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Vol. 42, No. 1
Serving San Jose City College
Skinner to prese t plan By Jim Boeck!
City College President Dr. Byron Skinner is scheduled to present a plan of action to the district board Sept. 20, in response to recommendations made by the Special Athletics Task Force. The task force investigated the allegations made by the San Jose Mercury News of impropriety by the City College Athletics Department. No evidence of serious wrongdoing was reported, but several recommendations were made. Dr. Skinner's plan was requested by the district trustees, in response to the task force's recommendations. The first item in the plan is a proposal for discussions between various groups of district and college employees to improve communications, and the finding of ways to reduce "the suspicion and mistrust between the Faculty Senate and the administration," of which the task force found evidence. There is no mention in Dr. Skinner's plan of investigating alleged student transcript privacy violations, which was recommended by the task force. Instead, the focus is on preventing future violations. Other suggestions of Dr. Skinner are expected to include closer monitoring of financial aid policies and variable unit course enrollment, and the development of a computer program that spots conflicts in class scheduling. Dr. Glenn Gooder, - executive secretary for. the 14-member task force, presented the $10,000 report to the District Board in June. The task force's investigation was not without its critics, however. While the task force was
selected and labeled "Blue Ribbon" by Dr. Skinner, at least four faculty members refused to participate in the investigation. Faculty Senate President David Yancey, instructor/counselor Pat Butler and instructor/attorney Phil Crawford each wrote letters to the task force that said they thought the investigation would not be objective and would be biased toward the Athletics Department. Black History instructor Charles Murry has long been critical of the department. "What the task force came up with was predictable," said Murry, who refused to participate. The recommendations made by the task force included finding ways to ease the friction between the Faculty Senate and the administration, tighter monitoring of the athletics department policies, the formation of an internal group to conduct similar inquiries, and "a district board investigation into the allegation that the privacy of student records was violated." The investigation came about after the San Jose Mercury News shocked thecollegecommunity last April with a three-part, front-page series charging the athletics department with recruiting violations, allowing ineligible students to participate on teams, neglecting academic standards of players, and improper handling of athletes' financial aid. · With the exception of a few minor violations of policy, the task force found no evidence to support the charges. One long standing desire of Murry, Athletics director Bert Bonanno, and Dr. Skinner has been the creation of a counseling position dedicated to student athletes, but budget limitations have prevented it.
En roll ment up 11 perc t By Kathy Flynn and Robin Stock City College enrollment for day students is up 11 percent from last fall. with an approximate 550 increase in student population, there are an estimated 5,633 day students. Evening enrollment has dropped 14 percent, which is a 665 student recline. This figure may change because students are still registering for the Mini Semester and off campus classes. · Evergreen Valley College has a 21 percent increase of day students. Evening enrollment increased by six percent. Evergreen Valley College has an estimated 3,214 evening students, and approximately 4;796 day students. ~hile the gap between City College and Evergreen College is closing, Crty College has approximately 1,836 more students. The increase of student enrollment may possibly be attributed to both advertising and off campus offerings for the fall.
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Thursday, Septe mber 8, --1988
We're No. -1!
City College's Hall of Excellence, opened at the end of last semester, is drawing attention in the entrance to the library. TimE wers, left, Tyrone Smith, center, and Kim Kemp admire the school's national football
Photo by Robin Stock championship trophy. Russ Fischer, library director and custodian of the exhibits, is searching for more additions to join the achievements of the City College students, faculty and staff now on display.
152 classes canceled By Louis A. Collonge
Due to low enrollment in some sections and, in some cases, Jack of instructors 152 class sections offered at City College (10 percent and climbing) had been canceled as of last Friday. City College offered 1437 sections this semester, including the Mini-Semester which begins Sept. 19, and off-site classes. Robert L. Brown, District Director of Admissions and Records, reported that only 16 out of 867 class sections were canceled at Evergreen Valley College. "Definite!y heavier cancellations than last year," said Dr. Leo Chavez, Dean of Instruction, referring to the number of sections City College has canceled. Both Dr. Chavez and Richard Casey, Dean of Administration,
agreed this was not the first time mass cancellations have taken place. In trying to be sensitive to the needs of the students both deans instructed the assistant deans to phone the students whose classes had been canceled the Friday before classes started. Some students, like Steve Plaudnick, received the Friday "your -class-has- been -canceled" phone call too late in the day to be able to come down and make the necessary adjustments to their schedule. For at least one student, who wished to remain anonymous, the cancellation of her class meant that her financial aid requirements would not be met. Because of the cancellation she had to spend more time in the lines at the Financial Aids office, not to mention the possibility of losing financial aid.
Faculty reaction does not seem, over all, favorable. "There should be much more coordination between the teachers, administrators and classified staff," said Charles Murry, who is a Black Studies/History Instructor at City College. "Planning is very important" and canceling classes was the result of "poor planning." Murry said , "This whole mess is caused by campus politics" and "should not happen." "All they're doing is taking out their problems on the students. They should eat their mistakes and hold all the classes they offer," was the reaction of Patrick Butler, Counselor and Psychology Instructor. Butler suggested this school's "first priority is the dollars, then the students." He went on to say this
See Cancellations Page 4