Central Valley community college president Raul Rodriguez chosen last month.
After a months-long nationwide search for a new district chancellor, the board of trustees approved the hiring of a career education administrator from Stockton Calif. Raul Rodriguez, who ran San Joaquin’s community college district and served as president of San Joaquin Delta College, replaces Eddie Hernandez, who retired after 13 years.
Rhonda Wolf overcame personal Struggles to succeed
She holds the class assignment close to her face, but the words appear backward. Frustration colors her face pink as she struggles to read and pronounce the words correctly. She has the ability to give the correct answers, but she can’t read the material.
Makeovers, clothes help women get ready for interviews during economic hardships
For one day, sophomore Karla Alvarado felt like Rachel Zoe, the Hollywood “it” stylist to the stars. Her client, Flor Anorve, enters the stage to the pulsating beat of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.
EDUCATION: Passage of Title IX provides equal opportunities for males and females in college sports
Female athletes at many colleges are still not receiving equal treatment or opportunities to participate in sports 35 years after the passage of Title IX. Over the last five years the gap between male and female athletic participation grew from 1.
Campus: Resource programs provide counseling, financial aid, referral and employment assistance
After twelve years in the Navy, Jeremy Roybal wanted to go to college. Under the G.I. Bill, Roybal was entitled to education benefits that would cover his tuition, but couldn’t access them without submitting an education plan to the Veterans Administration.
Colleges see grim trends in transfers
The state budget cuts to higher education not only affect the cost of tuition and the number and variety of classes, it also influences how many transfer students four-year public universities accept. Staff at the University Transfer Center at Santa Ana College is seeing grim trends.
Mummies, artifacts on display at the Bowers Museum
Three well-preserved mummies exhibited for the first time outside of Asia are now on display at the Bowers Museum. The mummies have European features and Western artifacts were found buried with them. Nearly 4,000 years old, the flaxen-haired Beauty of Xiaohe lies wrapped in a finely-made woolen shroud above a boat-shaped coffin made of curved poplar flanks.
CAMPUS: Former Phi Theta Kappa leader wears ankle bracelet for six months of home confinement
Former Santa Ana College honor student and Phi Theta Kappa President Alfredo Valenzuela Singh began 180 days of house arrest May 3. Singh was arrested last July for stealing textbooks from the Don Bookstore and selling them to Textbook Max.
STATE: The once praised master plan turns out to be a failed blueprint for Californians
Fifty years ago California became the first state in U.S. history to promise an affordable college education for its young people. Today the golden state is faltering under the weight of a near $20 billion deficit, and the hope for a reasonably priced public education is rapidly slipping through the grasp of most of California’s college-age citizens.
Demonstrators nationwide claim the bill encourages racial profiling
When Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the nation’s toughest immigration bill — the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” approved April 23 — this gave law enforcement greater power to enforce immigration law.
Local strike settlement could foreshadow pay reductions for other California school districts
After more than 32 hours of closed-door negotiations the Capistrano Unified School District settled on a tentative agreement to end a three-day teacher’s strike in Orange County’s second-largest school district. The April 26 agreement, which could have long-term ramifications for area schools, would maintain a 10 percent pay cut, although it would restore salary and furlough days if school revenue increases.
Failure to monitor spending and not balancing checkbooks can lead to fraud
Everyone feels robbed at the gas pump sometimes. For Amy Caterina, it was more than sticker shock. Her purchase nearly cost her entire checking account balance. Caterina, an artist and adjunct professor at SAC, was a victim of debit card fraud.
Election proves to be a success with music, food, candidate interaction and voter participation.
After two days of voting, and five hours of tallying votes after polls closed, Nadia Lopez was elected new Associated Student Government president.
CAMPUS: Participants must now complete a list of prerequisites before being added to waitlist.
A requirement for potential nursing majors to meet new standards is causing some students to look elsewhere. Beginning last June, Santa Ana College’s nursing program stopped accepting additions to their waitlist for first-semester students.
Brought here at a young age, AB 540 students face hurdles in higher education
Eight years after California’s Legislature adopted a tuition break to help undocumented immigrants afford college, these students account for 1 percent or less of all students at the state’s three higher education systems.
State: As budget cuts crumble, higher education students unite in a statewide rally.
In a show of solidarity, students from Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon colleges joined protestors statewide Monday decrying California Legislatures’ slashing of higher education budgets and skyrocketing tuition costs. About 80 students marched side by side from district headquarters on Broadway to SAC to voice disapproval to board members and district officials at a scheduled meeting.
IN DEPTH PART 2: For some, cyberspace is a hideout from real-world problems
It’s been two weeks since Casey’s Internet went down. He checks his e-mail from his Blackberry and just downloaded an application so he can talk to his friends via instant messenger. Before his computer crashed, Casey spent nights making friends on message boards like 4chan.
