of Justice ■I don’t support gay marriage because of my religious values and how I was brought up.

Kebrom Gidey Age: 20 Major: undecided ■Being gay is a sin. That is why God created Adam and Eve. There is another side to it. People are born gay and can’t do anything about it.

Rebecca James Age: 73 Student Mentor ■I do support it because everyone’s entitled to be with the one that they love.

Jerilee Bobbit Age: 24 Major: Cosmetology â– I support it! I love girls. I want to spend the rest of my life with a girl and I would definitely want to be able to get married to a girl.

Daniel Garcia Age: 18 Major: Kinesiology ■Yes, I support gay marriage. I support this because although being gay is not traditional in everyone’s eyes, gays are still human beings. Being a human being gives the right for equality.

CORDELL KINTNER / TIMES STAFF

TIMes CITY COLLEGE

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Editor-in-chief: Juan Mendoza Opinion Editor: Olivia Payne Photo/Sports Editor: Stephanie Smith Campus Life Editor: Steve Hill A&E Editor: Andy Nguyen Copy Editor: Brandon Berthelsen Writer: Larry Harris Web Editor: Brian Bertrand Advertising Manager: Cordell Kintner Videographer: Jared Duba Photographers: Joy Hines, Deyan Ivanovic Faculty Adviser: Farideh Dada Managing Editor: Jonathan Marinaro Contributors: Araceli Gonzalez, Melissa Martinez, Wesley Moots Rebecca Morrissey, Vinita Nelson, Shelley Nilsson, Leeta-Rose Ballester LETTERS POLICY: The Times, an instructional program in journalism, welcomes comments and opinions of the public in response to signed viewpoints, editorials or reports. Letters to the editor must be typed, include the author’s name and contact information, and may not exceed 200 words. All letters may be edited for length, clarity and libel. Please include a phone number. A signed copy must be delivered to the Times mailbox or newsroom, and an electronic copy e-mailed to citycollegetimes@jaguars.sjcc.edu

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TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011

Not so instant ramen

OPINION ■ 3

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Kahoo delivers flavorful broth and crisp noodles on a budget

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BY WESLEY MOOTS CONTRIBUTOR

AND JONATHAN MARINARO TIMES STAFF

Kahoo Ramen is a small restaurant by California standards, hidden in the same complex with Mitsuwa Asian Marketplace just off Highway 280 on Saratoga Ave, but it holds within a delicious take on japanese food in a iconic atmosphere. We arrived at the ramen house shortly before they opened at 11:15 a.m., and by the time we left at 11:50 a.m. all the seats were filled with the first, if not second, customers of the day and a short line was waiting to be seated at the door. Kahoo’s ambience sets itself apart as classic Japanese decorations are met by classic and alternative rock music from speakers on the ceiling. If you sit facing the kitchen you can see the chefs working as they prepare each order and the smell the fresh food which permeates the air. We started with the Kara-age, a Japanese version of fried-chicken, with an order of spicy sauce on the side ($5 plus $1 for the side of spicy sauce). The chicken’s flavor was as unique as the atmosphere, and their use of juicy thigh meat and spices in the breading blended beautifully with the mayonnaise and spicy sauce which came on the side. The heat of the spicy sauce is mostly found in the mouth and sinuses but differs from the burn commonly found in jalepeños. To drink we each enjoyed a can of iced oolong tea ($1.50 each). From there we ordered our entrees. Jonathan ordered the classic Shoyu Ramen ($7.95) with extra cha-shu pork ($1.50), and Wesley ordered the Kotteri Miso Ramen ($8.95) with extra egg ($1.00) and cha-shu pork ($1.50). The Shoyu offers a smoother, more blended flavor

JONATHAN MARINARO / TIMES STAFF

One bowl is enough with plenty of ramen to warm you up through the winter at Kahoo Ramen in San Jose. with each ingrediant keeping its own flavor yet also carrying to flavor of the pork. The Kotteri Miso is a very garlic-infused broth which compliments the vegetables, egg, and pork found in most of Kahoo’s ramen dishes. For the garlic fan this is a must-try, though it may not be for the faint-of-heart. We also decided to give their snack-option a try and ordered two of the mini rice bowls which are offered at a great price ($3 each). The first was the Curry Pork Rice Bowl which had exceptional flavor, and as a Japanese curry it had very little spiciness in the taste. Secondly came the Spicy Boiled Chicken Rice Bowl. The chicken had been pre-boiled and was served cold with a sauce which was more sweet than spicy. Neither of us were very impressed with the spicy boiled chicken, though we agreed that the curry pork was amazing. In total our meal cost $38.52 plus tip and was far more food than either of us would normally order. Expect to spend closer to $10 to $15 per person when visiting this fantastic ramen house. IN DEPTH REVIEW RATING FOOD..................23/25 SERVICE.............09/10 AMBIENCE...........08/10 LOCATION...........05/05

