Cabrillo College: No Name Change Yet

By Jondi Gumz

Aptos College was the top choice of 1,300 votes cast in an online survey to rename Cabrillo College and no longer honor explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who became wealthy in the New World due to indigenous slave labor.

On Aug. 7, after hearing three hours of impassioned testimony pro and con, Cabrillo College trustees voted 6-2 to defer a decision until Nov. 6 on the name change proposed by faculty three years ago, with plans to “better assess and engage the wider community on a naming timeline and process that unifies rather than divides the greater college community.”

Voting in favor: Christina Cuevas, Dan Rothwell, Rachael Spencer, Adam Spickler, Martha Vega, and Donna Ziel.

Voting no: Stephen Trujillo and student trustee Yefry Mata, who introduced himself as a formerly incarcerated student.

Trujillo, who ran three years ago on a platform of change, said change was overdue. He said he researched Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo 31 years ago and found

Learn from History Cabrillo College Alumnus

John Marinovich of Aptos

Havingbeen a longtime supporter and alumni of Cabrillo Community College, I am opposed to the name change.

The Board of Trustees and the subcommittee have taken it upon themselves to produce a new name to our beloved community college. This was based on a request from a few, and does not reflect the views of the community and alumni overall.

Juan Cabrillo was an explorer who charted the coast of California in the 16th century. He was also was a slave owner and subjugated indigenous people and tribes. This is known and documented history. The Trustees and subcommittee want the name changed because of this.

I believe that the Cabrillo name should stay. Learn the history of Cabrillo and his contributions, the good and bad.

“Marinovich” page 23 he “committed unspeakable horrors, including spreading syphillis.

He wanted to move forward but none of the others gave a second to his motion.

The vote to delay confirmed a 24-member community task force recommendation to delay due to lack of a scientific poll, lack of student voices, lack of funds to pay for name change expenses, and potential loss of donations and impact on future bond issues.

In 2020, a $274 million bond measure for technology upgrades, infrastructure and accessibility got 53% yes, short of the 55% needed to pass.

Some donors have threatened to withhold their financial contributions if the name is changed.

“Name Change” page 23

Focus on High School Seniors

Cabrillo College Student Andrew Morrissey lived so far, my entire life, in the Aptos area, having gone from Rio del Mar Elementary, to Aptos Jr. High, then Aptos High, and now Cabrillo College.

I view the name change as a sad representation of where my college is putting its efforts towards.

This name change is an indictment that the trustees are out-of-touch with the real problems facing students on the campus.

The burden for many students who study, and work is overwhelming, causing high class attrition rates and many students spending 4, 5, and even 6+ years at a community college; it is appalling that not only our college trustees, but also the upper echelons of our community, choose to fight some senseless crusade at the expense of community foundational support for Cabrillo students.

“Morrissey” page 24