$150 ticket price goes toward fund to save classes
Chancellor Eddie Hernandez retires in June. The district faces unprecedented financial woes. Now the Board of Trustees is trying to save course offerings through its Farewell to the Chancellor event scheduled for April 29. Trustee John Hanna said Hernandez’ retirement almost went uncelebrated because of concern about lack of sponsors and participants, and costs.
Universities shrink time spent attaining four-year degree
A new initiative is expected to increase graduation rates at the California State University system within the next six years. The initiative announced by the Board of Trustees is also meant to raise the graduation rate across all 23 CSU campuses by 8 percent by 2016.
IN DEPTH PART 1: Recovery is a daily struggle for those trying to kick alcohol addiction.
Pat doesn’t know what normal is, so he drinks to try to feel that way. He struggles with sobriety every day. This is his third try and he hopes it will work this time. His relationship with alcohol began when the drinking age was still 18 — the same age at which he had his first blackout.
Long waits, fewer stalls and increased fees lead to frustration missed classes, tardies
A buzzing gold Toyota Corolla zooms down the aisle of Lot 6 in search of the perfect parking spot. A spot. Any spot. Eyes darting from left to right, architect major Evelyn Garcia spots the red glow of a truck’s tail lights.
SAC losing more students than community colleges statewide
For the first time in five years, student enrollment at the California Community Colleges has declined by 1 percent. The 110-college system will lose an estimated 21,000 students for the 2009-10 school year, said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott.
College expenses taken into consideration for tax returns
Grants, scholarships and student loans aren’t always enough to fuel a college education but there may be an easier way to attain financial assistance: filing your taxes. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or Stimulus Act, has introduced a new branch of assistance, making the act of doing taxes more rewarding.
Shop caters to diverse believers in downtown
Tucked away in the hipster-infested streets of Santa Ana’s Artists Village, Yerba Mex Botanicals is a shop for the health-obsessed and superstitious alike. Shelves are lined with candles meant to bring good fortune or stave away bad vibes, some as specific as "Lucky Gambler" and some as vague as "Protection Against Harm.
County: Transit Authority Budget cuts mean fewer routes, slower commutes for riders
Warning lifted after task force groups address issues
After placing the college on warning last year, the commission in charge reaffirmed Santa Ana College’s accreditation earlier this month. "It is critical that the college be accredited," Norman Fujimoto, vice president of academic affairs, said.
CAMPUS: Campaign employees continue to mislead students into signing petitions around school
Campus officials and student leaders are working on new ways to deal with aggressive petitioners who make their way on campus and attempt to register students to vote without consent. As many as 16 solicitors have been counted in the quad between the library and the Fine Arts Building at one time, each asking students to sign a petition.
Pilot program benefits students, district
Textbook costs keep rising but now students can save money by renting books, an emerging trend in college stores across the nation. Competing companies also offer text book rental services via the Internet. A pilot program with the district’s book wholesaler, Nebraska Book Company, will begin in fall semester 2010, establishing book rental stations in both Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College book stores.
Witnesses say man registered students under wrong political party by offering free sunglasses
A solicitor for the Republican Party was pressured into leaving campus by student protesters after they began to yell warnings at students, saying that he was illegally registering them to vote. Tom Coombes, an independent contractor with Arno Political Consultants, a firm used by the Republican Party of Orange County, asked students who said they were U.
STATE: Budget woes lead to rise in fees, furloughs and fewer classes
For the first time since its inception, the Board of Regents voted last month to raise tuition another 32 percent, placing the original 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education in jeopardy. The plan, designed 50 years ago, promised an affordable higher education for all California students, but the current fee increase will raise yearly tuition to over $10,300 for the average undergraduate.
STATE: Budget woes lead to rise in fees, furloughs and fewer classes
For the first time since its inception, the Board of Regents voted last month to raise tuition another 32 percent, placing the original 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education in jeopardy. The plan, designed 50 years ago, promised an affordable higher education for all California students, but the current fee increase will raise yearly tuition to over $10,300 for the average undergraduate.
A 12-year-old with pulmonary hypertension spends her days helping others at the Family Youth Center
A line forms in the hallway of the Tustin Family Youth Center on a sunny Tuesday morning. Mothers pushing strollers stop by on their way home from walking their kids to school and patiently await the daily delivery of goods. Today’s will be from Vons, which donates bread, pastries, eggs, several dairy products and toiletries every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
LOCAL: Three defendants plead guilty to avoid trial, resulting in a 6-year sentence for each man
Two former Dons football players and a high school friend have each been sentenced to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to eight felony counts, stemming from a videotaped rape that occurred last year. Michael Clemmons of Tustin, Luster Lewis of Irvine, and John Paul Foster of Seaside all plead guilty to four felony counts of rape of a person unable to resist due to an intoxicating substance, one felony count of sexual penetration and three felony counts of oral copulation of a person unable to resist.
DISTRICT: Trustees approve funding for search firm to find replacement for retiring Chancellor
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