Students struggle with holiday budget Creativity steps in when money gets reined in BY LEETA-ROSE BALLESTER CONTRIBUTOR

Ramen is on the menu, and the gas tank is empty, but no matter what winter holiday you celebrate, there seems to be a certain expectation that you will give someone some sort of gift, even on a student budget. Holiday shoppers in the United States plan to spend an average of $704.18 per person on holiday gifts and seasonal merchandise, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2011 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. The income levels of San Jose City College students are about as varied as the reasons for going to college, but most can agree that money is not exactly plentiful. With the average income of students at $14,400, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, and a rise in school and transportation costs, some students have had to get a little more creative this year. Deanna Dickerson, 20, said she had intended to purchase presents this year but unexpected changes have left her searching for alternatives. “I had planned on buying gifts for a select few, but after a few weeks recently, I think it

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might be cookies and teriyaki sauce for everyone,” Dickerson said. Some students are cutting back on spending overall but still getting big ticket items for a few people on their holiday list. Lillian Davis, 23, a social work major student, said she will give out keepsakes for most of her friends and family but plans to spend a bit more on a few. “I think I’m just going to give everybody pictures of me and my daughter in a frame and maybe splurge a little on my family that I live with because they’ve helped me a lot,” Davis said, “and of course I’m going to splurge quite a bit on my daughter!” Sombra Guerra, 19, an English major student, said she will be making all of her gifts by hand this year, not just for financial reasons but because she believes it is more meaningful. “I think that materialistic things don’t last as long as something that is handmade and comes straight from the heart,” Guerra said. “Every girl wants a diamond necklace, for example, but the price may not be what she was hoping, ‘I’m only worth $300?’ Why not make a memory album going through all the months that you’ve been with a certain someone.” SJCC students seem to reflect a survey conducted by the website Bankrate found that 42 percent of Americans said they intended to spend less this holiday season compared to last year, while only 10 percent of Americans said they would spend more.

OVERALL RATING...45/50

5

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4 ■ ADVERTISEMENT TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011


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TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011

SPORTS■ 5

Men’s Basketball BY STEPHANIE SMITH TIMES STAFF

San Jose City College plays against City College of San Francisco at SJCC on Dec. 2. SJCC Jaguars lose against CCSF with an ending score of 86-45. Next men’s basketball game will be on Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. at SJCC against Cañada College.

Paul Hester, guard, shoots a free throw after being fouled by an CCSF player.

Rodney Black, shooting guard, attempts a free throw after being fouled by an CCSF player.

Andre Arrieta, forward, tries to block a shot by Yoan Zola, forward, of CCSF.

Coach Percy Carr talks with his players as they take a time out in the fourth quarter of their game against CCSF.

Coach Carr coaches from the sidelines while SJCC players from the bench listen and watch their fellow teammates and opponents.

Chris Pender, guard, awaits for one of his teammates to become open while Fred Sturdivant, forward, from CCSF guards him.


6 ■ A&E TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011

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‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ does dragons right

Leaves players wanting more BY CORDELL KINTNER TIMES STAFF

Dragons are the main theme in the fifth installment of the Elder Scrolls series, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim”. These days, it seems that Dragons are the new zombies. Everyone is using them, from “How to Tame Your Dragon,” to “Minecraft”. But by far, The best use of them is in Skyrim, available for Microsoft Windows, PS3, and Xbox 360. The game, produced by Bethesda Softworks, takes place in the snowy reaches of the land of Skyrim, a harsh land filled with massive mountains and rolling tundras. You start out as a prisoner, like all other “Elder Scrolls” games, and immediately have a dragon shoved in your face as it interrupts your execution by killing everyone, allowing you to make your escape. You later learn that you are Dragonborn, a mortal with the soul of a dragon. With your new found powers, you are the only thing standing between Alduin, the Dragon overlord, and the destruction of the world. Skyrim is a great game, with rich dialogue, beautiful scenery, and best of all, massive amounts of customization. The game allows you to make your character look the way you want, fight the way you want, and act the way you want. One of the main improvements Skyrim brings to the “Elder Scrolls” series is how character creation works. No longer

