Serving San Jose City College
Vol. 43, No. 1
Thursday, February 9, 1989
ew math requirements divide staff, students The new fall 1988 math requirements tVTt'•nl•avc some students, department heads and UeR:eJ:Oimselors divided. The new requirements require students plan to transfer to California state uni-·· ...a.~;'''"~ to take both Algebra 2 and another level math class. Students receiving an AA degree and tran1steJmn,g to a university must also meet higher than Algebra 2 requirements. Stureceiving an AA degree from City without intentions of going to a uniare still required to complete only
Algebra 1. "In my opinion; the new math requirements are overkill," said Dr. Alex Reyes, a counselor at City College. Reyes said that since counselors are "sources of up-to-date infonnation, when changes like this occur overnight, it not only puts students in a bind but counselors, too." "A lot ofstudents are upset, not enraged. They are looking at another obstacle. I empathize with them," said Reyes. According to Reyes, students who were protected from the new math requirements, under a grandfather clause were not told that they had to finish Algebra 2 last summer to
qualify, unless they had seen a counselor. Robert King, head of San Jose City College's Math Department disagrees. "We were aware of the changing math requirements almost two years ago. We offer a math class, Math 51, to help students meet the requirements of California state universities," said King. "Students- should should be aware that they must take geometry prior to college algebra, and trigonometry," added King. City College offers review algebra for 3 units for students who have had some algebra in high school. Students who have not had algebra can take beginning algebra for 5
units, said King. "Evergreen Valley College does not offer these options to its students," said King. So where does Evergreen College stand on this issue? "These requirements are very important to transfer students," said Sami Ibrahim, Coordinator of the Math and Chemistry Department at Evergreen. "These requirements help prepare students for upper division classes in science at a university level." Ibrahim is concerned about informal discussions on raising the requirements from See Math, Page 4
Black History Month marked By Mildread A. Barnett
Most people don't look forward to getting the but hackey sackers Doug Jones and Heath (center, right) get their kicks as Chris Kelly
(left) can't quite bag it The three kicked up their heels in the sunny Quad area in front of the City College Student Union last week. Photo by Robin Stock
acuity Senate bristles t reclassification ·proposal A proposal to reclassify AssoDeans Roberta Firetag and Southward to full-dean
abstentions Tuesday to recthat the San Jose/EverCommunity College district of Trustees tum down the which is supported by College President Byron
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Should the proposal be apFiretag and Southward achieve dean's status withfacing competition for the new Some Senate members
ln a letter ~ Dr. Skinner, FacSenate President Gene Cos-
tello said that "it is ... a violation of affirmative action principles and hiring committee procedures to have assured (the candidates) beforehand of (their) ultimate selection." Costello said that he initially
'We don't need any more administrative positions-the emphasis should be on education.' -Butler raised his opposition to the proposal last December and had received a reply Jan. 30 from Dr. Skinner. He said that he had spoken "at length" with Dr. Skinner the day of the Senate meeting but was still opposed to the proposal.
"It's a question of what the process is in getting from position to position," Costello said. "If anything, the two new positions should be open to all candidates." Faculty Senator Pat Butler said that he was "amazed" at the proposal. "It's important that we send a clear message to the Board of Trustees," Butler said. "This will take hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years from the operating budgets and classified staff. It's also a further erosion of the power of Dean Leo Chavez. "We don't need any more administrative positions-the emphasis should be on education." Other members objected to the reclassification, calling it a "political payoff." The conflicting recommendations of Skinner and the Faculty Senate will go before the Board of Trustees Feb. 21.
During February, City College will join the celebration of Black History Month, highlighting the contributions of black people in the United States. Programs such as "The Black Experience in Music" began the month's celebrations. The initial program, held Feb. 8 in the campus theater, featured Charles Williams of the Johnny Otis Band. Mr. Williams sang soulful renditions of Negro spirituals, accompanied by Tyrone Scott on piano and Clifford Coulter on keyboard. In stirring interpretations, the group performed jazz and blues songs from the early 50's and 60's. The audience cheered this exciting musical experience. The afternoon program featured
a luncheon lyceum held for campus faculty, staff and administrators. Dr. T. J. Owens, a counselor, conducted an awards presentation to three campus employees for outstanding service to the college. The recipients of the awards were Lauren McKee, In-Service Coordinator at the Criminal Justice Training Center of Evergreen Valley College, Carol Young, Assistant EOP Director and Ruby Wheelehan, Admissions Assistant The lunch menu offered traditional "Soul Food," prepared by the black members of the faculty, consisting of collard greens, candied yams, fried chicken, black~ eyed peas and cornbread, and for dessert, sweet potato pie. Later that afternoon, a "Soul Dance" was heid to illustrate the black tyles of dance.
SJCC enrollment declines again By Carolyn A. Schoh Opening day and night enrollment dropped at San Jose City College, whereas Evergreen Valley College noted an increase in both areas, according to Robert Brown, District Director of Admissions and Records. The tentative figures for City College, which represent enrollment by Friday, Jan. 27 (end of first week of classes), show a total of 10,051 students, 5,938 day and 4,113 evening students, a decline of two and 10 percent respectively. At Evergreen Valley College 8,393 students registered, 5,202 for
day, and 3,191 for evening classes, which represents an increase of nine and six percent Brown connects the decline at City College with the fact that it is surrounded by older r.eighborhoods with fewer college-age residents, whereas the population in the Evergreen Valley College area is relatively young and still growing. Brown added, that mostly women are enrolled on both campuses, a trend that became obvious two years ago. The final enrollment figures, Brown said, will be available on March6.