Volume 24, Issue 8 (November 25, 2013)

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Volume 24. Issue 8

November 25, 2013

www.thebreezeonline.com

Collecting hope for the holidays

GLORY PIÑA

As the semester nears a close and students negotiate research papers, presentations and finals, they will soon face the holiday season — a traditional time where people begin to open their hearts and look to donate or volunteer to help those in need. One student on campus has a perfect solution to those looking to make a difference. From the young age of 9, Gina DuranSalazar has had a heart for helping others. She recalls being in the car with her father and crying as she saw a lady standing outside standing on a freeway off-ramp with only a cardboard box just before it was about to rain. Her dad brought her back to bring the homeless woman some blankets, and it created within her a spirit inspired by altruism. She used her empathy to create a legacy of humanitarianism by creating the IE Hope Collective. When the Gay-Straight Alliance started to want to be more involved in the community, with help from last year’s ASSC President Carlos Huizar, she worked to create a group of students dedicated to helping dislocated people and abused women and children in places like Skid Row and throughout the I.E. It started with the name IE Urban Collective but eventually changed to IE Hope Collective to place emphasis on the fact that poverty is everywhere. The main mis-

sion is to show people that there is someone out there who cares. “Most of us go through really bad times and have someone to depend on,” Duran-Salazar said, “but these people don’t.” Even though Skid Row is associated with Los Angeles and not the Inland Empire, she recalls meeting a boy from Chaffey High School there. He once was a star athlete. However, he grew up in the foster care system and with no support system, he started to lose his way. “It’s important to show that someone cares because it helps them look into their situation and start to help themselves,” Duran-Salazar said. She added that the most enriching part of her experience is all the people from different cultures, religions, and sexual orientations that she gets to associate with and learn from. Duran-Salazar is also teaching her own children to be active in humanitarian efforts. She raises them the same way her father raised her by taking them to do outreach activities and teaching them to have compassion. Her wife, Cynthia, also help motivates her and encourages her to keep on in her efforts. The IE Hope Collective is looking for volunteers for its next trip on Dec. 7, when it will visit a shelter for abused women and children.

The shelter houses displaced teenagers that need clothes and supplies. It has a surplus of clothing for women and children, but winter items and clothes for men are needed most. Donation boxes are available in Student Activities and the Wignall on the Rancho Cucamonga campus. There is also a box at the Fontana campus in the Student Lounge.

Some of the items needed: blankets, scarves, gloves, jackets, new socks, beanies, toiletries, ponchos/raincoats/ umbrellas, first aid kits, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, thermals/long sleeves, jeans.

MICHELLE MENES

Gina and Cynthia Duran-Salazar stand in front of the Student Activities building with a collection box on Nov. 21.

Frustration reigns over ongoing ASCC controversy

RYAN GELUZ

Amid controversies accompanying recent student government developments, students, faculty, administration, and council members share one quality: frustration. Newly elected ASCC President ProTempore Corey Stevens brought forth allegations against ASCC President Kevin

Coduto for breaching Article III of the ASCC bylaws, notifying him of an investigation, but later withdrawing them without discussion during an open session. Stevens denied that an investigation took place, opting to call his actions an “inquiry,” but a series of electronic communications appear to say otherwise. On Nov. 9, Stevens sent Coduto an

MICHELLE MENES

Rancho Cucamonga resident Mark Gibboney passes out copies of an email he sent to ASCC members after he spoke at the weekly meeting on Nov. 18.

Looking for something keep you occupied during winter break? See page 8 for The Breeze staffers’ favorite ideas.

email, notifying him of allegations made against him and an investigation which was to take place. “It is my duty to inform you that a complaint has been made against you, and your actions, that if found to have merit would violate ASCC By-Laws, Article III Official Decorum,” Stevens said. “Do not discuss details of any investigation or complaint, even among other members of the ASCC, until a completion of said complaint and investigation are reviewed and decided on to completion.” Official Decorum, according to the ASCC bylaws, requires that an individual act with integrity at all times, that one not allow that their personal views be confused with that of the ASCC, and that all students, staff, faculty, and administration be treated with respect. Coduto responded to Stevens in an email on Nov. 11. “All meetings to conduct any form of business need to be done in the open and with transparency,” Coduto said. “Absolutely no member of ASCC can require information to be undisclosed.” The legality of closed sessions has been a controversial topic over the past several weeks. A memorandum issued by Associate Superintendent Sherrie Guerrero on Oct. 25 ruled that all closed sessions held

by the ASCC were illegal because they violated California’s Brown Act. On Nov. 12, Stevens called for another closed session on Nov. 13 to discuss the allegations made against Coduto in an email that included all ASCC executive board members, Director of Student Activities Susan Stewart, and ASCC Adviser John Machado. He asked that all attendees bring evidence packets. Coduto said he was not given a copy of the evidence packet. Several ASCC senators later reported not knowing about the meeting. On Nov. 13, Stewart said that the meeting was cancelled while the ASCC council consulted with attorneys to discuss the legality of their meeting. Stevens said that no investigation or meetings would take place until they were able to consult with their legal advisers. On Nov. 18, the ASCC held an open session, listing a discussion of allegations to be made against President Coduto on the agenda. The meeting was attended by several community members, some of whom criticized the ASCC, Stevens, and Machado for their behavior.

see ASCC page 3

News - Chaffey had something happen

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A & E - Chaffey had something happen

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Features - Chaffey had something happen Page # Sports - Chaffey had something happen

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