do you choose what your character will be like at the beginning of the game, you now develop your character through how you play. Leveling in Skyrim works differently now than it did in its predecessors. When you increase a skill, you gain experience toward your next level, gaining more as specific skills progress. This way, you still get the feeling of the old games, but if you suddenly wanted to change from Two-Handed weapons to One-Handed, you would still gain experience from using them. Combat has also been vastly improved upon. It is now more dangerous than ever, with the average battle lasting only a few seconds. This is a double edged sword, as it is entirely possible for you to die in a few seconds. Only the most powerful monsters take over a minute, most notably Dragon battles. Dragons are powerful and numerous in the lands of Skyrim, and take massive power to overcome. Most encounters with them are also completely unscripted. Dragons can attack towns while you are shopping, or while you’re exploring the wilderness. You must defeat these dragons and absorb their souls to gain their knowledge of the Way of the Voice, the language dragons speak, in the form of Shouts. These shouts allow the player to do things like breath fire, call upon a thunderstorm or even misdirect your opponents. It is entirely possible for

COURTESY OF BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

a Dragon to wipe out an entire town, leaving no one to barter with, or eliminating someone you needed to talk to for a quest. While this seems like a game breaker, the good people at Bethesda introduced a new system into the game: Radiant Story. This system allows for things such as Dragon attacks to be possible, while still keeping the game playable. If someone important dies, they are usually replaced with a family member,

Pilgrimage of Blades

Ezio returns to ‘Assassin’ origins

nor bugs, such as furniture disappearing from your house or getting launched 200 feet in the air by a Giant, in no way affect the hours of game play possible in this game. Skyrim gets 5 dragon heads out of 5.

“Select Start”: Gaming for the Holidays The Holidays like to come at you fast. Fortunately, video games have a tradition of using the big guns and 2011 has seen many blockbuster titles since September. Here are 6 recommendations for the gamers in your life.

BY BRIAN BERTRAND TIMES STAFF

The end of an era has arrived in “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.” Since 2007, Ubisoft Montreal has created an amazing story of religious conspiracy mixed with historical references. Their newest title ends the tale of two assassins and opens up a big adventure in Constantinople. After learning the truth of the Apple of Eden from an ancient holographic projection, Ezio Auditore sets off to follow in the footsteps of Altaïr, the original protagonist from “Assassin’s Creed.” Upon arrival, Ezio finds himself rebuilding the Assassin Brotherhood in the middle of the feud between the Byzantine and Ottoman empires for control of the Holy Land. As this is happening, the Templars, the sworn enemy of Ezio and the assassins, push the feud between the Ottomans and Byzantines. This distracts the empires long enough for the Templars to go after a set of keys that Altaïr left behind to hide the Apple. It is Ezio’s job to find these keys before the Templars in order to keep history from being altered by corruption. Meanwhile Desmond Miles, the modern day assassin descendant, is in a coma after the Apple was activated at the end of “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood.” Desmond’s consciousness is now forced to stay inside the computer system that allowed him to access Ezio’s memories while uncovering his own through later parts of

of if none are available, a generically named NPC. Not only does this prevent some quests from being impossible to complete, but also allows for a more vibrant and rich experience. Overall, Skyrim is an extremely great game, and the mi-

Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360 – M): Epic Games ends the first trilogy of what has been a great ride with the war of the Coalition of Governments and the Locust Horde. In their third installment, Marcus Fenix finishes the fight in groundbreaking fashion with more weapons and more multiplayer options than before. This game is available now at Gamestop for $39.99. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (Xbox 360, PS3 – M): Ezio Auditore’s journey also ends in the newest installment in Ubisoft’s flagship series. Constantinople has been very hospitable for the Italian assassin as he brings up the original assassin order and finds the remains of Altair, the original protagonist from “Assassin’s Creed.” What will happen with the Apple of Eden? How is Desmond Miles affected? You can find out now because this game is now available for $59.99 at Gamestop.

