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Volume 58, Issue 1
September 15, 2011
Gone, but never forgotten
Mike Hendrickson | The Connection
Pharmacy major Steve Sipe, 45, sits in remembrance in front of the 2,977 flags representing the people killed in the 9/11 attacks, on Sept. 12 in the quad at Cosumnes River College. “I can’t get the pictures out of my mind, of the smoke and falling buildings,” Sipe said. The memorial was put on by the Student Development Office.
Smoking policy changes divides campus Melanie Tran mtran.connect@gmail In response to complaints about smokers and secondhand smoke on Cosumnes River College campus, a new smoking policy was invoked in April 2011. The CRC ordinance has voted that students and faculty will now be required to smoke in designated areas on campus that are 30 feet from a building. Students that do not abide by the ordinance could be cited for misdemeanor trespassing, said
Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner. Surprisingly, not many students know that the smoking policy has been in effect, said 23-year-old Mathew Sewell, a health science major. “I don’t think the policy is really necessary,” he said. “No one actually goes up to someone and blows smoke directly into someone’s face. That’s just ridiculous.” While many are indifferent, some students don’t fully agree with the change.
“I guess it makes sense in a way, but I think they’re taking it too far,” said Garren Halsey, 20-year-old English major, about the ordinance violation consequences. “Smoking a cigarette shouldn’t get you into that much trouble.” Eighteen-year-old Jasmina Singleton, a nursing major, agrees with the smoking policy change. “It’s good to smoke away from schools because there are other people like me that don’t smoke and they don’t like to be
around it,” Singleton said. “Some people get headaches from the smell of smoke.” Twenty nine-year-old Nathan Woods, a health science major, said smoking should not be blown out of proportion. “I know many people don’t appreciate second-hand smoke, but it’s not like I do it on purpose,” Woods said. “Some days, I just need to smoke a cigarette, without having to travel far and being late to my class.” A 28-year-old human See SMOKING, Page 8
Students speak up about tuition increases Johny Garcia jgarcia.connect@gmail Community colleges were forced to raise tuition from spring to fall semester because of California’s current economic situation. Students at Cosumnes River College said the increase from $26 to $36 per unit has affected them. “I have so many friends they’re already out of college, and they just work already,” said Anh Thu, a 24-year-old pharmacy major. “I ask them why don’t they go back to college, because education you know is very important. And they say, ‘Oh, I need to work. I need to think about finance. I can’t do both.’” In addition to the increased tuition, community colleges in California were forced to cut classes, making enrollment difficult. This fall semester, California community
colleges enrolled 400,000 fewer students than before, according to the Los Angeles Times. “I was not able to get into all of the classes that I was trying to get into,” said Sharon Thor, an 18-year-old occupational therapy major. “They were closed. I couldn’t get on waiting lists. It was hard. I even had to look for classes at Sac City and ARC (American River College). “It was difficult for me. I had a frustrating time.” With talks of another tuition increase, Thor said it might become even tougher for students to pay for their classes and books. “Buying books and stuff for classes, it’s already difficult,” Thor said. “Now if you do work you’re going to have to work even harder for your money just so you can buy books and stuff out of your own pocket.” See TUITION, Page 8
Scan this QR code with your smart phone to listen to students speak about how they have been affected by recent tuition increases.
New Winn Center set to be green model
Holly Sanderson hsanderson.connect@gmail
Anticipation grew among faculty as the construction of the Winn Center, Cosumnes River College’s new, energy-efficient addition to the campus, is possibly set to break ground in November, Public Information Officer Kristie West said. Completion of the center is expected by mid-2013, but dates have been subject to change based on challenges the winter weather might bring, said West . First in the district to have been awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum status, an internationally recognized certification for green building, the Winn Center was designed specifically to conserve energy and the environment, Vice President of Administrative and Student Support Don Wallace said. “This building will be an outstanding representation of what the Los Rios Community College District has worked hard to be for years, that is, a leader in educational excellence and environmental sustainability,” Wallace said. “Students will be well served See WINN, Page 8