Serving San Jose City College
Vol. 43, No.1 0
Thursday, September 21, 1989
Trustee polls open Monday By Jill Morales
Students enjoyed sun, music and free hamburgers and soft drinks as "Welcome Day" was held last Thursday
in the quad area. Various AS clubs set up information booths to attract new members during the festivities. Photo by Robin Stock
No change for Deans' titles
Upgrade proposal downed By Brian Wachter City College President Dr. Byron R. Skinner's proposal to upgrade titles for dean-level adminstrators ran into substantial resistance at a recent Faculty Senate meeting. The proposal was considered at the Senate meeting on Sept. 5, and was opposed 15-1, with one abstention. Citing more than 20 community colleges statewide that use such · titles, Skinner had suggested that the title of dean be changed to vic"e president, associate deans be retitled associate vice presidents, and that assistant deans be designated deans. Such changes would help create " an improved image and an atmosphere of culture " for City College, Dr. Skinner said in his July 13 memorandum to the Senate. "Titles convey meaning," Dr. Skinner commented. The college is currently viewed in a kindergarten -12th grade context by some and these changes would help nullify this effect, according to Dr. Skinner. Dr. Skinner stressed that the changes would not be accompanied by a pay raise; they would be upgrades in name only. In his view, City College's administrators
are already performing work which deserves more dignified titles. Dr. Skinner said that he would follow this proposal with one suggesting the creation of professorial rank among City College instruc· tors, which would include a pay raise. Dr. Skinner's proposal has been met with criticism by Fran McBrien, Business Education instructor and California Teacher's Association local president In a written response to Dr. Skinner's proposal, McBrien cites as a major stumbling block in its consideration the fact that he did not consult " the bodies of governance on campus "before making public his idea. McBrien said that she is frustrated by what she perceives as an ongoing rift in the channel of communication between the school administration and faculty. A "blue ribbon" panel established by Dr. Skinner in the wake of last year's Athletics Department probe recommended that better communication be established between the two groups. M-cBrien believes that Dr. Skinner's having made his recommendation " prior to discussion ... flies in the face of the 'blue ribbon' committee's recommendation." McBrien said that she and Dr.
Skinner have differences that are philosophical in nature. "A title change does not convey dignity," McBrien said in response to Dr. Skinner's statement that these changes would reflect a move toward a higher level of professionalism. A person's actions, not their job title, are the things most relevant to professional dignity, according to McBrien. McBrien also doubts that title upgrades for administrators would exist very long without a salary increase. She predicts that after administrators are elevated to their new positions there would be comparisons made to other schools' salaries for like-titled management McBrien said that compensatory raises would then be likely to follow. The matter was brought up at the Faculty Senate meeting on Sept. 5, where it was opposed by all commenting. Counselor Pat Butler rejected Skinner's proposal, and suggested that more appropriate focus for improvement should include the reduction of class sizes and an examination of City College's academic effectiveness. "He (Dr. Skinner) has too much time on his hands if he has nothing better to do than write a memo like this," Butler said.
Election codes to be rewritten
AS president seeks change By Renee Aguilar Mildread Barnett, San Jose City College's ASB president for the 1989-90 school year, has plans which will keep her very busy. Among other things, Barnett is CUrrently working on reinstating a judicial council into our ASB. This COuncil, which is made up entirely of students, handles grievances that students may be experiencing. The judicial council is currently being addressed by the faculty, as a resuJt of last semester's confusion that erupted within the council.
dent affairs - the main purpose of a judicial council. Another job Barnett has begun is the re-writing of the City College election codes. The constitutional election codes were a large factor in last semester's confusion, according to Barnett. Therefore, Barnett has been spending long hours on "a job that should have been done a long time ago." Barnett says nobody wanted to undertake this job, possibly because of time involved. "I'll be seeing that the job gets
See President, page 4
The Associated Student Body trustee elections for San Jose City and Evergreen Valley Colleges will be held Monday, Sept. 25, through Thursday, Sept. 28, at each campus. The polls for this special election will be open from 9 am. to 9 p.m., with the exception of the last day when they will close at 3 p.m. Three students have submitted petitions for the trustee position. From City College, the candidates are Cherri Gomez and Bill Erb. Robert Robledo is the sole candidate from Evergreen. This year, to alleviate any problems that may occur during the election, the ASB of both schools have set up a joint election committee to oversee the entire process. This committee has set forth specific rules, regulations and deadlines for the candidates to meet. The election code drafted by the joint committee addresses the types of problems that were encountered last semester and insures a smooth election this time around. Friday, Sept. 15 was the final
day for candidates to submit their petitions. The three students in the running will campaign from Sept 18-22. The election will be held the following week. A candidates' forum will be held on both campuses to aid in raising students' awareness of the issues at hand. • The first forum will be held today at 11 a.m. in front of the Evergreen College library. On the City College campus, the candidates will be visible to students in the cafeteria at 11 a.m. on Friday. Judy Rookstool, adviser to both the ASB and election committee, had praise for the committee. "A great deal of effort has been expended by both campuses to create a document that will facilitate the fairest possible student trustee election," said Rookstool. The election committee consists of eight students, four from City College and four from Evergreen. From City College, members include Michael Hasz, Kathryn Wood, Virgil Dizon and Co-Chair Mildread Barnett. From Evergreen, they are Rosemary Lucero, Anna Hernandez, Keith Saldivar and Co-Chair Neil Wilson.
Campus watchdog Psychology instructor Pat. Butler: his bark packs plenty of b1te By Ellie Molloy When Pat Butler speaks, the administration listens. Butler, a San Jose City College psychology instructor, counselor and Faculty Senate representative, rebels against the status quo. His constant criticism of administration policies sets him apart from his colleagues. Most would rather make peace, not war. Butler, though, is not comfortable with peaceful coexistence. He would prefer to regale listeners with tales of what he perceives as questionable administrative tactics. Colleagues choose their words carefully when asked about Butler, not wanting to make themselves easy targets of his ire. "When I think of Pat Butler, I think he is the type of person who does not suffer fools gladly," said English Instructor and Faculty Senate President Maurice Costello. Butler, the author of "A Loudmouth Speaks Out," a ~page attack on San Jose/Evergreen Community College District policy, shrugs off the possibility of reprisals from the administration. "I'm here about 20 years and still the junior member of the psychology department," he laughed. If Butler suspects a questionable use of district finances he is willing to put in time digging out possible dirt. "I'm the guy who reads the fine print in the budget.... People are not putting dollars in their pockets, but...the administration prefers to spend as little on teaching as oossible." Butler said.
Pat Butler Chancellor Richard Goff, responding to Butler's comments, said, "If we could afford to give our faculty higher salaries, I would." Butler, 43, grew up in Clyde, Calif., a small town of located between Concord and Port Chicago. His vocation in life became apparent at an early age. He admired his psychology teacher in high school. "I sat in class and didn't say much," Butler said. Butler's political activism took off in 1975. He had been teaching for the district on a semester-bysemester basis when a fulltime, permanent position opened up at Evergreen Valley College. "I assumed it was going to be my job," he said. He got fired instead. Butler hired a lawyer and the battle was joined. He won. "I got back pay, tenure and attorney's fees," Butler said with a smile. See Watchdoe, Page 4