the game. The story is very well told. The connection between Desmond, Ezio, and Altaïr become clear from beginning to end, with a great emphasis on the main objectives. The first issue that may confuse some of the longtime players is the controls. Instead of using the top face to use Ezio’s tracking ability, Ubisoft decided to move it to the left analog stick. Meanwhile, the secondary weapons are placed in the top face button. It does take getting used and may confuse players further if they wish to go back to older “Assassin’s Creed” titles. Combat looks very fluid, as expected. A new combat system has been added to bring a better

sense of strategy. Ubisoft has also added the ability to use bombs allow an extra tactical advantage for stealth maneuvering. When it comes down to general navigation in the game, there are some pretty big glitches. Allies have a tendency to stay in one spot and refuse to do anything else, which causes you to have to restart the mission. “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” has certainly evolved on a smooth timeline and players will have something else to be thankful for this year. This game gets five well deserved hidden blades out of five. You can pick this game up for $49.99 at your local retailer.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Xbox 360, PS3 – M): Bethesda Softworks returns to the “Elder Scrolls” story and adds dragons into the fray. With a massive world to explore and an intuitive story to follow, this game is one for the true, hardcore medieval players. Say goodbye to your social life for $59.99 at GameStop. Batman: Arkham City (Xbox 360, PS3 – T): A major part of Gotham City becomes a super prison in this sequel to the very popular reboot of the franchise. The Dark Knight brings the pain in this adventure full of the most epic battles to date. Grab your Batclaws and pick this game up for $59.99 at GameStop. Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC – T): The force is strong once again in this highly-anticipated online multiplayer game from BioWare, the original creators of the legendary “Knights of the Old Republic” game. Many classes and characters to create your own adventure while still keeping true to the Star Wars franchise will definitely bring fans of the movies and gamers together. Grab this game for $59.99 at GameStop because this is the game you’re looking for. Sonic Generations (Xbox 360, PS3, 3DS, PC – E): Two different styles of Sonic gameplay as Dr. Eggman returns to destroy his adversary through all parts of time. Speed through this paradox for $39.99 at GameStop.


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TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011

CAMPUS LIFE â– 7

The tenuous life of adjunct faculty

STEVE HILL / TIMES STAFF

A San Jose City College student walks by the Adjunct Faculty Center on Dec. 8. The Center functions as a meeting spot for adjunct faculty members and their students.

Part-time teachers run themselves ragged in pursuit of full-time salary BY STEVE HILL TIMES STAFF

She is up by 6 a.m. and on the road by 7 a.m. to get to her morning classes at college No. 1. During the course of her week, she will have taught at three different colleges. She is a “freeway flyer,� a part-time faculty member who pieces together a full-time income, and she did not want to be named for this article. “It’s my livelihood,� she said. “I can’t risk it. Potential employers can view this article online, and it may affect my chances for future full-time or even other parttime employment.� “My office is in my car, laptops, cameras, tripods, projects,� she said. The freeway flyer is often cobbling together a full-time salary. “Depending on where they are, they could work almost 200 percent (of full-time schedule) to make exactly what a full-timer might make,� Executive Director of the Faculty Association Barbara Hanfling said. Teachers work as adjuncts for a variety of reasons. They may be visiting or guest lecturers or they may be professionals who have another career away from college. Many adjunct faculty seek full-time positions but are rarely hired. ESL instructor Fred Allen teaches at San Jose City College as well as Mission College. “Part of the reason I’m a part-timer is because my daughter is a school-age kid, and I’m a stay-at-home parent,� Allen said. “The specter of financial pressure looms. My wife was laid off in June but recently found new employment. I could have been in the same situation where I was scrambling around trying to find more classes to teach for the income.� Allen’s schedule includes long days of teaching and traveling. “Next semester, I start work at 8 a.m. here and finish my working day at 9:20 p.m. It’s a long day,� Allen said. “The other days I have blocks of time where I can come home for an hour or two, try to rest, relax or prepare and mark papers.�

About 480 adjunct faculty members work in San Jose/Evergreen Community College District, and the percentage of adjunct faculty members has increased in the last decade. “Ten years ago 72 percent of our classes were taught by fulltimers, and now it’s 58 percent,� Hanfling said. “It’s been a huge decrease. We have fewer classes because we’ve cut so much, but we have more classes being taught by adjunct.� College administrators often prefer to hire adjunct personnel. They are paid less, can be easily fired and have fewer rights than a full-time faculty member. However, there are downsides to relying heavily on parttime faculty, and the education community has criticized this practice. “The research indicates that student success is enhanced by full-time faculty more than adjunct, not because of the quality of their work, but because of their accessibility,� Hanfling said. Part-time faculty often lack office space, which makes it hard to meet with students, but San Jose City College does provide an adjunct faculty office. However, part-timers are not always available outside of their office hours. “Full-timers are available even outside of their office hours, which makes it much easier for students to find their full-time faculty when they are struggling,� Hanfling said. Traveling from school to school limits the amount of time part-time faculty spend with their students. “If you have someone who is at four colleges that they work at, that’s why they’re freeway flyers,� Allen said. “They have to go from college A to college B, then they’re not going to be on campus and meetings with students become an issue.� The question then becomes, if it’s such a difficult job situation, why do they continue to teach? “People really want to be teachers,� Allen said. “One thing is that teachers in general love what they do.�

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8 ■ UNINCORPORATED TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011

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Homemade for the holidays Students seek inexpensive gifts for friends and family BY ARACELI GONZALEZ, MELISSA MARTINEZ, REBECCA MORRISSEY AND VINITA NELSON CONTRIBUTORS

Giving homemade food instead of buying material items as presents [no comma needed] brings back meaning to the holidays and reduces the stress of spending money you don’t have. Many have started to look forward to the holidays for the gifts they hope to receive instead of the time spent with family. The gift of homemade food shows thoughtfulness, appreciation, consideration and most importantly love. “I always give people homemade foods like cheese, breads and sweets around the holidays, especially to the neighbors,” said Leeta-Rose Ballester, a journalism student at SJCC. “When we first moved into our neighborhood, which isn’t exactly the best one, people were really surprised when I came to their door bearing cookies and fudge.” “I enjoy the hands-on experience and creativity involved in preparing just the right concoction for just the right person.” “I have to admit that just as much as I love to give edible gifts, I love to receive them! Who doesn’t enjoy having food made for them?” Ballester said. Use the time you would spend finding parking and fighting angry shoppers [no comma needed] whipping up something delicious to give instead. According to Gallup, Americans plan to spend over $700 on gifts this year. We have all re-gifted, donated or straight up thrown out items such us fake Coach purses, a purse with cat-pee on it, and worm infested candy.

“I have to admit that just as much as I love to give edible gifts, I love to receive them!” Leeta-Rose Ballester, journalism student

When you think about the fact that the packaging of a toy is often twice the volume of the gift, a simple box of home made truffles made with fair-trade chocolate results in pure enjoyment with almost no waste. Not only are gifts that end up in the garbage a waste of money, but they have a negative impact on our environment. Instead of perpetuating this dubious tradition why not start at home this year, in your kitchen. From cookies, to cakes, to homemade pasta sauces and jams made with your grandmother’s recipe, the possibilities are limitless. Gifts of food often mean more to the recipient and cost less than store bought items. Making the gift yourself shows that you took the time and the trouble to make something personal rather than the “mystery meat log” that sometimes passes for food. Avoid going to the mall where you might be pepper-sprayed or hit on the head with a hammer. Stay at home and create something your friends and family will love, you’ll be glad you did.

SHELLEY NILSSON / CONTRIBUTOR

Vinita Nelson, a journalism student at SJCC whips up a batch of homemade brownies to give away to friends and family as presents.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

What was your New Year’s resolution for 2011? Did you accomplish it?

Tuesday, Dec. 13 ■ SJECCD Board of Trustees meeting at District Office, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 ■ District Council meeting at D.O. conference room, 3 p.m.

BY JOY HINES AND ANDY NGUYEN / TIMES STAFF

Friday, Dec. 16 ■ Women’s basketball - Las Positas at SJCC, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 ■ Men’s basketball Canada at SJCC, 3 p.m.

Marylin Crawford Major:WIN/Calworks counselor ■ To spend more time with family and doing activities together.

Daniel Habteyes Major: Radio Broadcasting ■ Accomplished saving $5000.

Christine Espinoza Major: General education ■ To be more involved with the youth ministry and meet more people.

Roland Pinto Major: Business ■ Pilot certification to fly a twin engine air craft. He reached financial start up goal.

Monday, Dec. 19 Thursday, Dec. 22 ■ Buyback books, Campus store, 8-5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21 ■ Men’s basketball SJCC at Las Positas, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 ■ Women’s basketball - SJCC at San Mateo, 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 ■ Fall rental textbooks due Wedneday, Dec. 28 Friday, Dec. 30 ■ Women’s basketball tourney at SJCC, TBA

Tan Nguyen Major: Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering ■ Changed bad habits of not performing well in school and changed certain things in personal life.

Zenaida Nieves Lee Major: Navy Recruiter ■ Accomplished of investment in two different retirement pension plans.

Fidel Calvillo Major: EOP&S staff assistant ■ To complete his third semester at San Jose State University. He completed his A.A. , A.S. degree and alcohol and drug studies certification at SJCC.

Omar Mohammed Major: Administration of Justice ■ Accomplished new years resolution for 2011 was to be more devoted and dedicated to school, studying and saving more money.

Thursday, Dec. 29 ■ Men’s basketball SJCC at Cosumnes, 5 p.m.


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